The Reunion: Creatives Mixer & Panel Series

📍 Sisters in Cinema Media Arts Center — 2310 E. 75th Street, Chicago, IL 60649
🗓️ Tuesday, August 19 | 3 PM – 8 PM
🎟️ Free with RSVP via Givebutter

Calling all filmmakers, directors, photographers, models, social media influencers, and creative minds from Chicago and beyond. The Reunion is your invitation to learn from others, network, and connect with a vibrant community of creators.

Hosted at our Sisters in Cinema Media Arts Center in South Shore, this free networking event is open to emerging creatives, professionals, youth, and anyone passionate about storytelling, visual media, and collaboration. There will be Plenty of opportunities to network, connect, and share resources, and light refreshments will be served. Don’t miss this creative homecoming. RSVP now via Givebutter and come build with us!

🎭 Workshops + Ticket Info:

Our theater sessions will take place at:

3:30 PM: “Money Moves Funding Strategies for Filmmakers" From Grant Makers to Game Changers
4:30 PM: “Roots & Reels: The Power of Mentorship and Creative Collaboration”
5:30 PM: “Documentary Storytelling: Speak Your Real Truth”
6:30 PM: “Through the Lens: Mentorship, Sisterhood & Black Women in Film” in collaboration with Cinema Femme

Each workshop is different, and space is limited.

🧾 How to RSVP:

If you’d like to attend a session, please note that each session is limited to 40 seats and includes access to the entire event space. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Accessibility:
The Media Arts Center is fully ADA accessible with one-level space, accessible restrooms, and two ADA seating options in our theater.

Event Overview

3:30 PM: “Money Moves Funding Strategies for Filmmakers"
From Grant Makers to Game Changers

Panel Conversation featuring Encarnación M. Teruel, Meida McNeal, & Elijah McKinnon | Moderated by Yvonne Welbon

Sisters in Cinema presents Money Moves: Funding Strategies for Filmmakers—a powerful panel designed to equip independent filmmakers with the skills and strategies to fund their projects on their own terms. Whether you're pursuing traditional grants or forging bold, unconventional paths to financing, this panel offers the insights, tools, and connections you need to make it happen. Join us and learn how to move your vision forward—your way. Moderated by: Yvonne Welbon, Founder & CEO, Sisters in Cinema.

4:30 PM: “Roots & Reels: The Power of Mentorship and Creative Collaboration”

Panel Conversation featuring Addison Belhomme & Keith Purvis | Moderated by Jewel Baker

Step into an inspiring conversation at 4:30 PM between Chicago-based filmmakers Addison Belhomme and Keith Purvis as they reflect on a powerful five-year journey of mentorship, creativity, and trust. From their first connection over a Zoom call during the Covid Pandemic to Addison now being accepted into USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in Spring 2026, their story is a testament to the transformative power of guidance and genuine collaboration.

Together, they’ll explore how mentorship can nurture artistic growth, open doors to new opportunities, and foster lifelong creative partnerships. Addison and Keith will share candid insights into the challenges they’ve faced, the milestones they’ve celebrated, and how they’ve stayed connected across time, projects, and life transitions.

Perfect for emerging filmmakers, students, and creatives of all backgrounds, this session offers a compelling look at how communities can uplift the next generation, and how mentorship can be the foundation for bold, meaningful work in film and beyond. Moderated by: Jewel Baker, Programs & Events Manager, Sisters in Cinema.

5:30 PM: “Documentary Storytelling: Speak Your Real Truth”

Interactive Workshop featuring Tyshun Wardlaw

Join Director and Producer Tyshun Wardlaw at 5:30 PM for an interactive documentary workshop. Aspiring filmmakers will explore the art of documentary storytelling and the essential techniques for conducting on-camera interviews. Through guided discussions and hands-on activities, participants will gain a deeper understanding of story structure and learn how to shape real-life narratives, covering the basics from pre-production to post-production.

This session aims to empower emerging creatives with the tools they need to express their truths and bring authentic stories to life. Following at 6:30 PM, the workshop will continue in the Creative Lab with a hands-on session led by Tyshun and her cinematographer, giving participants the chance to apply what they've learned while exploring framing techniques and developing a visual approach for documentary storytelling. Whether you're just starting your filmmaking journey, specifically in documentary or in general, or seeking to refine your craft, this workshop offers valuable insights into impactful storytelling.

6:30 PM: “Through the Lens: Mentorship, Sisterhood & Black Women in Film” in collaboration with Cinema Femme

Panel Conversation featuring Sandel "Sanicole" Young & Natasha Parker Olguin | Moderated by Ahsha Davis

Join acclaimed independent filmmakers Sandrel "Sanicole" Young and Natasha Parker Olguin at 6:30 PM for a heartfelt and dynamic panel discussion on the power of mentorship, sisterhood, and storytelling through the lens of Black womanhood.

In this conversation, they will reflect on how mentorship has impacted their personal and professional journeys as Black women in the film industry. They will also discuss how their work continues to uplift the community, promote healing, and navigate the film industry, including festivals and notable networks.

This session is ideal for creatives seeking insights on sustaining longevity in the industry, nurturing relationships over time, and using film as a tool for transformation, encouragement, and representation. Moderated by: Ahsha Davis, Projects & Operations Manager, Sisters in Cinema.

About Cinema Femme | Instagram: @cinemafemme_community | Facebook: @cinemafemme | TikTok: @cinemafemme | Website: https://cinemafemme.com/

Cinema Femme is a global peer community where female and gender-expansive filmmakers can access the vital inspiration, support, and visibility they need to create their art and build sustainable careers. Cinema Femme is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Meet the Filmmakers

3:30 PM: “Money Moves Funding Strategies for Filmmakers" From Grant Makers to Game Changers

About Yvonne Welbon | Moderator | Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook: @sistersincinema | Website: https://sistersincinema.org

Yvonne Welbon is an award-winning filmmaker and founder and CEO of the Chicago-based non-profit Sisters in Cinema, inspired by her documentary of the same name about the history of Black women feature film directors. She has produced over two dozen award-winning films, including LIVING WITH PRIDE: RUTH ELLIS @100, winner of ten best documentary awards. Her work has been broadcast on PBS, Starz/Encore, TV-ONE, IFC, Bravo, the Sundance Channel, BET, HBO, Netflix, and iTunes, and screened in over one hundred film festivals around the world. She has taught at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University and chaired the Journalism & Media Studies Department at Bennett College. Raised in an Afro-Latinx Honduran household on the South Side of Chicago, Welbon received a bachelor’s degree in history from Vassar College, an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, and is a graduate of the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women. In 2020, she became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences documentary branch.

About Encarnación M. Teruel | Panelist | Instagram: @illinoisartscouncil

Encarnación Teruel is the deputy director of the Illinois Arts Council (IAC). He is a long- time employee of the IACA, serving as a Program Director for seventeen years overseeing grant programs for Regional Arts organizations, Media Arts, Visual Arts,
Local Arts Agencies, Art Service Organizations, Individual Artists and the Artist Fellowship Awards. During that time, he was also the ADA/504 Access Coordinator at the Arts Council.

His work includes having established the Performing Arts Department at the National Museum of Mexican Art, and being the first Performing Arts Director at the Field Museum of Natural History. Additionally, he served as the Senior Cultural Arts Officer
for the Chicago Park District, where he initiated cultural arts programs on a citywide basis.

Mr. Teruel has served on numerous boards, panels, and advisory committees for arts organizations and foundations. They include the National Endowment for the Arts, Bush Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the National New Play Network, Chicago
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Chicago Donors Forum, Kentucky Arts Council, Nebraska Arts Council, Wisconsin Arts Board, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education, Street-Level Youth Media and Prop Theatre. He most recently served on the Advisory Committees for Arts Midwest’s GIG Fund and the Kennedy Center’s Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability conference. He is an avid cyclist and yoga enthusiast.

About Meida McNeal | Panelist | Instagram: @chicagodcase | Website: www.chicago.gov/dcase

Dr. Meida Teresa McNeal works with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events as the Deputy Commissioner of the Cultural Grants & Resources Division. Previously, Meida served as Senior Manager of Art and Community Impact Investments at DCASE where she spearheaded the design, implementation, coordination, and execution of technical assistance for grant programs and launched the Chicago Arts and Health Pilot Program for Creative Workers (now publicly known as Healing Arts Chicago), an innovative arts and mental health focused training and apprenticeship program.

Prior to this role, Meida worked with the Chicago Park District as Arts & Culture Manager supporting community arts partnerships, youth arts, cultural stewardship, and civic engagement initiatives. Projects included cultural planning projects from neighborhood cultural center activations and citywide asset mapping to developing special arts & civic engagement residencies, and a cultural stewardship training program, focused on neighborhood resource development through the lens of arts & culture in communities.

Meida is also Artistic and Managing Director of Honey Pot Performance. She received her PhD in Performance Studies from Northwestern University and her MFA in Choreography & Dance History from Ohio State University. Over the past two decades, she has produced numerous creative projects as both a solo artist and with Honey Pot Performance, with works performed in Illinois, Rhode Island, Ohio, California, and Trinidad.

Positioning her work as an Independent Artist and Scholar at the intersection of performance studies, dance and critical ethnography, she has taught courses in dance, critical performance ethnography, and black diasporic cultural production at Northwestern University, Brown University, Governors State, Columbia College Chicago, and University of Chicago.

About Elijah McKinnon | Panelist | Instagram: @weareotv

Elijah McKinnon (they/them) is an award-winning strategist, entrepreneur, and visionary, currently serving as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Open Television (OTV), an Emmy-nominated streaming platform and non-profit media incubator. With over a decade of experience, Elijah has mobilized more than $15 million to support opportunity-challenged voices through media, social entrepreneurship, and inclusive initiatives. Their work focuses on building sustainable ecosystems that amplify intersectional narratives and challenge inequitable systems. Recognized by the Elevate Prize, Harvard University, MacArthur Foundation, and Clinton Global Initiative, Elijah is a leading force in shaping the future of media and social impact, committed to fostering spaces where intersectional communities can create, thrive, and lead.

4:30 PM: “Roots & Reels: The Power of Mentorship and Creative Collaboration”

About Jewel Baker | Moderator | Instagram handles: @jewelinfocus

Jewel Baker is a multidisciplinary artist, film director, producer, and creative leader from Chicago, dedicated to bringing bold, imaginative visions to life across film, photography, design, and live events. She is the founder and CEO of Jewel In Focus, a creative company launched in 2018 that specializes in vibrant storytelling through brand shoots, editorial photography, short films, and immersive event production. Jewel has directed three narrative films, worked as a cinematographer on over a dozen projects, and produced stories that center Black joy, youth, and community. As a Production Coach with Black Girls Film Camp, she mentored emerging filmmakers and led the development of two sports-centered short films.

She also uplifts young creatives as lead modeling coach and co-founder of S.W.A.P. (Students With A Purpose)—an annual fashion show at her alma mater, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, which will celebrate its ninth year in Spring 2026. Her work has been recognized by TEDx, Amazon Prime, TrueStar Media, FOX, and ForbesBLK. Jewel is a recipient of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, honored as a Student Laureate for her leadership and community impact. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago, she approaches every project with compassion, collaboration, and purpose—using storytelling to empower, inspire, and spark lasting change.

About Addison Belhomme | Panelist | Instagram handles: @directorseye_08 | Facebook - Addison Belhomme

Addison Belhomme is an 18-year-old filmmaker, activist, and storyteller from the South Side of Chicago. A bold creative force and advocate for her community, Addison founded her own film company, Director’s Eye, at just 13 years old and has since directed and contributed to six films. Her portfolio includes co-directing the documentary One Step at a Time, a powerful short on Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton, and her acclaimed solo debut A Thin Line Between Black and White. Her latest film, Surreptitious, helped earn her admission into top film schools nationwide.

Addison is a proud alum of Black Girls Film Camp, where she served as a teen director in the 2023 cohort, went on to become an alumni coach, and made history as the first teen appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors. She has worked as an Assistant Camera Operator for the Flip the Script summer program, and as a videographer for Chance the Rapper’s SocialWorks 2022 Spring Fashion Show.

Her impact reaches far beyond the camera lens. Addison was selected as a U.S. Representative for former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Get Her There global initiative and served on the Illinois Council of Women and Girls alongside Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. Through her study abroad experience in Costa Rica with Global Glimpse, she now continues her global advocacy as a Global Glimpse Ambassador.

After graduating from Lindblom Math and Science Academy, Addison is now headed to USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, CA one of the top film schools in the country, where she’ll continue her mission to create powerful, community-rooted films that inspire and spark change.

About Keith Purvis | Panelist | Instagram: @keithmakesfilms | Linkedin: Keith Purvis | Website: https://www.keithpurviscreative.com/

Keith Purvis is an Emmy and Telly Award–winning creative director, filmmaker, and multimedia strategist with over 25 years of experience leading high-impact storytelling across film, television, digital, and institutional platforms. He currently serves as Director of Multimedia at the University of Chicago, where he leads a team of producers in creating award‑winning video content that highlights groundbreaking research, faculty, and community partnerships.

Keith’s passion for visual storytelling has fueled an expansive career spanning design, advertising, and film. His work blends cinematic technique with human-centered narratives, with recent creative collaborations including the Getty Museum, the Institute of Design, and the Smart Museum of Art. As a filmmaker, Keith has written, directed, and produced a range of short films, including Online, which aired nationally on BET as part of its Lens on Talent series. His creative work has earned recognition at major festivals for both narrative and documentary productions. His short-form storytelling consistently explores culture, identity, and transformation with heart and depth.

Keith began his creative career as an art director, working with top-tier clients such as YRB Magazine, Whirlpool, Nike, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Over time, he transitioned into full-time production, producing media for organizations such as the National Urban League, Martin Luther King Fair Housing Exhibit Center, and Namasté Laboratories.

Deeply grateful for the mentorship he received early in his career, Keith is a founding member of Project Osmosis, a Chicago-based nonprofit that empowers young creatives from minority communities through mentorship, tools, and funding. He remains committed to mentoring the next generation of storytellers, continuing the cycle of guidance and inspiration that shaped his path. With a track record of leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering content that resonates, Keith continues to shape the future of media—balancing innovation with purpose.

5:30 PM: “Documentary Storytelling: Speak Your Real Truth”

About Tyshun Wardlaw | Instagram handles: @tywardlaw & @wardlawproductins | Website: www.wardlawtv.com

Tyshun Wardlaw is an American director, producer, and writer. She began her journey in broadcast journalism, producing for ABC and CBS affiliate stations before transitioning to daytime television, working on The Jeff Probst Show in Hollywood and The Steve Harvey Show in Chicago. Determined to give a voice to the underserved, she founded Wardlaw Productions, a boutique independent film and television company with offices in Chicago and Milwaukee, as one of the few minority and women-owned production companies with a foothold in two major Midwest cities. She is mastering the art form of observational storytelling by releasing her first observational style feature documentary. Growing Up Milwaukee, recently streamed exclusively on HBO Max for three years. She is in post-production of a 4-year observational sports docuseries in association with NBA Entertainment, following an NBA team's on and off-court successes and failures. She was awarded as an emerging director and producer for DOC NYC’s and HBO Doc Films, 40 under 40 in 2022.

6:30 PM: “Through the Lens: Mentorship, Sisterhood & Black Women in Film” in collaboration with Cinema Femme

About Ahsha Davis | Moderator

Ahsha Davis is filmmaker, producer, and radio podcaster who is native of Detroit, MI. She received her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts with a double minor in Spanish and Communications from Central Michigan University where she began her media career working in radio, news, television, film. She also spent time serving on various campus wide initiatives within equity and inclusion. Her love for media began in 2015 where she worked at WMHW- FM radio station on the News Production team. She then transitioned to the Program Director of a Hip Hop Station and served in that role for 3 years.

Ahsha quickly transitioned into the Film and Television industry and is currently a producer helping with the development of stories. Ahsha received her Master of Arts in Electronic Media Studies from Central Michigan where she focused on researching the Emotional Effects of Film through Marvel Cinematic Universe and plans to continue research in the area. She recently graduated with her second masters from Columbia College Chicago in Film and Television Producing. Ahsha truly enjoys being a TV and Film producer and hopes to own her own production company to help young filmmakers achieve their dreams.

About Sandrel "Sanicole" Young | Panelist

Independent filmmaker Sandrel "Sanicole" Young, originally from the Southside of Chicago, has written and directed film projects that have been televised nationally and screened at several prominent film festivals. The focal point of Sanicole's work is promoting the African-American experience in relationships, families, and community in an uniquely endearing way while highlighting love within circumstances of hardship and struggle. She is inspired by and chooses to explore real life circumstances, internal conflict and matters of the heart. She continues to use storytelling as a tool to encourage. acknowledge, and promote love, progression and healing. Her latest short films, "The Bet" and “Take 290” will be screened in theaters 2025, along with her directorial debut with Lil Rel Howery on his new comedy special "Trippin Out."

About Natasha Parker Olguin | Panelist

Natasha Parker Olguin is a proud Chicago native, raised in North Lawndale on the city’s West Side, who has built a dynamic 20-year career in film rooted in her hometown. She holds a B.A. in Speech & Communications from the University of Illinois, with a minor in African American Studies. Natasha sharpened her screenwriting skills through the Independent Screenwriters Group and is an alumna of ScreenwritingU. Balancing her talents as both an independent filmmaker and a seasoned studio professional, Natasha is a member of three national unions: IATSE Local 476, the Producers Guild of America, and the Directors Guild of America. She made history as the first African American female Location Manager in the Midwest, with notable credits including The Chi, 61st Street, Emperor of Ocean Park, and the upcoming Marvel series Ironheart.

In 2025, Natasha was appointed Deputy Commissioner for the Chicago Film Office, where she now leads the city’s efforts to support film and television production, foster industry partnerships, and ensure equitable access and opportunity across Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Her mission is to strengthen and market Chicago’s landscape and reputation as a world-class film destination, while building bridges between city services, production teams, communities, and industry stakeholders. As the creator and co-founder of Noisemakers Entertainment, Natasha has written, directed, and produced films that have aired on BET, BET+, Amazon, and ABC. Her work has screened at numerous film festivals and earned international acclaim, including a nomination for an African Movie Academy Award in Nigeria. Most recently, she was named one of NewCity’s Film 50 Producers.

Beyond her creative work, Natasha is a successful entrepreneur. She is the Board Chair and Co-Founder of Windy City Event Rentals, a company specializing in event rentals across the Chicagoland area. In 2024, she earned a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and is a YWCA Breedlove Accelerator Alum. A passionate advocate for community empowerment, Natasha has been a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. for over 30 years. She formerly served as President and Co-Founder of the B.I.G.G. Hearted Foundation, which provided scholarships to Chicago high school students. She is a member of NAWBO and has served as a co-beat facilitator for Chicago’s 4th Ward. Natasha is the visionary and Chairwoman behind the newly formed non-profit, Beyond the Frame, a workforce development program and educational initiative focused on equipping underserved communities with skills-based training in entrepreneurship, filmmaking, and the trades.

The Reunion: Creatives Mixer & Panel Series - August 19th

By Sisters in Cinema

The Reunion: Creatives Mixer & Panel Series - August 19th

Presented by XL Fest & Sisters in Cinema