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EVENT

SAG-AFTRA Careers in Focus: Diversity Lives in NYC

Ongoing

Panel Discussion with Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Tom Fontana, Ty Jones, Carol-Lynn Parente, Ryan Tarpley, Maysoon Zayid, and Adam Moore (moderator)

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for pre-panel reception. Light refreshments will be served.

How are content creators and other professionals in the industry developing strategies to foster inclusivity in the entertainment and news industries? Join SAG-AFTRA for a candid conversation featuring a group of entertainment industry leaders who will share how they are making an impact through their work; and learn more about the lasting and positive change they are making in their fields.

Scheduled Panelists include:

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is a TV writer, book author and print journalist. She has written drama pilots for CBS, A&E and Warner Bros. Previously she worked as a staff writer and foreign correspondent for TIME magazine, and before that for Money, Ladies’ Home Journal, Adweek, and Rolling Stone.

Tom Fontana has written and produced such groundbreaking television series as St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz, The Philanthropist, Copper, and Borgia. He has received, among others, three Emmy Awards, four Peabody Awards, three Writers’ Guild Awards, four Television Critics Association Awards, and the Cable Ace Award.

Ty Jones is an actor, producer and award winning screenwriter. In his role as the Producing Artistic Director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH), he has initiated the acclaimed Uptown Meets Downtown™ program and the inaugural Uptown Shakespeare in the Park, bringing free, outdoor, professional theater to Harlem.

Carol-Lynn Parente, Senior Vice President at Sesame Workshop, is responsible for overseeing all Sesame Street content around the world and across all media-based platforms. Starting out as a Post Production Assistant 23 years ago, she has risen through the ranks and is the Executive Producer of Sesame Street.

Ryan Tarpley is an Executive in the Foundation at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Leading the agency’s diversity efforts, he is involved in recruitment, hiring and retention of talent.

Maysoon Zayid is an actress, professional standup comedian, and writer. With over 7 million views of her TED Talk, she also is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival.

Moderated by Adam Moore, National Director, EEO & Diversity, SAG-AFTRA

This event is made possible by the SAG-AFTRA Ethnic Employment Opportunities Committee.

Admission is free. RSVP here by April 25, 12:00 p.m. All reserved tickets are released on a first-come, first-served basis; doors open at 6:00 p.m. Please note: Due to a high no-show rate for free events, the Museum generally overbooks to ensure a full house.