Michèle Stephenson is a dynamic and multifaceted individual whose rich cultural heritage, shaped by her Panamanian and Haitian roots, seamlessly merges with her extensive experience as a human rights attorney to produce captivating, deeply personal narratives that are not only created by, but also for, and about, communities of color.
Stephenson, alongside her spouse Joe Brewster, co-founded the Rada Film Group, a multifaceted production company that has successfully produced a diverse array of documentary and fiction films.
During their residency in Brooklyn, New York, the couple directed and produced numerous projects, including the documentary Slaying Goliath, which chronicles the 10-day odyssey of a fifth-grade basketball team from Harlem, New York, as they confront and navigate a culture clash at a national tournament held in suburban Florida.
Their cinematic endeavour, Faces of Change, embarks on a poignant journey to explore the profound experiences of five courageous activists from diverse global locales, who are resolutely combating racism in their respective communities, thereby shedding light on the pervasive and multifaceted nature of this societal scourge.
Moreover, Brewster and Stephenson have also ventured into the realm of feature-length documentary filmmaking, producing and directing the thought-provoking American Promise, a cinematic masterpiece that chronicles the remarkable lives of two African American boys from kindergarten to high school graduation at a predominantly white prep school in the heart of Manhattan, thereby offering a candid glimpse into the complexities of racial dynamics and the challenges faced by individuals from underrepresented communities as they navigate the complexities of societal expectations and cultural norms.
The documentary film, initially aired on the Public Broadcasting Service's POV series in the year 2013, delves into the pivotal coming of age and educational journey of two middle-class African American males, set against the backdrop of the enduring and pervasive United States achievement gap.
Brewster and Stephenson, both accomplished individuals, have received prestigious fellowships from the Sundance Institute and the Tribeca All Access program. Furthermore, they have been awarded the Tribeca Gucci Fund for Documentary Film for their groundbreaking, 13-year longitudinal documentary project, American Promise.
The cinematic production serves as the pivotal component of a multifaceted transmedia initiative, ingeniously integrating mobile web and interactive technological innovations to provide empowering resources and support systems specifically tailored for young men of color, ultimately aiming to facilitate their journey towards achieving success and realizing their full potential.
