Maya June Mansour

MAYA JUNE MANSOUR is a photographer with roots in Black America, Palestine, and Iran. Her work explores themes of healing, beauty, and justice. Maya June has collaborated with Participant Media, Converse, the Getty, For Freedoms, Collective for Black Iranians, and more. Maya is one of the co-founders of Black Image Center, a community photography space in Los Angeles that redistributes storytelling resources from the creative and entertainment industries in Hollywood to LA’s Black residents.

Kalena Yiaueki

KALENA YIAUEKI is an executive producer with a a focus in Fashion and Film. She is a founding member of the Black Image Center and serves as the President. Currently, she is making a film that delves into her family's intricate relationship with race, a project that encompasses extensive archiving and the nuanced exploration of personal inventory and identity through imagery. From a young age, Kalena's love of image was nurtured in her childhood home, where she spent countless hours in her mother's darkroom hidden behind the laundry room. At the Black Image Center, Kalena believes in the importance of its mission — to reclaim and amplify Black narratives through photography and film. Her passion for visual storytelling is not just a personal journey but a communal endeavor. She is dedicated to sharing the freedom and joy she has found in image creation, mentoring a new generation of storytellers. Kalena has found a home and purpose in her role at the Black Image Center, fostering a space where emerging artists can find their voice and contribute to the rich tapestry of LA's Black history and culture.

Samone Kidane

Samone Zena Kidane is a photographer and filmmaker renowned for using her art to shape and reflect the world as she envisions it. Her work, which includes both personal projects and commercial assignments, demonstrates her belief in the power of photography to preserve memories and alter perceptions. Zena's photography is a blend of narrative and exploration, focusing on the unseen and highlighting the beauty in the everyday. Her recent participation in the 2023 Skowhegan Artist Residency exemplifies her commitment to artistic growth and exploration. Through her lens, Samone Zena Kidane invites viewers to reimagine their surroundings, offering a fresh perspective on the world. Her work is more than just imagery; it's a journey towards a more empathetic and imaginative future.

Astrid Kayembe

Astrid Kayembe (she/her) is a writer from South Central Los Angeles. She is an award-winning news, arts and culture journalist and audience engagement editor. Her work focuses on hyperlocal coverage of Black L.A. with an emphasis in style, arts, culture, entertainment and community engagement. Her bylines have appeared in Los Angeles Times, L.A. Times Image, EssenceGU, USA Today, L.A. TACO, ABC7, AfroLA, The Memphis Commercial Appeal, Refinery29 and more. She is also the founder of Burnt Tortillas Magazine. When she's not reporting, Astrid can likely be found walking around an art gallery, shopping on Fairfax, or waiting in line for the best food in L.A.

Dakotah Whiting

Dakotah is a photographer, creative strategist, and visual storyteller. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, she moved to LA in 2021 to further explore and grow her creative path. She holds a degree from the University of Minnesota, where she studied fine art, photography, and journalism—fields that continue to shape her voice and vision. Deeply inspired by photojournalism, fine art, philosophy, and a curiosity about human connection, Dakotah’s work often investigates critical thinking theory, community, and visual textures in a cinematic, yet soft and warm, approach.