Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Foundation is on a mission to not only support the next generation of creatives but also to equip them with the resources necessary to thrive. Justin Riley, the company’s Vice President of Operations and Business Development, sat down with AfroTech to share the latest initiatives geared toward helping others. From its Mentorship Lab for writers, actors, and executives to its filmmaking program — Rising Voices — a partnership with Indeed, and more, Hillman Grad Foundation is creating direct pathways for people to move into the industry.

For many people this year, nature and the outdoors have provided the perfect escape from all that has happened in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. However, many people of color still consider it a dangerous space to navigate considering the limitations that exist outdoors based on our race. In an effort to combat this belief, apparel brand The North Face has set a goal to address the lack of diversity in outdoor spaces for people of color, and so it has enlisted the help of Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer, Lena Waithe, and director, Jimmy Chin, to launch a new global initiative. https://twitter.com/thenorthface/status/1317118114732146690?s=20 According to The Cut, the “Reset Normal” campaign has pledged a total of $7 million toward diversifying the outdoors through the Explore Fund Council — a global fellowship program that will ultimately encourage people of color around the world to reset their “normal” lives through the power of outdoor exploration during this...