One Of The Greatest Stories In Black History, That You've Never Heard

"There can only be one first, and once it's gone, it's gone forever." Lelia Foley Davis is America's first-ever Black female Mayor, elected in 1973 and holding office for nearly twenty years. Overcoming not only the deep and prevalent racism of the time, but also the barriers against women that held so many back in politics, she is still fighting today for the survival of her town, one of the first, and few remaining, historically Black towns in America.

Lelia's own mother fled on foot from the horrible Black Wall Street Race Massacre in Tulsa in 1921. With the city in flames behind her, she found her way to Taft, Oklahoma, where Lelia would be born, raise children of her own, and go on to hold office, meeting U.S. Presidents, bringing national attention to her town, and dedicating her life to it.

So why hasn't everyone heard of Lelia? Why are our children not learning about her in school? We are using the power of film to change that.

Bromont Program is proud to have partnered with Lelia, to shoot a film that preserves the legacy of such a pioneer, solidifies Taft in its rightful place in history, and inspires future generations to overcome adversity, be proud of the strength in their heritage, and change the narrative. For more information, and to get involved, email us at team@bromontprogram.org

(BROMONT PROGRAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MYLRELL MINER & LELIA FOLEY DAVIS. MARCH 2021)

From Mugshots to Headshots: Providing a Valuable Asset To Those Seeking Work

In the age of LinkedIn, online job applications, social media, internet networking, and particularly in the entertainment industry, a high quality headshot can mean the difference between having a job or being unemployed. But for those who have recently come home from a period of incarceration, a lack of financial means and resources can make this service unattainable.

Bromont Program decided to meet this need by hosting a day-long, free headshot clinic for our members. We provided professional hair and makeup, styling consultations, refreshments, and a team of two professional photographers to shoot industry-standard images.

Bromont Program gives system impacted youth and adults a pathway into the creative side of the film industry, allowing them to benefit from the transformative power of telling their stories through screenwriting, the catharsis one gets from acting, while also using the films that they create to change the way the world views the formerly incarcerated.

There's a lot of stigma that comes with being formerly incarcerated, and there is typically a history of trauma and disadvantage that leads up to the incarceration. This clinic was a way for members to see themselves as working professionals, inside an industry that typically portrays them only as monsters. Many of our members are just starting their lives over, so this was a roadblock removed for them.

Here are just a few of the professional headshots we were able to provide for our members:

"This was an incredible experience. It was so much fun and I felt like a star or a model for real. I can use these shots now to submit to agencies, go to castings, or even for my online resume."

Through continued support from the film community, volunteers, and generous donors, Bromont Program can continue to provide housing, training, resources, mentorship and specialized training. A follow-up workshop is in the works with involvement from one of LA's top talent agencies, where these members will receive further guidance on how to start a career in the entertainment industry. Also being hosted this month is a screenwriters workshop where we will be joined by a representative from our sponsor, Final Draft!

For more information on how you can become involved, or to donate to the upcoming member housing fund, please browse our sit and visit our crowdfunding page.

Special thanks to:

Nicole Barton of Nicole Barton Photography

Dylan of Dylan Pierce Photography

David Rosales of Luxe House Media

Shaina Paulson (Hair and Makeup Artist)

Wannisha Harris (Hair and Makeup Artist)

Bishop Donnie Williams of The Family Church International

Final Draft Is On Deck!

We are so excited to announce that we have been officially sponsored by Final Draft!

Used by 95% of film and television productions, Final Draft is the choice of professional screenwriters and filmmakers around the world. In addition to a generous donation, Final Draft is providing us with enough licenses for all of our members, allowing them the opportunity to learn and create on the best screenwriting software that there is!

Final Draft is very literally empowering our members to be heard, facilitating a pathway for them to get their narratives onto the screen, and out into the world. Our next member screenwriting workshop is now in the works, and we are so excited that Final Draft is on this journey with us.