Ashley Cheyemi McNeil

Full Spectrum Features (“FSF”) is one of the Midwest’s leading film and media nonprofit organizations working to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in the independent film industry. As a BIPOC-led/founded organization, FSF has developed numerous programs that address systemic issues that have historically prevented people of color, women, LGBTQ-identifying individuals, the disabled, and other marginalized groups from fully participating in the creation and exhibition of independent cinema. The Leading Edge Fellow will assume a key leadership role in designing and executing Hidden Histories, a teacher training program that will enable K-12 teachers to utilize FSF’s award-winning digital humanities programs to teach history in the classroom. Branches of the Virginia Public Library will serve as key locations for hosting professional development seminars for K-12 teachers, and public humanities programming. The fellow will play a crucial role in developing and releasing Hidden Histories, which will serve as a model for teaching other histories of marginalized people through narrative cinema.