OUR TEAM

Executive Director

Lynn Hughes (she/her) is an award-winning producer, writer and director whose career creating media spans more than 20 years. Her work has aired on networks across the globe, including NBC, PBS, Discovery, History Channel, BBC, Channel 4, MTV and Showtime. Her expertise in developing non-fiction programming includes recent series on Apple, Disney+, HBO, Investigation Discovery and OWN. As a member of the Producers Guild of America, she served as chair for the Documentary Committee and the Women’s Impact Network (WIN). Lynn is a former member of the board of AYM, serving in her tenure as Finance Chair and Co-Chair of the board.

Outreach

(she/he/they) has had a long standing commitment for community activism and education. Morgan is studying education at Champlain College in Vermont and dreams of one day to becoming history teacher and professor of critical race theory. She has a deep passion for her field and for empowering her community, making mutual aid and activism a main priority. In the studio, Morgan spends her time at work building relationships within local school and organizations in the community, recruiting students and partners for AYM.

Teaching Artist

(she/her) was featured in Variety's 2015 100 Writers to Watch. She is a former NYC analyst, DC policy writer, international aid director and touring dancer. In 2023, her plays were presented at the Signature in DC, Nashville and Omaha. Nayna is an alumna of the Unlock Her Potential initiative, The Salon initiative, Disney ABC TV Writers Program and the Sesame Street Writers Program. She has written for Disney, ABC, Netflix, DreamWorks, Mattel and won a development deal with Sesame Street. Recent credits include ABC’s The Baker and The Beauty, Disney’s Encanto, an upcoming Disney film, and a Netflix live-action YA fantasy show.

Teaching Artist

(she/her) is a film enthusiast, radio personality, film blogger and video producer. Having worked in the entertainment business for over 25 years, she wears many hats -- casting director, producer, radio show host and film publicist. Molly hosted BROADMINDED, a national talk show on Sirius XM for eight years. Molly gets to the heart of any story with humor and extortion. Molly's passion is discussing the filmmaking process. She has interviewed hundreds of actors, directors, writers and continues to host filmmaker screenings and Q&A’s for numerous studios such as Focus Features, Paramount Pictures and Fox Searchlight.

Teaching Artist

(he/him) is a British filmmaker based in Washington, DC. His films have been screened at film festivals in the United States, UK, and Asia. Graham is a faculty member at Montgomery College and an associate producer at Sightline Media, a media outlet that reports on the military. He is the head programmer at the North by North International Film Festival and has taught Filmmaking at Ohio University and Interlochen School of the Arts.

(she/her) Zoe is a multimedia artist from Washington DC with a degree in Communications and Film from the University of Wisconsin. She spent five years working in marketing and social media for an international streaming service at AMC Networks. Currently, Zoe serves as a communications consultant with Project:Camp, a non-profit that organizes day camps for kids in the midst of disaster. Whether she is editing footage, making metal sculptures or developing a podcast, Zoe is driven by the power of storytelling to inspire empathy, empower those who feel unseen, and spark meaningful social action. 

Teaching Artist

(she/her) is a filmmaker and Political Science major from the DMV. She’s had a lifelong love of movies and a keen interest in how they are created behind the scenes. After working in virtually every position on a film crew, her main focus is writing, directing, and editing. She hopes to make a difference in her community through her favorite medium: film.

Teaching Artist

(he/him) is a filmmaker from Gaithersburg, MD. He graduated from Towson University with a degree in Electronic Media & Film and a minor in African American studies. Bala has directed several short films and music videos for various artists. He has also worked on notable films such as Apple TV's "Ghosted'' starring Chris Evans and Ana De Armas, and Netflix's "Rustin" with Colman Domingo. Additionally, he has experience as a gaffer/lighting technician for films such as "Step Back, Doors Closing." Bala is always eager to take on new projects and bring fresh ideas to the table.

Teaching Artist

(she/her) has always loved art and expressing herself creatively. aAs a sophomore in high school, she took the initiative to begin a 3-year digital media production course. Quickly it became her passion! Shir is a first-generation college graduate, who double majored at Towson University in Maryland, graduating with a B. in Electronic Media and Film and a BFA in Digital Art and Design. Shir is skilled in photography, fine art, digital art, and illustration, as well as 2D, 3D, stop motion, and rotoscoping. She loves her work and is grateful for the opportunity to work with youth.