imani altemus-williams

Emerging documentary film producer with experience as a freelance journalist, organizer and coordinator in the nonprofit sector. Passionate about social and ecological justice, healing, and collecting stories that illustrate the collective experiences of historically colonized peoples, by not only highlighting injustice, trauma and pain, but also our inherent resilience, strength and beauty. Writing has been featured in National Geographic, Documentary Magazine, Waging Nonviolence: People Powered News & Analysis,

Intercontinental Cry Magazine, Seventh Native American Generation Magazine and The New School Free Press. Her work has been syndicated by In These Times, Alternet, Truthout, Nation of Change, Dissident Voice, iNews Report Network, Earth First! Newswire and others.

SUMMARY OF EXPERTISE

Emerging documentary film producer with experience as a freelance journalist, organizer and coordinator in the nonprofit sector. Passionate about social and ecological justice, healing, and collecting stories that illustrate the collective experiences of historically colonized peoples, by not only highlighting injustice, trauma and pain, but also our inherent resilience, strength and beauty. Writing has been featured in National Geographic, Documentary Magazine, Waging Nonviolence: People Powered News & Analysis,

Intercontinental Cry Magazine, Seventh Native American Generation Magazine and The New School Free Press. Her work has been syndicated by In These Times, Alternet, Truthout, Nation of Change, Dissident Voice, iNews Report Network, Earth First! Newswire and others.

STORYTELLING AND MEDIA EXPERIENCE
Producer of The Kahea (previously The Calling) Honolulu, HI Sovereign Lens LLC 2012-Present

Co-founded Sovereign Lens LLC in 2019. Co-produced proof of concept sizzle to help raise funds for production of The Kahea, a feature documentary about de-militarization in Hawaiʻi.
• Establish relationship with characters, crew and potential funders and supporters

• Grant writing
• Story writing
• Research
• Conduct Interviews

Producer of Kamakakēhau: The Heart’s Desire Honolulu, HI The Pōpolo Project 2019-Present

Co-lead oversight of film shoot for 10-minute proof of concept sizzle funded by a research and development grant that was awarded by Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC).
• Establish relationship with potential grant makers, characters and crew

• Grant writing
• Story writing
• Research
• Conduct Interviews
• Coordinate team meetings

Fellow The Peace Studio 2022 – Present
I am a Peace Studio Arts & Journalism fellow, along with my collaborator Luanna Peterson. We are working to offer a community project entitled Follow the Drinking Gourd. Follow the Drinking Gourd calls for social and political change through personal, ancestral, and place-based narrative engagement with audiences and will include techniques for using theater as a vehicle for personal and social change.

Fellow Documentary Magazine of The International Documentary Association (IDA) 2022- 2023 Reported on documentaries and influential Indigenous film production companies.

Contributing Writer Waging Nonviolence: People Powered News & Analysis 2012-2015
Reported on Indigenous Social Movements, Indigenous Sacred Sites, Polynesian Voyaging, Ethnic Studies, and the impact of biotech engineering on Hawaiian lands.

Contributing Writer Intercontinental Cry Magazine 2015
Reported on Hawaiian Independence and U.S. tribal federal recognition.

Intern Honolulu, HI ʻŌiwi Television Network 2012-2013
Assisted staff with story writing, transcribing, logging, and shoot set-up.

Intern New York, NY WBAI Pacifica Radio 2011-2012
Assisted staff with writing and recording promotional ads, conducting interviews and fundraising.

OUTREACH & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
Institute on Violence, Abuse & Trauma Honolulu, HI Outreach & Administrative Coordinator 2019- 2022

Helped organize Hawai'i and San Diego International Virtual Summits on Preventing, Assessing & Treating Trauma Across the Lifespan, coordinate Hoʻomaluhia (Hawaiʻi-Pacific branch) Advisory Council, Executive Committee and Summit Planning Committee, coordinated contracted program evaluations, webinar trainings, established and maintained community collaborations.

COMMUNITY & LABOR ORGANIZING

Union Organizer Honolulu, HI Unite Here! Local 5 2013-2015
Organized healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente hospital and clinics. Organized rallies, day actions, work stoppages and a 6-day strike, which resulted in a victory and the workers keeping their pensions.

Field Canvasser New Orleans, LA Grassroots Campaigns 2018 • Canvassed to gain donors for the ACLU Field Canvasser New York, NY Working Families Party 2012

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AHAverim Honolulu, HI 2022- Present

Part of a team that was awarded a grant by the Jews of Color Initiative to conduct research on Jewish presence in Hawai'i. Our project is focused on building relationship between Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) and Jewish communities.

The Art of Survivance: Sacred Land, Storytelling & Resistance in Louisiana Guovdageaidnu, Norway Master of Arts in Indigenous Journalism 2018

Conducted fieldwork research in South Louisiana using indigenous research methodologies. Master’s thesis explored the role of storytelling in Black & Native communities efforts to protect sacred lands in Louisiana.

Cultural Resistance: Empowering Youth Through Culturally-Based Curriculum New York, NY Bachelor of Arts 2012

Bachelor thesis explored how the pedagogy and curriculum of La Raza studies and culturally-based curricula effectively reinforces a positive self-perception for youth of color.

VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP & MOVEMENT BUILDING

Board Member at Large Honolulu, HI The Pōpolo Project 2019-Present

Board Member at Large Honolulu, HI Hawaiʻi Women in Filmmaking 2021-Present

Hoʻomaluhia Advisory Council Member Honolulu, HI

Founding Council Member Honolulu, HI Honolulu Waldorf School Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council 2020- 2022

Member Honolulu, HI Hui Aloha 'Āina o Ka Lei Maile Ali'i 2019
Emerging Peace Leader in Hawai'i Honoree Honolulu, HI The United Nations Association of Hawai'i 2015 Volunteer New York, NY International Rescue Committee 2011
Participant New York, NY New School University Social Justice Leadership Retreat 2011

EDUCATION

Sámi University of Applied Sciences & World Indigenous Nations University Guovdageaidnu, Norway Master of Arts in Indigenous Journalism 2018

New School University New York, NY Bachelor of Arts 2012
Major in Global Studies with a concentration in Rights, Justice and Governance

SIT (School of International Training) Ceará, Brazil
Study abroad program focused on Social Justice & Sustainable Development 2011