RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab, Summer 2022
Erika Ellis
Erika Salima Ellis was born in Philadelphia and grew up in both southern New Jersey and Philly. She had a desire to be like Tootie from the Facts of Life TV show. Erika spent ten years navigating an extraordinarily unique elementary to high school experience, as a member of the first group of girls ever to be admitted to the formerly all-male Girard College boarding school. After Erika graduated from GC, she attended college for a year and then she confidently pursued a military career. After completing her service in the Navy, Erika realized she needed to spread her wings beyond the limits of an aviation electronics military career. As a freshly minted US Navy Gulf War era veteran, Erika followed her dreams into the world of finance…right after September 11th and before the 2008 crash. With the sudden need to pursue yet another career path, Erika completed her degree in Public Relations from Rowan University. From there, she found herself thrusted into the NYC fashion industry, working on Fashion Week projects, which naturally led her to the world of A-list celebrity events. From that mountaintop, Erika finally saw her career potential coalesce and she started writing and worked on some independent productions, finding her love of film. All the worlds and characters she encountered thus far found life again in the stories that are solely hers to tell. Now living in Los Angeles, Erika writes TV pilots, features and she also produces short films as a proof of concept.
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After an extensive search and interview process, 20 individuals were invited to participate in the Los Angeles Cohort of RespectAbility’s 2022 Entertainment Lab taking place June 7 – July 14, 2022. This 6-week, 18-session Lab aims to further develop and elevate the talent pipeline of diverse professionals with disabilities working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming. Participants include people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and other disabilities ranging in age from people in their 20’s through their 50’s. The Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award.
The Los Angeles Cohort of the 2022 Entertainment Lab is made possible with support by:
- Platinum Sponsors: Murray/Reese Foundation and Netflix
- Gold Sponsors: The Harnisch Foundation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and The Walt Disney Company
- Silver Sponsors: Hollywood Foreign Press Association Charitable Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, and NBCUniversal
- Location Sponsors: Bunim-Murray Productions, DreamWorks Animation, Endeavor, Lionsgate, Nielsen, and ROSIES Foundation
