When applying for various labs and fellowships, some applicants may feel compelled to reveal personal details about their lives. This is especially true for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds who may feel pressured to share more information about themselves in their applications and writing. However, it’s important to recognize that not everyone is entitled to your story. In this panel discussion, attendees had the opportunity to learn from a group of experts on how to share some personal details about themselves in a way that feels comfortable without feeling the need to disclose everything about their background.
This event was part of the BRIC Summit Talent & Education Day, which focused on industry career education, educator resources, and acted as an outreach and recruiting day for companies and studios to connect with up-and-coming talent.
Speaker Bios
Moderator Lauren Appelbaum is the SVP, Entertainment & News Media, at RespectAbility. Drawing upon her background in broadcast journalism and as an individual with an acquired nonapparent disability – Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy – she works at the intersection of disability, employment, and the entertainment industry. From entertainment executives to presidential campaigns, she has conducted trainings on the why and how to be more inclusive and accessible.
A big part of Appelbaum’s work is to increase hiring initiatives of people with disabilities behind the camera and to enrich the pool of disabled talent in Hollywood by connecting them to those who can assist with their careers, both on the creative and business sides of the industry. She is a founder of RespectAbility’s Entertainment Lab and Children’s Content Lab, with goals of building the disability community within the industry and connecting Lab Fellows to opportunities as writers, directors, and in below-the-line positions. She received the 2020 Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award for creating the Entertainment Lab.
Appelbaum works with A&E, Amazon MGM Studios, Bunim-Murray Productions, DreamWorks Animation, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Paramount, PBS, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Discovery, among others. She serves on a variety of industry councils, including with CAA, MTV Entertainment Group, Nielsen Media, and Sundance Institute.
This work helps increase diverse and authentic representation of disabled people on screen, leading to systemic change in how society views and values disabled individuals.
Lawon Exum is the Entertainment and News Media Director at RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
Exum has worked in the entertainment industry for 30 years. He started out as an intern at XM Radio (now Sirius XM) as a Producer for the XM Jazz station. This experience propelled him to work at Arista Records as an A&R representative for musical artists such as Usher, The Neptunes and OutKast.
Exum then worked at Sony Pictures Television. He began contributing to projects such as “Breaking Bad,” which took his career to another level. He helped manage social media and build a following of fans for the series. Throughout his time at Sony, he worked in marketing, legal, and content creation.
Through all his responsibilities, Exum was able to be involved in unscripted television. He was a houseguest on CBS’ “Big Brother” in Season 13, where he was known for his fashion and personality.
As Exum’s career flourished, he worked for 20th Century Fox studios, working on projects including “Empire” and “This Is Us.” He also went back to school and received a master’s degree in communication management from the USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism, with a minor in specialized journalism (The Arts).
Exum subsequently shifted careers again to work in news. He became an Associate Producer for “Wake Up CBUS,” which is the Columbus, Ohio local CBS affiliate station’s morning show. While producing the show, he realized the importance of mental health throughout his career, and he wanted to do something about that. A desire to bring change to the entertainment industry, especially around mental health, is what brought Exum to RespectAbility.
Chanel Keenan (she/her) is a Communications Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Spring 2024. RespectAbility is a national nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
While finishing up her degree in Communication and a minor in Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Chanel became the National Hockey League’s first (and only) Intersectionality Consultant. Using her lived experience as a disabled woman of color, she was able to help the Seattle Kraken, specifically, prioritize diversity and disability inclusion at the fan and corporate level.
One thing in particular that Chanel prides herself on is being a student of life. With every opportunity afforded to her, she loves absorbing all the knowledge that surrounds her. It may not take place in the traditional setting of a classroom, but she believes experiencing is learning.
Steven McCoy is an Entertainment and News Media Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Spring 2024. RespectAbility is a national nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
Steven is an award-winning journalist, an inspiring change-maker, writer, and speaker. In 2022, he made history as the world’s first Black deaf-blind journalist, a testament to his resilience and determination. With a deep passion for the arts, Steven has covered numerous red-carpet events, bringing his unique perspective and personality to his work. He is also the host of the popular podcast, “Sessions with Steven,” where he engages in personal interviews with media and public figures, sharing their stories and insights.
Steven’s journey took an unexpected turn in 2019 when he was diagnosed with Usher syndrome, a debilitating disease that affects both his hearing and sight. However, instead of letting this diagnosis define him, Steven recently founded a nonprofit organization titled ‘Spoken Heroes.’ As a 501(c)(3) organization, Spoken Heroes will strive to empower individuals with disabilities and create a more inclusive society. Through various initiatives and programs, Spoken Heroes provides support, resources, and advocacy for the deaf and blind community, making a positive impact on the lives of many.
A graduate of Essex County College with a degree in Liberal Arts, Steven’s work has been featured in several prominent media outlets, including CNN, Yahoo News, Hollywood Unlocked, and Revolt. His powerful storytelling and ability to connect with audiences have earned him recognition and respect within the journalism industry.
Steven is actively involved in community engagement and frequently speaks at events and conferences, sharing his experiences and insights on disability awareness and empowerment. Steven’s dedication to his craft, advocacy, and philanthropy make him a true trailblazer in the field of journalism.
