MASS EPIPHANY STUDIOS

A KEY TO EVERY ROOM AND A SEAT AT EVERY TABLE

WHO WE ARE

MASS EPIPHANY STUDIOS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization, a film and television academy, and a motion picture production studio built to create opportunity and advancement for the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community.

Our Identity

VISION

A world where BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ peoples have a key to every room, a seat at every table, and where every child—regardless of race or gender—gets to say, “I SEE ME.”

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V.O.I.C.E.

Visibility. Opportunity. Inclusivity. Community. Education.

MASS EPIPHANY STUDIOS emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words. The moment is now, specifically because the public consciousness is finally realizing the truth of what we must face: the true history of this nation and its people. Using the film and television arts—in all its manifestations—can teach us how to face those truths in productive, constructive, and innovative ways. MASS EPIPHANY STUDIOS is a bold leap in that direction.

MASS EPIPHANY STUDIOS has the potential to bring upwards of 1,800 construction jobs and 2,200 full-time jobs to the city of Chicago.

The V.O.I.C.E. VOCATIONAL ACADEMY will serve as Chicago's state-of-the-art motion picture academy. It will train and mentor BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ young adults to become the artists, executives, and production crews of the future.

Statistics

Academy

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Visibility

When it comes to roles available in Hollywood, a survey from YouGov Omnibus finds that most Americans believe that there are a sufficient amount of television and film roles for white people (59%), and many agree that there are enough roles for men (47%). Fewer are likely to believe that women (37%), Blacks (35%), Hispanics (23%), Asians (21%), and LGBTQ people (18%) have enough roles available to them.

Opportunity

Bringing a large scale, multi-faceted endeavor of this magnitude to an underserved community in Chicago will greatly improve the overall economic prosperity of that community, while providing visibility, opportunity, and equity to our next generation of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ American artists.

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Inclusivity

Americans believe more strongly than ever that the arts promote personal well-being, help us understand other cultures in our community, are essential to a well-rounded K-12 education, and that government has an important role in funding the arts. MASS EPIPHANY STUDIOS will make it a priority to include our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities on an equitable scale.

Community

Arts participants are more than twice as likely to volunteer in their communities, independent of education, age, gender, or ethnicity. Engaging with cultural assets can help create a shared sense of belonging and strengthen community cohesion.

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Education

A student involved in the arts is four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. Students with high arts participation and low socioeconomic status have a four percent dropout rate—five times lower than their low socioeconomic status peers.

“Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?”

Michelle Obama

CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE

The suggested contributions below will create startup capital and go directly towards programs and services creating visibility, opportunity, and inclusivity for the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

With our goal of $200,000 we will build up a development staff, hire a corporate consulting firm, an architectural firm, and a community communications director.
We are awaiting 501(c)(3) status, at which point all donations are tax deductible.