M.E.W. FOUNDATION

Redefining the Stage :
The M.E.W. Production Foundation’s Strategic Plan
FY 2026 -2028

The Vision & The Ensemble

Every great production relies on a strong cast and a clear direction. We are more than just a foundation; we are a collective of artists, advocates, and bridge-builders united by a singular belief: that THE ARTS BELONG TO EVERYONE. From our leadership team to our community, this is the ensemble driving our work, and this is the vision that lights our path.

Our Mission:

To amplify unheard diverse community voices of every age and hearing ability through inclusive performing arts education, unconventional youth scholarship support, and immersive community arts workshops.

Our Vision

To create a movement where the arts serve as a communal bridge, not a barrier, for ALL.

Our Ensemble

Cortney “L.A.” Culton,

Executive Director

With a unique background in Theatre and Deaf Education from Grambling State University and a track record of raising over $1 million for charitable causes, L.A. brings a powerful blend of artistic vision and strategic leadership to the Executive Director role. As the founder of M.E.W. Productions, he has

successfully bridged the gap between Deaf and hearing audiences through internationally acclaimed films and stage plays that champion authentic representation. Today, he channels that expertise into the M.E.W. Productions Foundation.He leads not just as an artist, but as a bridge-builder committed to radical belonging in the arts.

William Dome,

Board President

Jumbe Lumumba,

Board Secretary

Katherine Moon,

Board Treasurer

Jesse Crook,

Board Trustee

Klijah Mitchell,

Board Trustee

Cortina Jackson,

Advisory Board

Peter Quint,

Board Trustee

Velyncia Caldwell,

Advisory Board

Brandon Bush,

Advisory Board

Why We Amplify

Talent is universal, but access is often limited by the ability to hear.

For too long, the performing arts have operated in a ‘hearing-first’ world, deepening the divide between Deaf and hearing communities and silencing vibrant creative voices. We exist to dismantle that barrier. Born from a mission to make entertainment accessible to all, M.E.W. Productions Foundation bridges these two worlds, ensuring that storytelling is not defined by sound, but by shared human connection.

Our Story: Beyond the Curtain

M.E.W. Productions (Making Entertainment Worthwild) was founded to prove a point: that entertainment is richer when it bridges the gap between the Deaf and hearing worlds. We successfully disrupted the industry by creating shared cultural experiences through film and theater.

But we quickly realized that true inclusion requires more than just a final performance; it requires a pipeline of opportunity.

We saw talented individuals across the entire spectrum of hearing loss—Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and those navigating new phases of hearing changes—with no place to train, and diverse voices with no platform to develop. The M.E.W. Productions Foundation was established to fill that void. We moved beyond just producing content to cultivating capacity. While the production company creates the art, the Foundation nurtures the people.

By launching scholarships and immersive workshops open to all ages and all hearing abilities, we evolved from a company that tells stories into an organization that empowers people to write their own. We are no longer just putting on a show; we are building a legacy of access, education, and radical belonging for everyone, regardless of how they hear the world.

The Challenge: A Stage Divided

The performing arts world has long operated on a “hearing-first” default. For Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) individuals, accessibility is often treated as an afterthought—a caption added at the end rather than a core element of the design. This systemic exclusion creates deep silos, leaving talented D/HH artists without mentorship, young creatives without accessible education, and diverse communities separated by a language barrier that art should be breaking down, not reinforcing.

The Solution: Center Stage For All

M.E.W. Productions Foundation flips the script. We don’t just accommodate differences; we center them. By integrating American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf culture, and advocacy into our scholarship programs and immersive workshops, we create an environment in which hearing status does not dictate success. We function as a communal bridge, proving that when you design for the margins, you improve the experience for everyone—creating a unified stage where every voice resonates.

The "Yes And..." Way

Our culture is our choreography—it dictates how we move, how we connect, and how we create impact. To amplify our community, we must first create an environment where energy is never blocked, only expanded. Here are the core values that ground our work, ensuring that every space we enter is transformed into a stage of radical belonging and joyful disruption:

“Yes, And...”

From the heart of improv, "Yes, And..." is our philosophy. We build on ideas without shutting them down. We meet every person where they are and add to their experience, fostering a culture of collaboration, possibility, and enthusiastic support.

Joyful Disruption

We don't just think outside the box; we believe there is no box. We joyfully challenge "the way it's always been done," using playful creativity and new ideas to break down barriers and amplify our impact.

Listen With All Senses

We believe in listening in every way. We honor all forms of expression--from verbal language to sign language to body language-- by listening with our ears, our eyes, our minds, and our hearts.

Radical Belonging

Our commitment to belonging is active and shared. We build our spaces together so that every person, of every age and hearing ability, feels seen, valued, and knows that they truly and fully belong.

Be The Bridge

This is our core purpose. We are connectors, facilitators, and bridge-builders. We reject silos and actively foster connections between diverse communities, using art as the universal language for shared understanding.

Scripting the future

A great story doesn’t just happen; it is carefully crafted scene by scene.

Although we are in the earliest chapter of our organization’s history, we are writing this script with the foresight of a seasoned production. This inaugural strategic plan represents a critical pivot from the spark of startup momentum to the discipline of long-term intentionality. It outlines the specific plot points—our directives and goals—that will anchor our vision, ensuring that even in our first years, we are building the infrastructure to make our impact inevitable.