Director/producer: Michael D. Nes, MFA

Michael is an award-winning filmmaker with a breadth of experience in various mediums. His primary occupation lies in film post-production. He’s married to a dedicated Social Worker who collaborated with him to make this documentary (which you can stream for free from our home page, thanks to PBS SoCal who broadcasted the film on air in January 2018). Michael spent time as a volunteer Adult Supporter with California Youth Connection, introducing him to the incredible and resiliant young adults featured in this film.  He has a B.A. in History from The University of Texas and an M.F.A. in Film Production from Loyola Marymount University.

Producer:
Jennie Nes, MSW

 Jennie has worked in public child welfare since 2006, first in Texas and now in California.  She was a Social Worker and Supervisor before advancing into Administration and has always had a passion for supporting young adults as they transition out of foster care.  In her spare time, she runs resource pages on various social media platforms (accessible from linktr.ee/la_youth_resources) for youth in Los Angeles County who have experienced foster care and/or the juvenile justice system.  She spent over half a decade as a volunteer Adult Supporter with California Youth Connection, championing the empowerment of youth to enact foster care system reform through advocacy and legislative change, including through engagements with legislators on critical issues.

Producer:
Aaron LEE Dowell, MFA

Aaron Lee Dowell is a filmmaker and professor from Compton, California. He has made more than half a dozen short films as well as worked on several feature films and web series. His work tends to explore the mundane in the lives of the Black American. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Film/Video at different community colleges in Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in African-American Studies from Morehouse College and an M.F.A. in Film Production from Loyola Marymount University.