Join us for a panel with actors Jaylen Barron ('American Sports Story'),  Yvette Nicole Brown (Community'), Toks Olagundoye (Arcane') and Taylor Polidore Williams ('Beauty in Black'), moderated by Licensed Psychotherapist and Production Therapist Candace Washington, as they discuss how acting can serve as more than performance for Black female actors. The discussion will show the profound impact it can have as a means of empowerment, self-discovery and healing.

BIOS:

Jaylen Barron

Growing up in Southern California, Jaylen Barron knew from a young age she wanted to be an actress. As part of a multicultural family, she took great pride in her African American and Latina heritage. She was dismayed to find very few actors that looked like her onscreen. Driven by a desire to make a change, Barron decided that she wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Noticing her passion to reach her goal, her mom took her to get headshots and she soon landed her first job as a model for the girls clothing brand Justice. While making her mark in the world of modeling, she continued to pursue her dream of acting in hopes of emulating her childhood role models like Halle Berry.

Barron's first foray on the small screen came when she was cast as Melanie on Disney’s 'Shake It Up.' Shortly after, she recurred on Nickelodeon's 'See Dad Run' as Emily’s best friend Mary, as well as 'Good Luck Charlie' as Lauren Dabney, the love interest of Gabe Duncan. Other memorable appearances include guest spots on 'Bones' and 'Those Who Can’t.' Though these were some of her very first performances, her talent did not go unnoticed and earned her four Young Artist Awards nominations. 

Her big break came when she landed a heavily recurring role on Showtime’s Emmy-winning drama series 'Shameless.' Barron portrayed Dominique, the girlfriend of Ethan Cutkosky’s character, Carl. Dominique is a good girl with bad girl tendencies that goes on a downward spiral. She shared the screen with the all-star cast including William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Allen White, and Steve Howey. 

Following Shameless, Barron continued to take Hollywood by storm. She played the lead on the award-winning Netflix series 'Free Rein.' She starred as Zoe, a 15-year-old from Los Angeles who spends the summer at her mom's childhood home on an island off the coast of England. After befriending a mysterious horse during the summer, she finds the strength to deal with issues she faces. Her character was the only black female on the equestrian team, making her the first American person of color to play the lead in a Netflix Children’s original series. The series won two Daytime Emmys, including one for Outstanding Children’s Series, and earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Children’s Program. 

Barron landed her standout role when she was cast as the wild and outspoken Trish in the Starz hit drama series 'Blindspotting,' based on the 2018 film. The cast also included Helen Hunt, Rafael Casal, Daveed Diggs, and Jasmine Cephas-Jones. The show premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and made a name for itself as the summer show to watch when it was certified fresh by Rotten Tomatoes. It garnered critical acclaim, earning the TV Spotlight Audience Award at SXSW as well as Independent Spirit and Gotham Awards nominations. Barron’s performance earned her praise from fans and critics alike, including a spot on Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood Up Next List as well as Essence Magazine's 15 Afro-Latinx Stars That Should Be On Your Radar. She was most recently seen as the female lead opposite Josh Andres Rivera in the Ryan Murphy FX limited series 'American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez,' which was inspired by the popular podcast 'Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.' The show is streaming now on Hulu.

She has also showcased her talent behind the camera in the world of voiceover. She can be heard in Go90’s animated short series 'Explosion Jones' alongside Danny Trejo, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Carl Weathers, and James Hong. In addition, Barron voiced Esther in Netflix’s 'Twelve Forever.'

When she is not busy, Barron enjoys cooking, watching documentaries and most importantly, spending time with her family. She also loves working out by spending time in the gym or outdoors. Barron loves fashion and prides herself on keeping up with the latest styles and trends. She currently resides in the Los Angeles area. 

Yvette Nicole Brown

Yvette Nicole Brown is an Emmy-nominated actress, writer, producer and host best known for her roles on the television shows: 'Community,' 'The Mayor,' 'Drake and Josh,' 'The Odd Couple,' 'Big Shot' &  'Act Your Age' and films including 'Dreamgirls,' 'Tropic Thunder,' 'Avengers: Endgame,' Disney's live-action reimagining of  'Lady and the Tramp' & 'Disenchanted.' 

Currently, she can be seen in 'Code 3' where she stars alongside Rainn Wilson and Lil' Rel Howrey and coming soon, 'K-Pops' where she stars alongside Anderson Paak in his directorial debut.

In the Voiceover world, Yvette can be heard in Disney/Pixar’s 'Inside Out 2' as well as animated shows as varied as 'Shape Island,' 'Pupstruction,' 'Frog and Toad,' 'My Dad The Bounty Hunter,' 'The Loud House,' 'FireBuds' and the newly announced 'Among Us.'

She is also a 2020 NAACP Image Award Nominated writer for 'Always A Bridesmaid' — the Romantic Comedy she penned and Executive Produced that is streaming on Netflix and BET+. 

Yvette sits on the National Boards of Donors Choose (where she is Vice Chair), EMILY's List, SAG-AFTRA and serves on the Board of Governors for MPTF (Motion Picture Television Fund). Yvette is also a caregiver and advocate for good. 

Toks Olagundoye

Toks Olagundoye is a triple negative breast cancer survivor and thriver who voiced the role of Mel Medarda in Netflix’s Emmy award winning animated series 'Arcane.'  Best known for her series regular roles, Toks starred as Olivia Finch on the latest iteration of 'Frasier,' Hayley Shipton on 'Castle' and JJK on 'The Neighbors.' You may also have seen her as Kemi Talbot (the Kamala Harris character) on 'Veep,' Conchita Lewis on 'Fatal Attraction' and Carl’s wild card training officer, Leesie Janes on 'Shameless.'  A seasoned voice actor, Toks has given memorable performances voicing characters such as Mrs. Beakley on 'DuckTales,' Countess Cleo in 'Carmen Sandiego,' Nanefua in 'Stephen Universe' and Lucinda in 'King Fu Panda,' as well as a plethora of voices in shows such as (the new) 'Beavis and Butthead,'  'Family Guy,'  'American Dad' and the 'King of the Hill' revival. Though she now resides in LA, Toks began her career in NYC in such projects as 'Law & Order,' 'CSI: NY' and 'Ugly Betty' and on stage alongside Ruby Dee in 'Saint Lucy’s Eyes.' Toks is a Smith College alumna and proud mom who believes in kindness, compassion, community and that we are all put on this planet to support one another.

Taylor Polidore Williams

Taylor Polidore Williams is an American actress, voice over artist, and humanitarian.

She can currently be seen in Netflix’s 'Black in Beauty' as the series' lead Kimmie, a victim of human trafficking, whose fate takes a turn when she crosses paths with the wealthy, dysfunctional family behind a large cosmetics empire, uncovering a devious trafficking scheme. Season 1, Part 1 premiered with nearly 9 million views in its first week, with Part 2 landing in Netflix’s Top 3 TV Shows in the U.S. Season 2, Part 1 premiered this September and quickly shot to the #1 spot on Netflix’s U.S. charts. The highly anticipated Part 2 is expected to premiere in early 2026.

Last summer, Taylor starred opposite Meagan Good in Tyler Perry and Amazon Prime Video’s film 'Divorce in the Black,' which topped the Amazon charts the week of its debut. Taylor also had iconic recurring roles in FX’s critically acclaimed 'Snowfall' as well as The CW’s 'All American: Homecoming.' She is also an accomplished voice over artist, having voiced characters for Nickelodeon, Disney, and Peacock, among others.

Born in Texas and the daughter of an engineer and educator, Taylor grew up surrounded by the arts in the Houston area. She began doing theatre and transitioned to print modeling, television, and film. Taylor was cast in her first feature film, 'Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,' directed by Malcolm D. Lee, at 14 years old and determined to fulfill a career as an actress.

Taylor is a proud alumna of HBCU Clark Atlanta University where she studied Mass Media Arts with a concentration in Film. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. While in school, Taylor took advantage of Atlanta's growing film industry and began doing independent projects while still studying. She is extremely passionate about the rights and welfare of young people and is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for youth in foster care.

She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Candace Washington

Candace Washington, LCSW-C (she/her), is the Founder and CEO of Restorative Minds Therapeutic and Wellness Services and the Co-Founder of The Production Wellness House. She is a Mother, Author, Minister, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, a United States Air Force Veteran, and a Production Therapist for television and film. Candace graduated from Bowie State University and Howard University and has over a decade of experience. She is a trusted expert in providing mental health services through advocacy, consulting, education, and clinical support, specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and self-harming behaviors.

Candace is a vibrant and multifaceted individual whose passions beautifully merge the fields of wellness and the arts. Candace is now executive producing an animated project alongside award-winning actress, producer, and activist Erika Alexander and Ben Arnon, Founders of Color FarmMedia, based on Candace’s life, and written by Emmy-winning writer Halima Lucas. As someone who has survived suicide attempts, she’s now fostering a culture that embraces vulnerability, compassion, and empathy. 

As a Production Therapist, she has worked on feature films such as BET's For What It's Worth, PBS' Southmont Drive, and an American Black Film Festival (ABFF) winning film entitled ‘Laundry’. She brings her expertise in mental health education to assist productions in establishing wellness on-set and one-on-one with cast and crew, building mental fortitude and strategies for their well-being. She plays a pivotal role in leading initiatives in the film industry, focusing on raising awareness and fostering a more informed society surrounding mental health. 

She participates in college initiatives, leading meaningful discussions on the campuses of Howard and Yale University. She serves as an ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), utilizing her platform to raise awareness about mental health and support NAMI's global initiatives to enhance the lives of individuals affected by mental health conditions.

Candace is a sought-after international speaker and licensed mental health professional. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Mental Health Professionals by the Boris L. Henson Foundation, founded by Taraji P. Henson, and participated in discussions with the Directors Guild of America, speaking on the importance of ethical storytelling and emotional wellness in filmmaking. This honor, along with her appearances on Good Morning America and at The Essence Festival of Culture, highlights her credibility and influence in the field. She resides in the Washington Metropolitan area with her sons, Bryson and Braxton.