Event Info
Access to arts and culture has a huge impact on the well-being of our communities. As technology rapidly advances, BRIC is committed to providing new and innovative ways for everyone to experience creative content.
Join us for a panel discussion with members of the BRIC ecosystem as they explore the critical role of access, opportunity, and sustainability in the arts and culture sector. Don’t miss a tour of BRIC House afterward! A light breakfast will be served from 8:30AM-9:00AM.
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About the Panelists
Lorisa Bates (Moderator) is currently the Founder and CEO of Batesville Media, where she brings over 25 years of executive experience in television and film. Her extensive career spans content licensing, development, and production, where she has established herself as a skilled negotiator and innovative business leader. Throughout her tenure, she has cultivated strategic relationships with industry stakeholders while managing multimillion-dollar production budgets. Her impressive portfolio includes greenlighting and developing 80+ original movies, TV series, music specials, and acclaimed short films. Through Batesville Media, she focuses on producing, developing, and writing compelling content while also engaging in speaking and teaching opportunities.
Alani Weeks (Panelist) is a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary creative dedicated to helping marginalized communities share their stories. As the first in her family to attend and graduate from college, Alani faced a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges—experiences that ultimately led her to earn two Telly Awards and accumulate a mountain of debt. Despite it all, she remains committed to making people laugh, believing that laughter is the best medicine. You can follow her adventures on the BRIC-produced podcast Neurospicy Black Girl. Follow Alani on social media:
- Instagram, Threads, TikTok: @alanilikesediting
- Podcast Instagram, Threads: @neurospicyblackgirlpodcast
- Podcast TikTok: @neurospicyblackgirlpod
- Podcast BlueSky: @neurospicybgpod.bsky.social
- Podcast YouTube: Neurospicy Black Girl
Eric Miles (Panelist) is a veteran educator, artist, and arts administrator who has worked with schools, universities and community-based organizations for over twenty years. The focus of his career has been in support of New York City’s aspiring high school artists, as an award-winning visual arts teacher and department head. In this mission, he co-founded the Bronx High School for the Visual Arts, administered a multi-disciplinary arts program at the Urban Assembly School of Music and Art and led Pratt’s Institute’s teacher training program. Eric has also been an advocate for youth voice through his leadership in community-based mural projects locally and internationally.
Marlin Xie (Panelist), a high school senior at Brooklyn Technical High School, is a Chinese American activist, artist, and aspiring lawyer. He was a Youth Curatorial Fellow and Teen Docent for BRIC from 2024 to 2025. Marlin’s work in environmental and LGBTQ+ activism combines art and justice to empower youth across the nation.
Learn More About BRIC’s 2025-29 Strategic Plan
Want the full scoop? BRIC President Wes Jackson breaks down our Strategic Plan at the link below.
BRIC’s strategic plan is made possible by grants from the Booth Ferris Foundation and Mertz Gilmore Foundation
