PRINCIPAL, FILM DIRECTOR & STORYTELLER

Manauvaskar (he/him) is a filmmaker, photographer and cultural maverick who creates content with a unique visual aesthetic and compelling stories that spark the imagination and speak truth to power. He started Media Sutra as a vehicle to tell stories that support marginalized and underrepresented communities to be seen, heard and activated. By telling the stories of individuals, organizations and movements through film, photography and design, he inspires and impacts lasting change. Manauvaskar loves to create things that amaze people and make them excited to be recognized. He believes in justice and creativity for all.

Manauvaskar has partnered with national organizations to advance social movements for education justice, gender equity, racial justice, immigration reform, housing rights, criminal justice and more. An award-winning director, Manauvaskar’s films garnered over a hundred film festival selections and were broadcast nationally. His first feature length documentary film, American Beatboxer, premiered nationally on Revolt TV. Manauvaskar has produced and directed numerous films for organizations and campaigns across the country. His fine-art and photo-journalistic photography captures the heart and soul of people and unforgettable moments. His paintings and original illustrations reflect his fine-art training and cutting-edge style mixed with the influence of his cultural heritage.

PRINCIPAL, COACH & STRATEGIST

Taij (she/her) is a visionary change-maker who has blazed a successful path in the arts, activism and philanthropy. She started Media Sutra as a vehicle for self-determination and collective liberation. Manifesting this vision, Taij aspires to build Media Sutra into a hub through which artists, activists and social entrepreneurs can practice interdependence and thrive.

Taij has written and performed nationally and internationally, raised millions of dollars for social service and social justice organizations, established new organizations, transformed existing organizations, and supported leaders as a facilitator and coach. 

Taij loves helping clients to make their vision and dreams possible. She supports clients to develop compelling visions and to infuse their work with breakthrough strategies that ensure success in fundraising, communications and programs. Through trainings and transformative coaching, she also supports leaders to be purpose-driven and joyful by centering wellness and empowerment.

ADMIN AND OPERATIONS 

Nina is an Army veteran and a Nuyorican. A talented painter and poet, she has a passion for helping people and businesses get organized and thrive in sustainable ways, and educating people on ways they can protect themselves online. She has worked with homeless youth and formerly incarcerated men, orphans with special needs, middle school-aged children from lower income neighborhoods, and homeless veterans. Nina has chosen to share an image that best represents her, a graffiti drawing of the name of her beloved dog "Colonel" . We are truly grateful to have her on board as we continue to grow and make space for more BIPOC creatives on our team.

PRODUCER & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Sarah Rohani Drepaul, multidisciplinary artist, merges poetry and filmmaking to rethink sexuality, spirituality and how memory resides in the body. Provocative and visceral style intends to challenge shame, subvert gender roles and evoke mysticism in the mundane. Work is deeply informed by experience as a first-generation, Indo-Caribbean native New Yorker. Currently interested in reframing the “coming of age” narrative as more inclusive and genre-bending. Driven by the healing capabilities of art–and how vulnerability is essential for our collective liberation.

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

Jose Dominguez’s [he/him] approach to coaching is based on appreciative inquiry, emotional intelligence, personal choice, and commitment to action. Jose has a background as a nonprofit executive and Board member, and has lead DEI initiatives as both a leader and a facilitator.  He believes in using questioning, reflection, support and challenge to help create a new understanding of the situation, and exploring the opportunities, aspects and dynamics in the situation to decide on the right course of action.  Jose lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.  

COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS

Priya Dadlani (she/her) is a cultural worker, community organizer and strategist. She was born and raised in Silver Spring, MD and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. Her interests and work are deeply informed by her experiences as an Indo-Guyanese, first-generation, American woman who is of not one, but many, diasporas. In partnership with community, Priya works at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and social justice in order to change the world. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of SPICY, a creative collective working at the intersection of arts, organizing, and publishing. Additionally she is working as a freelancer doing creative consulting work and facilitation of workshops for various organizations. From feature articles to Instagram captions, you can be sure to find Priya theorizing and openly unlearning gender roles, deconstructing colonization’s lasting effects, or sharing memes.

FILM PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Dominick Torres (he/him) is a filmmaker and educator whose stories are centered around uplifting the voices of vulnerable communities. Through both narrative and documentary films, he draws inspiration from the communities that surrounded him growing up in NYC, the melting pot of all cultures to create character-driven films that speak to the interests of city youth. Using close shots, detailed compositions, and dramatic pauses, Dominick scaffolds relatable stories that privilege the narrative subject’s own power to narrate themselves.

Dominick has directed, produced and been a director of photography of short-form documentaries, short narrative films, and a feature-length drama. In addition, Dominick has nine year’s experience editing narratives and commercials and produced and directed online content for corporate and non-profit clients. You can find more of his work at https://domincktorres.com. 

Assistant Editor