“MAMA Youth Project wasn’t just life changing … it was life saving. Without it, for many young people like me trying to get into the industry, the alternative would have been dire. MAMA Youth absorbed so much of our trauma so that we could emerge as new people instead of carrying the bulk of that trauma into every job."

We’re culminating our celebrations of Black History Month with a candid career spotlight story from MAMA Youth Project Alumni and Head of Scripted Development at Dare Pictures, Cassandra Johnson-Bekoe.

2023 has seen the “Saluting our Sisters” theme honour the achievements of black women for their role in inspiring change and building communities.  Black History Month has highlighted pioneering black women who have blazed a trail in all walks of life, including literature and the arts.  Cassandra’s considerable contribution to both the media industry and to her peers, over a seven-year career, is a testament to this honour.
 
Writer, Producer and Script Editor, Cassandra Co-Founded Black Women in Scripted (BWIS) in 2020, a network which boasts over 300 members – with half of its members being BAFTA nominated writers and producers as well as other below the line talent.
 
With an abundance of accolades and prestigious credits to her name, Cassandra is adamant that if she didn’t do MAMA Youth Project’s training, she would probably still be doing dead end jobs or working in security; having already been a bouncer for five years previously.  Cassandra describes MYP as not just life changing but life saving and talks openly about the importance of the sisterhood it has allowed her to build, providing a lifeline for many black women in the industry and allowing her peers to feel seen, heard and valued.