Dr. Robin J. Hayes
Storytelling for everybody that unites communities and promotes compassion.
Filmmaker and Scholar speaking on media, race, and equality.
Because of her candor, breadth of expertise, and humorous delivery, Dr. Hayes is in-demand nationally and internationally for speaking engagements. Her lectures, trainings, and filmmaker Q&As are valuable contributions for courses, orientations, workshops, as well as programming for Latinx Heritage Month and Black History Month.
TOPICS
The Colors of Cuba
Screening of the award-winning documentary Black and Cuba followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker, Dr. Hayes.
Why Leadership Matters
A talk that shatters myths and encourages us to develop and embrace our innate leadership qualities.
Why Black Studies is for Everybody
An interactive lecture that reveals how expanding awareness of Black history and culture builds community and closes the empathy gap.
Coping With Microaggressions
A fun empowering interactive workshop that promotes constructive cross-cultural dialogue.
Bio
Dr. Robin J. Hayes is an award-winning filmmaker who directed the documentary BLACK AND CUBA (Amazon Prime, iTunes, Roku). A Yale alumnus who studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she produced the Off-Off Broadway play 9 GRAMS, which was directed by Emmy/Obie winner S. Epatha Merkerson. The Ford Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities funded Hayes’ work. Her book A LOVE FOR LIBERATION is forthcoming on University of Washington Press. Hayes is currently developing several projects including the Screencraft Film Fund semi-finalist, INSIDE EXILE, about iconic Black Panther Party leader Kathleen Neal Cleaver.
Awards and Honors
NEH Schomburg Scholar in Residence
Black International Cinema Festival, Best Film
Ford Foundation Just Films Travel Fellowship
NALIP Media Market Fellow
IFP No Borders Production Marketplace Fellow
Blacklist and Women in Film
Episodic Storytelling Lab, Semi-Finalist
Screencraft Film Fund Competition, Semi-Finalist
Recent Work
A Love for Liberation:
African Independence and Black Power (Book, 2020)
9 GRAMS (Play, 2017)
Black and Cuba (Film, 2015)
Press
Filmmaker Magazine • Screen Daily
Huffington Post • Hyperallergic
The Advocate • AllHipHop
Colorlines • Ebony
Flavorwire • Video Librarian
Village Voice • WBAI