About JoLa

JoLa Films, Inc. (JoLa) is a family-owned business primarily run by Tonya Thomas - a former TV producer and film studio marketing research executive with several years of nonprofit programming experience.

Over the years, JoLa has been contracted to develop and facilitate a variety of projects related to programming, including casting for VH1’s TV show, “My True Crime Story,” developing and managing a service-learning/work readiness program for over 400 first-year students from SUNY College at Old Westbury, producing a Public Service Announcement for NYS, developing curriculum for a film-marketing course for Digital Film Academy, providing workshops for a work readiness/life-skills program for youth participating in the Urban League of Long Island Summer Youth Program, and for residents at Eager to Serve - a residential facility providing wraparound services for children and families.

Currently, the staff is engaged in planning and development activities related to launching JoLa's first cohort of its new JoLa Youth Work Readiness Program.

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JoLa is about...fostering shared creative learning experiences for youth, partners, and community members while creating a pipeline to internships and careers with growth potential in the TV and Film industries.

Mission & Vision

Mission

Our mission is to promote the upward mobility of young people of color and other historically marginalized and underrepresented youth ages 14-24 through the facilitation of a college and career readiness program that includes soft and hard skills training, work readiness workshops, panel discussions, mentorship, and job shadowing/internships - all linked to the TV and Film industries.

Through our network of industry partners and the training and establishment of a cadre of storytellers and content creators, we endeavor to develop/produce/acquire/market, and distribute media & film content that entertains, informs, inspires, and moves audiences.

Vision

Our vision is to run a media company that successfully:

Runs a Youth Work Readiness Program which increases youth awareness of the plethora of career options available in the Film and TV industries
Provides a unique experience and several of the tools needed to help prepare hundreds of youth - from some of Long Islands' most under-resourced communities - for the world of work
Builds a pipeline to viable career-building opportunities, in the film and television industries
Produces TV and film programming, and supports innovative storytellers and content creators from marginalized communities, by providing access to resources for the completion of their projects