Kema Charles’s quest for stardom took her from Orlando, Florida to the bright lights of Hollywood. Initially, she wanted to be an actress on big screens all over the world. However, the unpredictability of the film industry steered her towards a path behind the camera.
Navigating the highs and lows of Hollywood life, Charles realized her calling was to help inspire a younger generation to explore their own cinematic passions and career interests. Years later she created Lights, Camera, Discover, a nonprofit with a mission to introduce kids across the Phoenix area to the captivating world of TV, film, and production.
Web exclusive extended interview below:
STN:
Where are you from and what was your childhood like for you?
Kema Charles:
I’m originally from Oak Park, Illinois, and spent my childhood in the western suburbs of Chicago. My family was heavily involved in the community. I was in the Girl Scouts, and my mom was in charge of the fun fair in our neighborhood. We also organized large block parties in our community. Unfortunately, when I was 14, my dad passed away, and our family moved to Florida.
Moving meant adapting to a whole new community. My parents always emphasized finding what works for you. So, sports, especially volleyball, became my non-negotiable. I told my mom, ‘If I can’t play volleyball there, we’ve got to figure something out.’ I was stubborn back then, but it was about making the move work for me as much as for everyone else. That mentality stuck with me: find what works for you, and that’s how you grow with the community.
STN:
What brought you to Arizona? How did you get into the work you are doing now at Lights, Camera, Discover?
KC:
In 2007, I moved from Orlando to LA. Having spent some time in LA on and off before, working at a film school, I saw the impact that being in a new city had on students who were unsure of their career paths. It reminded me of my own experiences as an adult moving around, not knowing anyone.
At the film school, I became like an auntie to those kids. I noticed a pattern of students accumulating debt without a clear understanding of their goals. Many took acting, only to realize later that it wasn’t what they truly wanted to do. Seeing the students struggle to find their own careers stuck with me because it reminded me of my own journey. I initially moved to LA to pursue acting but I discovered my passion was behind the camera producing and directing. I enjoyed having more control, beyond just following the cue to action.
I founded the nonprofit Lights, Camera, Discover so that I could help provide kids with some insight into the film industry before committing to a career in the field. While we teach filmmaking, we also focus on life skills applicable to everyday situations. For example, a student from our early programs in Florida decided to pursue a career in communications after taking audio classes with us. Another student chose a military path with a focus on communication skills learned through our program.
I started the nonprofit in LA but never conducted a program there. Instead, I took it to places lacking where they did not offer classes and camps like we have at Lights, Camera, Discover. We have done programs in Pensacola, Florida, Denver, Colorado, Bellwood, Illinois (my hometown), and Arizona. In 2012 I took a six-month break to concentrate on my nonprofit, during those six months I decided to stay with my sister in Arizona. Six months turned into a more permanent stay because the community I found in Arizona was so supportive.
I fell in love with the backing we received in Arizona, starting from my apartment in Tempe, progressing to an office, and now having an office in Tempe and a building in Ahwatukee. The ongoing support and the way people rally behind our cause make me truly appreciate being part of the Arizona community.
STN:
What do you all do at Lights, Camera, Discover? What are some the the programs and services you offer for kids in Phoenix?
KC:
In 2007, I relocated from Orlando to Los Angeles. Having previously spent time in LA, working at a film school, I observed the impact of a new city on students unsure of their career paths. This experience echoed my own journey as an adult moving around without knowing anyone.
At the film school, I became like an auntie to those students. I noticed a pattern of students accumulating debt without a clear understanding of their goals, many of them jumping into acting only to realize later on that it wasn’t their true passion. Watching their struggles reminded me of my own path. While I initially moved to LA to pursue acting, I discovered my passion behind the camera in producing and directing. I enjoyed having more control beyond just following cues to action.
I founded the nonprofit Lights, Camera, Discover to provide kids insight into the film industry before committing to a career. While we teach filmmaking, we also focus on life skills applicable to everyday situations. For example, a student from our early programs in Florida pursued a career in communications after taking audio classes with us. Another student chose a military path, emphasizing communication skills learned through our program.
Though I started the nonprofit in LA, I never conducted a program there. Instead, I took it to places lacking similar classes and camps, like Pensacola, Florida, Denver, Colorado, Bellwood, Illinois (my hometown), and Arizona. In 2012, I took a six-month break to concentrate on my nonprofit. During that time, I stayed with my sister in Arizona, which turned into a more permanent stay because I found such a supportive community in the Valley.
I fell in love with the backing we received in Arizona, starting from my apartment in Tempe, progressing to an office, and now having an office in Tempe and a building in Ahwatukee. The ongoing support and the way people rally behind our cause make me truly appreciate being part of the Arizona community.
STN:
How important is collaboration in the work you are doing at Lights Camera Discover? What do you look for when you are seeking out collaborations within the community?
KC:
In my work with nonprofits, I always say that it’s not about competition; it’s about collaboration. We’re all in this together. Realistically, I can’t reach every single kid here in Arizona on my own. That’s where the power of partnership comes in. You join forces with others who share the same ideals, even if their programs differ, the goal of strengthening the youth in our community is still the same.
For me, collaboration isn’t just a nice thing to have it is a must-have. Success, growth, and learning all hinge on working with others. Every day is a learning experience for me. I started this nonprofit from the ground up, It was an idea that I wholeheartedly embraced. Yet, it’s the collaboration with other nonprofits, and the mentorship I’ve received, that has been crucial for my survival and longevity for the last 13 years.
I’ve learned that without collaboration, without tapping into the wealth of knowledge from other nonprofits, the road becomes much tougher. It’s a message I hope other nonprofits embrace. We are not competitors; We are allies. Nonprofits need to understand we need each other in order to survive and grow.
STN:
What are you looking for when you are trying to find collaborative partners within the community? How do they get a meeting with Kema Charles?
KC:
The best way to connect with me or learn more about my nonprofit is to schedule a time to meet with us. During Covid, we had to rethink our approach, especially considering that arts programs were among the first to be impacted by budget cuts in schools during the Pandemic. We realized relying solely on grants, sponsorships, and donations might not be sustainable.
As a solution, we utilize our own for-profit facility where we rent out event space. This helps us sustain our free youth programs but also provides an opportunity for people to discover who we are. Attending our events allows you to see firsthand how you can contribute and or benefit from what we do at Lights, Camera, Discover. For nonprofits, facility space is often a significant need, so reaching out and collaborating in various ways, from fundraisers to drives, is one way to help.
Feel free to come and meet us during our office hours, or schedule a time to visit us, as long as it is not on Sunday during football season.
Meeting one-on-one is crucial, and it’s the most effective way to understand what we do.
STN:
How does it make you feel every day to go to Lights, Camera, Discover and do the work you are doing?
KC:
At the end of the day, my work evokes a sense of community. I recognized this connection when we organized a program in my mom’s hometown, where people kept telling me, ‘This is exactly what your mother would have done.’ It’s something ingrained in me since childhood. I believe everyone has a calling, and for me, this is it.
There were moments when we didn’t have a program, and I felt a void in my life. However, this summer, during our program, I realized this is exactly what I want to be doing. Sometimes, I have doubts about whether I’m on the right path, but completing a program erases any of those doubts. When I see a child’s face light up as they realize they have accomplished something they never thought possible, it is incredibly rewarding. Likewise, when parents of shy kids or a child who may be on the spectrum tell me how much their child has grown since joining our program, it reaffirms my sense of purpose in contributing to the community.
STN:
Do you have any success stories from the last 12 years that stand out?
KC:
We offer an entrepreneur program because college may not be the right path for everyone, even though it’s valuable. Some individuals possess skills that don’t necessarily require a college education. In our entrepreneur program, we teach kids videography, photography, and how to manage their own businesses.
For instance, in my very first internship program, one of my students now has his own clothing line, which was even featured in Phoenix Fashion Week.
Initially, I worked with juniors in high school and above, but recently, I decided to extend our program to younger kids. I currently have nine and ten-year-olds who have started their own businesses. They design their logos, have uniforms, and participate in pop-up vendor events. It’s inspiring to see them learn money management skills at such a young age. I believe we’re instilling a sense of equity in their lives by showing them they can work for someone else, work for themselves, or even do both. Our goal is to expose them to various possibilities in life.
STN:
What is your biggest need right now?
KC:
In the nonprofit world, the primary need is always financial support. While monetary contributions are essential, volunteering also holds financial value because it saves on salaries. Any form of financial or in-kind support is appreciated. In-kind assistance is particularly valuable for our programs, especially if you have expertise in finance, filmmaking, writing, or you can dedicate your time to volunteer for kids.
For our events and fundraisers held at our venue space, volunteering for roles like managing a raffle table or bartending is a big help. Whether you are making monetary donations or volunteering your time and skills, it all contributes to the financial well-being and the mission of Lights, Camera, Discover.
