Facing Race: A National Conference in St. Louis, MO — November 20-22, 2024

Amber Espinosa-Jones

Amber Espinosa-Jones is an independent producer and stage manager from Oakland, CA. She managers the Outreach & Inclusion program at Sundance Institute where she supports artists from underrepresented communities through intersectional fellowships and community programs. She has worked with a number of arts organizations looking to change the narrative of mainstream entertainment including the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), the Ford Theatres, and the Latino Theater Company.


Presentations from Facing Race 2020

Standing Above the Clouds

Standing Above the Clouds is the story of inter-generational women activists on the Big Island of Hawaii, who call themselves Kū Kiaʻi Mauna, or protectors of Mauna Kea. The film follows three sets of mothers, daughters, and grandmothers, who are at the forefront of the indigenous movement to safeguard their sacred mountain, Mauna Kea, when a construction permit was granted for an eighteen story, Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) to be built on pristine land. Mauna Kea is the tallest peak in the world from seashore, standing at 14,000 feet, and is believed in Hawaiian culture to be the portal to the gods. The film explores the relationships between native Hawaiian mothers and daughters as they go from standing in ceremony to standing on the mountain and in the courtroom.

Directed/Produced by Jalena Keane-Lee, Produced by Amber Espinosa-Jones and Pua Case

Speakers: Jalena Keane-Lee, Amber Espinosa-Jones, Pua Case