MENA ARTS ADVOCACY COALITION (MAAC) is an advocacy group that built a MENA casting category into Hollywood. Founded by Azita Ghanizada, MAAC fights for the advancement and visibility of Middle Eastern North African performers on-screen in Film, Television and streaming platforms.
TV, Media and Film messaging is far more powerful than we even understand. In this powerful TedxTalk, MAAC founder Azita Ghanizada takes us through the journey of assimilating ….
HISTORICAL NEW MENA Casting Category Introduced
Announcement: MAAC Lobbies SAG-AFTRA and achieves historic recognition and addition of Middle Eastern, North African in SAG-AFTRA - AMPTP TV/Theatrical Contracts.
New Study Finds only 1% of TV Series Regular Performers are Middle Eastern North African. 78% of that time MENAs are seen as threats.
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RESOURCES
What is MENA?
MENA is an acronym for the Middle Eastern, North African region of countries ranging from Morocco to Afghanistan and the entire region in between. What is MENASA? MENASA includes the regions above and adds Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Our Goals
Industry-wide education on MAAC's success in lobbying SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP to recognize MENA as a diversity category in official Casting Diversity Reports. Creating a space for the MENA community to be included within diversity hiring practices.
"It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength." --- Maya Angelou