Karen Toering has a background as an organizer, cultural worker and consultant for non-profit arts and social justice organizations that is born out of her passion for connecting people to ideas and action. Her work includes social justice philanthropy, base-building and collaboration on media justice and media policy initiatives, strategic engagement in equity and cultural based collaborations designed to close the wealth gap in communities.

Karen’s interest in film and media led her to serve as Consulting Producer for the Seattle Black Film Festival . She is also the founder of the Gary International Black Film Festival in her hometown of Gary, IN, and is co-founder of Sankofa Film Society in Seattle, WA. Karen also enjoys reinvesting in her South Seattle neighborhood as a partner at Black and Tan Hall.