LOS ANGELES — Tige Charity is a passionate advocate for foster youth.
She co-founded the nonprofit Kids in the Spotlight with her husband, actor Antonio D. Charity, to provide creative opportunities for young people in the foster care system.
Dedicated to providing youth in foster care with an outlet and platform for storytelling and filmmaking as a means of healing, this Los Angeles-based organization has been empowering foster youth to tell their stories their way through film, media and the arts since 2009.
Charity’s journey with the organization began with a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of foster youth.
“Starting Kids in the Spotlight was a spirit-led decision, an act of obedience,” said Charity, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana native. “I was a litigation claims specialist for 17 years. I was burnt out.
“I didn’t want to keep doing it after I was laid off. I wanted to do something special. We were new to California and my husband was teaching theater at a group home.”
Charity said she had what she called “an honest conversation with God” about what direction her career should take.
“It was one of those snot-filled, tears, blah, blah kind of conversations,” said Charity, who is also the executive director of Kids in the Spotlight. “I was having a big pity party — a temper tantrum. Finally, I settled down. I thought about the group home and the young people. I wanted to bridge the gap between the entertainment industry and the welfare industry.”
While she doesn’t usually journal, Charity, who wrote the book, “Not Your 9-to-5 Girl,” did that night.
“I wrote down my vision,” she said. “I’m a woman of radical faith. I believe the Lord was telling me to do this. He was telling me to uplift kids in foster care, equip them with entertainment skills, and then employ them.”
After her pity party, Charity said she felt an overwhelming peace.
“God reminded me of those girls in the group home, and He began pouring into me the vision of Kids in the Spotlight,” said Charity, who recently received the Trailblazer Award from Black Women’s Collective. “The next day, my journey of creating Kids in the Spotlight began. The goal was to employ them.”
At Kids in the Spotlight, foster kids get to tell their own stories.
“They tell their stories their way,” said Charity, who hosts the podcast, Leaders in the Spotlight. “We get to uplift, equip and employ. It’s about changing lives. This is not the end of their story. They don’t need sympathy, they need opportunities.”
With a background in film production and a heart for service, Tige and Antonio Charity, parents to a 13-year-old daughter, saw an opportunity to use storytelling as a tool for empowerment.
Alongside her husband, who brought his expertise in social work and community development, Charity, 54, embarked on a mission to create a safe and nurturing environment for foster youth interested in the arts.
“Kids In The Spotlight has been a life-changing experience,” said Noel, one of the program’s participants. “When I started interning, I was in a shelter. Over the past year, I’ve been able to mark a lot of firsts off my list: my first apartment, my first time on a production, my first time playing a lead role in a short film, and my first time working somewhere where my career path felt like a priority. Kids in the Spotlight changed my life.”
Starting with zero funding, Charity, who has a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Oral Roberts University and a masters’ of business administration in nonprofit management from American Jewish University, grew the organization to an operating budget of over $2 million.
In 2023, the Charitys launched the KITS Production Studio with Purpose in Van Nuys.
The studio is a unique, full-service production studio that offers rentals to industry professionals and connects youth aging out of foster care to jobs in the entertainment industry through its workforce development program, creating income opportunities that drive positive outcomes.
“I have been able to add ‘on set’ experience as a makeup artist, wardrobe stylist, and marketer to my resume,” said Jaél Nixon, a participant in the program. “I have been set up for the best success and have learned so much about people, nonprofits and the film industry working at this studio.”
Kids in the Spotlight’s flagship program, Script-to-Screen, offers foster youth hands-on experience in filmmaking, ranging from scriptwriting to post-production.
“It’s a 10-week program we do multiple times throughout the year,” Charity said. “In the fourth week, we invite industry professionals to a table read, and they give feedback to the kids. After the feedback, the kids make the edits and complete the five weeks. There are five weeks of screenwriting. Then we transition into three weeks of acting.”
The participants then get to develop the characters.
“We have one screenwriting mentor, then one week of casting,” Charity said. “They audition in front of the group that decides who gets to do each role. Then they enter production, and a director is selected. They have the opportunity to work with industry professionals.
We then show all of the films at the KITS Film Awards in November at Paramount Studios. We do hair and “makeup on the kids, and they get to walk the red carpet,” she added.
“Taking part in KITS’ Script-to-Screen program feels a lot like how I imagine a tree growing,” Nehemyah said. “I’ve learned to give back and support others in the industry. I’m grateful for how it has shaped me both creatively and professionally.”
The comprehensive program not only teaches valuable skills but also helps participants build confidence and develop their creativity. By sharing their experiences through film, Kids in the Spotlight alumni gain a voice and a platform to express themselves, fostering a sense of belonging and self-worth.
After foster youth write, cast and star in their short films, the 10-15 week program culminates in an annual “Movies by Kids Screening and Awards” event.
Since its inception, Kin the Spotlight has positively impacted the lives of more than 1,000 foster youth, offering them a supportive community and opportunities for personal growth.
Many alumni have gone on to pursue careers in film and media, while others have developed essential life skills, such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving.
The organization’s impact extends beyond its programs, as it also raises awareness about the needs and potential of foster youth.
Kids in the Spotlight boasts numerous success stories.
“We have a youth starting a program at Disney,” Charity said. “We have kids who are working at NBC Universal, the Department of Mental Health Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Television Academy, and Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’
“Over 16 years, we have produced more than 100 short films. We have a film library. We have some on iNDIEFLIX. We want to partner with a platform that has an audience already — like Hulu, or Netflix.”
Charity is proud of the impact her organization has had on the lives of foster youth.
“Last year we had four youth graduate from college,” she said. “For us, it’s the day-to-day of not giving up. We want them to make good decisions for their future. Everyone should care about this program and the kids. It impacts us all. I don’t know what inspires people. It’s the most rewarding feeling ever to love and invest in someone else.”
There is a lot more in store for Kids in the Spotlight.
Charity said an editing apprenticeship program is currently in development, but the ultimate goal is to launch a Performing Arts Residential Academy.
“It will be a boarding school for 9th-to-12th graders,” Charity said. “We need more funding. We’ll be able to help even more foster youth when it opens.”
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
