Planted a seed, then grew we.
Self-Empowerment Educational Development. A Chicago 501(c)(3) that puts cameras, studio time, grants and free training in the hands of young creatives on the South and West Sides, the same blocks Ta'Rhonda came up on.
Tax-exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3), EIN 33-2899968. Donations are processed securely by Givebutter.
Opportunity is the only thing talent is missing.
Free acting & media classes
The J(Actress) Hub: acting, improv, writing, music, directing, photography and editing for kids, taught by Ta'Rhonda and working professionals. No cost to families.
Grants & equipment
Media, film and television grants, gear and studio access for emerging creatives who have the work but not the budget.
Networking hubs
Rooms where young artists meet the directors, producers, engineers and actors who can move their careers, in person, in Chicago.
We invest in you. You inspire the world.
The foundation's artist program gives independent artists the resources that usually cost a label: a Grammy-winning mix and master, a magazine feature, a billboard, a live TV performance and a professionally produced music video. Your journey, our support.
By request and invite only. Join Ta'Rhonda's community of independent artists with your name, email and phone, and her team will reach out when a spot opens.
Official partners: Daytime Chicago (WGN) · HYPE Magazine · Classick Studios · Only Believe / OBE Studios · MQJ Billboards.
Five ways to be seen.
She has been doing this since before it had a logo.
Through her first nonprofit, the Black Village Foundation, Ta'Rhonda ran annual Christmas giveaways on the West Side that drew car lines fifteen blocks long, handed out thousands of toys and hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, and funded "Build Black Wealth" grants for dozens of Chicago entrepreneurs, from truckers and cosmetologists to a law-school student.
The S.E.E.D. Foundation carries that work into the arts. She also serves as performing arts director at Project H.O.O.D., Pastor Corey Brooks' community center in Woodlawn, where the J(Actress) Hub meets.
- 15blocks of cars, one giveaway
- 68grant recipients
- $0cost to families
The J(Actress) Hub
by Ta'Rhonda Jones
A free program for Chicago youth that treats every kid like the multi-hyphenate she is. Twelve creative disciplines, four to six weeks each, taught the way sets and studios actually run.
- WhereProject H.O.O.D.6620 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60637
- WhenWednesdays & Thursdays, 5–7 PMSaturdays, 2–4 PM
- CostFreeFunded by the S.E.E.D. Foundation and its donors
Breathing, self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, affirmations.
"Yes, and." Listening in the present. Making your partner look good.
Cadence, delivery, pacing to land a joke, word play.
Poetry, music, scripts, daily journaling, critical thinking.
Genres, songwriting, rapping, recording, and how to release it.
Script breakdown, method, listening, confidence, public speaking.
Leadership, taking notes, and the five C's of cinematography.
Angles, lighting, poses, exposure. There is no wrong in pictures.
Organizing footage, sound and music, titles, patience.
Dare to be different. Color blocking, fittings, confidence.
Hierarchy, balance, repetition, color, poster and flyer making.
Space, lines and forms, light, matching color, texture and pattern.
Safe space, always
Diversity, inclusion and a room where every student is personally supported while being professionally challenged. Anything uncomfortable goes straight to Ta'Rhonda, privately.
Real feedback
Every scene gets written notes from classmates and the instructor. Self-tapes rarely get feedback in the industry; here they always do.
Beyond the classroom
On-camera shoots with professional equipment, recording-studio sessions, field trips, guest appearances from working actors, and incentives for showing up and showing out.
Proof of work. Made with the kids.
Music videos, parodies and short films written, performed and shot with the J(Actress) Hub students at Project H.O.O.D. and the BBF Center for the Arts. This is what a semester looks like when the kids run the set.
"BLACK" · Project H.O.O.D. music video
"How You Feel" · Project H.O.O.D. rap video
Acting Class Short Film · the students on camera
BBF Center for the Arts · North Lawndale
Kool Kids Cooking · a full episode, hosted by Ta'Rhonda with the students in the kitchen
Bring the S.E.E.D. to your school, church or block.
Sponsorships, corporate partnerships, equipment donations, guest instructors, venue partners and press. If you can help a young artist get a camera in their hands, we want to talk.