Down in The Valley

Down In the Valley | Official Season 1 Teaser | STARZ

Down in the Valley is a documentary series inspired by the vibrant world of “P-Valley.” Hosted and executive produced by Nicco Annan (“P-Valley”), the series will take viewers on a tantalizing tour of the Deep South, unveiling a complex South that is equal parts poignant, joyful, and magical.

S1E1- Diamonds of Memphis

Producer: Ashley Velez

S1E6- Ten Toes Down

Producer: Ashley Velez

United Shades of America on CNN

United Shades of America
United Shades of America

'United Shades of America' follows comedian and political provocateur W. Kamau Bell as he explores communities across America to understand the unique challenges they face.

Season 6

Consulting Producer: Ashley Velez

Season 7

Consulting Producer: Ashley Velez

Stuck With Damon Young

Stuck With Damon Young
Stuck With Damon Young

Award-winning author Damon Young is joined by the brightest and Blackest writers, comedians, and critics he knows to explore the hilarious and hideous absurdity of our behavior – and how race, gender, and class converge to make everything messy AF.

Stuck with Damon Young is a Spotify Original Podcast from Gimlet and Crooked Media.

https://open.spotify.com/show/42kxHmWquXQBJCxG0rXvu6

Ashley Velez worked as a producer for season 1 of Stuck with Damon Young.

Community Connections and Mobility: The Wilder/Parks Family

“Community Connections and Mobility: The Wilder/Parks Family” is one of three short documentary films produced by Draulhaus in collaboration with the International African American Museum (IAAM) and Google Arts & Culture. Each film is the keystone of a digital exhibition, as well as an in-person museum exhibition.

Co-Directors: Ashley Velez and Keenan Marshall

The Living Legacy of Moving Star Hall

“The Living Legacy of Moving Star Hall” is one of three short documentary films produced by Draulhaus in collaboration with the International African American Museum (IAAM) and Google Arts & Culture. Each film is the keystone of a digital exhibition, as well as an in-person museum exhibition.

Co-Directors: Ashley Velez and Keenan Marshall

A Brief History: International Longshoreman's Association Local 1422

“A Brief History: International Longshoreman’s Association Local 1422” is one of three short documentary films produced by Draulhaus in collaboration with the International African American Museum (IAAM) and Google Arts & Culture. Each film is the keystone of a digital exhibition, as well as an in-person museum exhibition.

Co-Directors: Ashley Velez and Keenan Marshall

Exclusive: Rep. Ayanna Pressley Discusses Alopecia Diagnosis for the First Time

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Exclusive: Rep. Ayanna Pressley Reveals Beautiful Bald Head and Talks Alopecia for the First Time

*This exclusive interview went viral, garnering nearly 4 million views across platforms in 48 hours and national press coverage.

Senior Producer: Ashley Velez

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Creative Producer: Michael Pasquariello

Camera: Santiago Garcia

Camera: Felice León

Camera: P.J. Rickards

A King's Place

2020 Webby Award Winner in Video: Public Service & Activism

2020 Writers Guild of America Award Nominee

A King's Place
A King's Place

There are nearly 1,000 streets named after Martin Luther King Jr. across the country, and each has its own unique story. The Root’s A King’s Place series explores streets throughout the nation that bear the civil rights icon’s name and tells the stories of the people who live there.
A King's Place: Finding Martin Luther King Jr. In America's Streets

Senior Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Producer, Host: Jessica Moulite

Director of Photography: David Givens

Additional Editing and Filming: Santiago Garcia
Dr. King's Dream Is Far From a Reality for Residents On DC's MLK Ave

Senior Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Producer, Host: Jessica Moulite

Director of Photography: David Givens

Additional Editing, Filming: Santiago Garcia
These Women Advance Dr. King's Mission By Reclaiming the Black Church's Civil Rights Legacy

Senior Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Producer, Host: Jessica Moulite

Director of Photography: David Givens

Additional Editing, Filming: Santiago Garcia

Additional Filming: Shaun Matos

Additional Audio Recording: Sade Norton

Eyes on 2020

The Root’s Senior Reporter Terrell Jermaine Starr sits down with U.S. Presidential candidates for thorough one-on-one conversations ahead of the 2020 election.

Cory Booker Frustrated Over Presidential Candidates' Focus On Race When Talking To Black Voters

Senior Producer, Editor, Camera : Ashley Velez

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Senior Reporter: Terrell Jermaine Starr

Camera: Felice León

Camera: PJ Rickards
Kamala Harris Calls Donald Trump A Racist, Considers Decriminalization of Sex Work

Senior Producer : Ashley Velez

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Senior Reporter: Terrell Jermaine Starr

Editor: Santiago Garcia

Camera: PJ Rickards
Beto O'Rourke Sits Down With The Root Ahead of First Presidential Debate

Senior Producer and Editor: Ashley Velez

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Senior Reporter: Terrell Jermaine Starr

Director of Photography: Santiago Garcia

Camera: CJ Dominguez

Camera: Marvin Van Buren
Andrew Yang's Plan For Black America

Senior Producer and Editor: Ashley Velez

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Senior Reporter: Terrell Jermaine Starr

Unpack That

2021 Webby Award Winner in Video: Public Service & Activism

2020 Writers Guild of America Award Nominee

America’s got a lot of baggage. It’s time to unpack it. Unpack That is an explainer series hosted by Felice León, which explores the clear and present ways that racism plays out in the world around us.

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Fallen But Not Forgotten: The Erasure of Black Women in Conversations About Police Violence

Producer, Host: Felice León

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Senior Producer: Ashley Velez

Creative Producer: Mike Pasquariello
Black Trauma on Replay: Reevaluating the Role of Sharing Black Death on Social Media

Producer, Host: Felice León

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Senior Producer: Ashley Velez

Creative Producer: Mike Pasquariello
Unpacking COVID-19 and Conspiracy Theories in the Black Community | The Root

Producer, Host: Felice León

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Senior Producer: Ashley Velez

Creative Producer: Mike Pasquariello

Director of Photography: Abhita Austin
Coronavirus and the Racist History of Pandemics

Producer, Host: Felice León

Producer: Jessica Moulite

Senior Producer: Ashley Velez

Creative Producer: Mike Pasquariello

Director of Photography: CJ Dominguez
How Black Twitter Changed The World
Breaking Down the Anti-Blackness of Latinidad

Black Women Breaking The Silence: HBO Max x The Root Present 'On The Record' Panel

Elaine Welteroth leads conversation with Drew Dixon, Sheri Sher, and Kierno Mayo of HBO Max documentary, “On The Record”

Producer: Ashley Velez

Elaine Welteroth Leads Conversation With Drew Dixon, Sheri Sher and Kierna Mayo of 'On The Record'

'When They See Us' Roundtable

Produced in Partnership with Netflix

Black Men Discuss The Realities of Ava DuVernay's 'When They See Us'

Senior Producer: Ashley Velez

Director of Photography, Editor: David Givens

Audio Engineer: Matthew Betlej

Camera: Felice León

Camera: PJ Rickards

Camera: Marvin Van Buren

Special thanks to Camila Crews and Kevin Stuckey

Beyoncé's Ride or Die Dance Captain: Ashley Everett

Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Cinematography: Brian Toro

*This video garnered 1 million views on Youtube, The Root’s most watched Youtube video to date.

Meet Beyoncé's Ride-or-Die Dance Captain Ashley Everett

New Gallery

VSB x HBO's "Random Act of Flyness"

Senior Producer: Ashley Velez

Editor: Michael Pasquariello

Cinematography: Santiago Garcia, CJ Dominguez, PJ Rickards

Mi Gente Afrodescendiente" Series

“Mi Gente Afrodescendiente” (My People of African Descent) is a series that sheds light on Afro-Latinx figures whose stories are often left out of our history books. Watch 3 episodes below:

“Mi Gente Afrodescendiente” (My People of African Descent) is a series that sheds light on Afro-Latinx figures whose stories are often left out of our history books.

Watch 3 episodes below:
Dascha Polanco Tells the Unknown Story of Dominican Tuskegee Airman, Esteban Hotesse

Senior Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Animator: Dan Ashwood

Camera: PJ Rickards

Camera: CJ Dominuez
Global Blackness and the Legacy of Arturo Schomburg | Mi Gente Afrodescendiente

Senior Producer: Ashley Velez, Editor

Animations: Dan Ashwood

Host: Janel Martinez
The "Mother of Cuba", Mariana Grajales Cuello | Mi Gente Afrodescendiente

Senior Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Host: Felice León

Animations: Dan Ashwood

Camera: CJ Dominguez

Tessa Thompson Interview

Could Beyoncé Be An Alien? 'Men In Black: International' Star Tessa Thompson Thinks So

Senior Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Camera: PJ Rickards

Camera: CJ Dominguez

Gabrielle Union Interview

Producer, Editor : Ashley Velez

Filming: PJ Rickards, Alex Clark

Gabrielle Union Interview, Pt. 1
Gabrielle Union Interview, Pt. 2

Black History Month Series: I Love My Black

Produced, filmed and edited by Ashley Velez

This is How I Fell In Love With My Brown Skin
I Love My Black Love
Loving My Black Friendships

Celebrating Queer Black Love

The Root

Filming, Editing: Ashley Velez

Producer: Danielle Young

Angela Bassett and Veronica Webb Talk Black Women In Hollywood

Angela Bassett Talks "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" & Black Women In Hollywood

Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Host: Veronica Webb

Camera: Felice León

Camera: CJ Dominguez

LA Riots, Then and Now

Producer, Editor, Filming: Ashley Velez

Filming: Brian Toro

25 Years After the LA Riots

Chicago's Love Letter to Chance the Rapper

Produced, filmed, and edited by Ashley Velez

Chicago's Love Letter to Chance the Rapper

Moms In Formation

Producer, Editor, Filming: Ashley Velez

Filming: Felice León

Balancing Motherhood and Beyoncé

Secure The Crown: Felicia Leatherwood

If You Love Issa Rae's Hair, You Really Love Felicia Leatherwood

Producers: Ashley Velez, Danielle Young

Editor: Ashley Velez

Filming: Brian Toro

Brown Ballerinas

Producer, Editor, Filming: Ashley Velez

Filming, PJ Rickards, Felice León

Where Are All of the Black Ballerinas?

No Country For Me

*This video has garnered over 4 million views on Facebook

Produced, filmed, and edited by Ashley Velez

This is Why We Don't Celebrate July 4th

Animated Video, Hosted Explainers and Investigative Pieces

Stigmatized: Tackling Mental Health In Black Faith Communities

Author Monica A. Coleman describes her challenges with being bipolar and the role of faith in addressing mental health issues.

Credits:
Ashley Velez, Writer/Producer
Angelica Baini, Jimmy Kalman, Art Direction and Illustrations
Alexa Ledesma, Animator
More Black Children Are Turning to Suicide, So What Can We Do About It?

Produced by: Ashley Velez

Editing and Animations: Jacqueline Robertson

Feature article: https://www.theroot.com/watch-more-black-children-are-turning-to-suicide-so-w-1824012265
3 Major Myths About Gun Violence

Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Host: Andrea Lewis

Graphics: Hope Sincere
Pure Intentions: Little Miss Flint

Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Producer, Host: Terrell J. Starr

Animations: Dan Ashwood
Breaking Down The School-to-Prison Pipeline
Climate Gentrification in Little Haiti

Producer, Filming, Editor: Ashley Velez

Host, Producer: Jessica Moulite

Original News Video

Afro Pick Sculpture Pops Up Next to Philly's Frank Rizzo Statue

Produced, Filmed and Edited by Ashley Velez
Bringing John Coltrane Back to Philly
Meek Mill's Case Shows How The Criminal Justice System Fails Black People

Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Producer, Filming: Felice León
Behind the Gifs: Jasmyn Lawson Brings Black Girl Magic to Giphy

Producer, Editor: Ashley Velez

Filmed by: Jorge Corona, Zoe Stahl
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