THE CREW
Zian Chavez, MA, ATR
Producer (She/They)
Zian is a Spanish, Indigenous, New Mexican, queer, non-binary, neurodiverse, artist, activist, Art Therapist and film producer. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993. They also live with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and a cognitive and speech impairment. They also live unapologetically with an exorbitant abundance of love and respect for all humans. She’s lived in California, New Mexico, Guam, Hawaii, Spain, England and Portland, Oregon. They went to grad school at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a dual degree in Art Therapy and counseling. After grad school she moved to Portland, Oregon and started working with different nonprofits working with adults with disabilities. For the past 7 years, Zian is an Art Therapist working with HIV positive Oregonians.
She loves traveling, learning, cooking, reading, and practicing mindfulness and meditation. Her favorite motto is, “Pace with Grace”.
Beth Ann (BA) Short, LCAT, ATR-BC
Director (They)
BA identifies as mixed race, gender queer/nonbinary person. BA comes from a diasporic Maliseet/Wolastiqiyik family who left Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. They are also Irish, German and English. They also experience multiple invisible disabilities. BA is an artist, art therapist, educator, filmmaker and activist. In all of their work BA applies a postmodernist approach incorporating intersectionality, social constructionism, feminism, queer theory, and antiracism. “I believe human beings will always be evolving. My work relies on empathy, language, storytelling and art. Often this means there are multiple truths and realities to explore, understand and witness. I also believe in the importance of acknowledging, questioning and creatively dismantling historical systemic power structures that have been in place marginalizing individuals.”
Robert Lafady
Cinematographer (He/Him)
Robert Lafady was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Robert has over 30 years of photography, video, editing and publishing. Robert has worked as a Director of Operations and an Operations Manager for over 28 years. Currently Robert is an operations manager at Enders & Associates. He also directs, edits and publishes training videos at Enders & Associates Productions for vendors across the United States and abroad. Robert is also brand ambassador for Rad Power electric bikes. In his spare time he loves spending time with his chosen family, traveling, biking, and experiencing life in the Pacific Northwest.