RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab 2024
Dalila Ali Rajah
Powerhouse storyteller, Dalila Ali Rajah is a wonderful mixture of sandalwood, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. She is a dynamic multi-hyphenate griot; actress, writer, and producer.
Ali Rajah holds a BA in Theatre from Spelman College, and an MFA in Acting from California Institute of the Arts (Calarts).
This lauded activist and content creator founded the Black Queer Joy movement, curates its content, and creates workshops/events to further its mission. She was selected as one of The Advocate Magazine’s Entertainers of the Year, OUT Magazine’s OUT100, and Outfest Fusion’s Storyteller Artist-in-Residence.
She co-created the Queer-women-centered talk show Cherry Bomb!, which ran five seasons on Canada’s OutTV, and her award-winning short film Secrets and Toys, which she wrote, produced, and stars in, has garnered more than five-million views on YouTube.
Her current projects shine a light on the places where her different labels intersect as a Black, Queer, Bisexual, Neurodivergent mother of a Trans child.
She’s toured in the Tony Award-winning production of The Trip to Bountiful with Cecily Tyson, Blair Underwood, and Vanessa Williams; and has appeared in such shows as 9-1-1, How to Get Away with Murder, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, and Criminal Minds. Ali Rajah also won Best Actress for her leading role in the feature drama Quiet As Kept. She is a force to be reckoned with.
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After an extensive search and interview process, 25 individuals were invited to participate in the Virtual Cohort of RespectAbility’s 2024 Entertainment Lab taking place May 7 – September 24, 2024. This 5-month Lab aims to develop and elevate the talent pipeline of disabled entertainment professionals working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming, while connecting them with industry professionals and creatives. Participants include people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and other disabilities ranging in age from people in their 20’s through their 60’s. The Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award.
