mission

Black River Life provides news, media and cultural arts for African Diaspora community-building and truth-telling, grounded in our shared experiences of migration, resistance, healing and joy.

our story

Black River Life began in 2017, when founders Brian and Collette started offering free and affordable photography, videography, and production services to Black-led organizations across greater Phoenix. Alongside this creative support, they partnered with the community on political education and arts-based efforts for social justice.

As their work evolved, so did their focus—shifting toward creating content and spaces that uplift stories of race, migration and repair. This evolution led to the formation of the Black River Life Media & Arts Collective.

In 2024, Black River Life took the next step, transitioning into a nonprofit organization to grow our capacity and sustain our programming for years to come. We are currently in our startup phase and energized about what’s ahead.

how we work

Black River Life leverages cultural arts and media to explore how who we are, where we are, and how we got here. As part of moving the narrative of Blackness forward, we work to:

• create cultural events and media that explore Black migration and displacement

• partner with fellow artists and community members on creative activations around these themes

• help diverse Black-led nonprofits and small businesses use film, video and photography to tell their stories

• provide political education on racial equity and justice

our team

Brian Watson is the visionary co-founder and director of strategic planning at Black River Life. Brian is an actor, poet, filmmaker and proud first-generation Jamaican, by way of New Jersey. His impressive producing credits include the short film "Grey Matter" by Jake Verligheri and the feature film "Old Man Winter" directed by Zane L’Erario. Brian has also created digital media segments for Frontline Philly and The Outbreak Creative Group. On screen, he starred in "The City is Mine" (Pierre Films), earning a nomination for Independent Best Film at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF).

Brian’s expertise extends to film festivals, having contributed to the Philadelphia Film Festival & Cinefest, the American Black Film Festival, and Philadelphia Qfest (formerly the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival). A proud alumnus of Hampton University and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Brian also boasts over 20 years of experience in financial services with Bank of America. He is a beloved mentor across every community in which he has served, and a seasoned arts empowerment facilitator.

Collette Watson, co-founder and executive director of Black River Life, is a multi-passionate creative across music, writing, and communication with over a decade of experience. She masterminds narrative change, community partnerships and strategic communications, collaborating with artists, media-makers, and advocates to transform the media landscape towards a more equitable, just and reparative future. Prior to launching Black River Life, Collette made her mark at Black Alliance for Just Immigration and J. Walter Thompson’s New York office. A proud native of lowcountry South Carolina, she holds a degree from Howard University's Cathy Hughes School of Communications and co-created the Media 2070: Media Reparations Project at Free Press.

Collette’s media journey began in 2003 with WHUT-Howard University Television and Indigo Creative Works, where she was mentored by Shellee Haynesworth. Active in her community, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, an alum of the State of Black Arizona’s African American Leadership Initiative, and has served as communications director for multiple chapters of National Urban League Young Professionals as well as press secretary for East Valley NAACP.

In the music world, Collette has graced stages alongside icons like Lauryn Hill, Boyz II Men and Talib Kweli. Her talent has earned her the John Lennon International Songwriting Contest award and a nomination for Best Female Vocalist in the SoulTracks.com Reader’s Choice Awards. Currently an artist-in-residence at LATHA in downtown Phoenix, Collette continues to enchant audiences with her live performances and public speaking on Black musical, cultural and narrative lineage.

Lindsay Bernardez, a proud Honduran-American and first generation native New Yorker, channels her passion for the arts into a vibrant career spanning over thirteen years. A versatile supporter and promoter of creative endeavors and media productions, Lindsay brings a wealth of experience and spirit to every project she undertakes.

Lindsay's academic journey includes studying Early Childhood Education and Business Management at SUNY Westchester and Pace University. As a talented artist specializing in painting and drawing, she seamlessly blends her artistic flair with her knack for data organization. Prior to joining Black River Life, Lindsay worked with the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, in program administration and audience engagement.

Now planted in Arizona, Lindsay is thrilled to deepen her practice while amplifying Black voices and enriching the creative landscape of the Valley of the Sun.

our philosophy

Black River Life Collective is a love letter, a loudspeaker and an exploration of the many streams of Black life. We deliver news, information, documentary films, cultural events and community gatherings that highlight the African diaspora.

We are pro-Black, pro-Queer, pro-Trans, pro-Immigrant, pro-Worker, pro-Abolition, pro-Reparations and in solidarity with all oppressed peoples around the globe, particularly in the Global South. We believe that land must be restored to its Indigenous caretakers. In keeping with Black queer feminism, we believe that the pursuit of safe, just societies means centering those who are on the margins. When Black people get free, we all get free.