My career has allowed me to positively impact culture and society by featuring characters of color in lead roles. I’ve been a staff writer on “Doc McStuffins,” which features a Black girl who’s a doctor for her stuffed animals and toys; “Nella the Princess Knight,” a biracial princess/knight; “Elena of Avalor,” Disney’s first Latina princess; “Mira, Royal Detective,” Disney’s first Indian lead, and most recently I was the showrunner on Netflix’s “Ada Twist, Scientist,” which features an 8-year-old Black scientist. The representation cannot be overstated. The small percentage of Black female physicians at the time “Doc McStuffins” was created began a movement called “We Are Doc McStuffins,” inspired by the series. And I’ve heard stories about little boys wondering if they “can be doctors too” after watching the show. I’ve heard that people didn’t know there were Black scientists in the world, but hopefully having “Ada Twist, Scientist” as a presence in the world will help to expand that thinking and awareness. I am immensely grateful to have carved out this career where I’ve been blessed to be a part of imprinting these positive images on young minds.
Kerri was born in Jamaica and when she was 11 years old, settled in New York with her family, where being an immigrant and feeling like an outsider led to writing poetry in her journal. Kerri has won the Peabody Award, Humanitas Prize, NAACP Image Award, Sentinel Award, and NAMIC Award. She’s written for several animated shows and was most recently an executive producer on the Netflix show “Ada Twist, Scientist,” a co-production between Netflix, Chris Nee’s Laughing Wild, and the Obama’s Higher Ground Productions for which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Preschool Series. Kerri earned a master’s degree in Mythological Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute, is now a 10-time Emmy nominee and one-time winner, and lives in Los Angeles with her Black cat, Luna. She is a frequent visitor to Martha’s Vineyard, a place she calls her future home.
Photographer Robyn Twomey’s Portraits on Purpose profiles people carving their own destiny in order to have a positive impact on the world. They are changemakers, cultural innovators, and sometimes troublemakers, but always good trouble.