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Meet The Founder
Hi, I’m Amanda!
I’m a creative to the extreme! At a young age, I knew I wanted to do many things, but focused on one gift at a time. From actress, to teacher, to mother, to producer, to entrepreneur - I know it's possible to use all of your talents for a fully realized life.
I found myself speaking with different creatives throughout my journey. I realized there was a deep need for a community and a way to keep them empowered. That’s where the inspiration for Creative+ was born.
Amanda Stephen’s Bio
Amanda is a multi-hyphenate creative, first-generation Caribbean-Canadian and naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Montclair, NJ. She is a SAG-AFTRA & Equity actress, founder and owner of Creative+ and former director of the Poughkeepsie Performing Arts Academy. She is best known for her role as ALISON ABDULLAH in the groundbreaking series Orange is the New Black.
After graduating from the University of Central Florida, Amanda joined the B Street Theatre‘s Apprentice Company in Sacramento, California. As an apprentice, she learned how to run a theatre and earned her Equity Card in the process. Once in New York, Amanda started her journey of working with non-profits and building her acting career. In 2012, Amanda had the opportunity to build a theatre program from the ground up at M.E.T.S. Charter School in Jersey City, NJ. As a theatre teacher, Amanda’s passion for sharing the performing arts with young people grew. In 2015 Amanda was appointed the Board Chair of Wide Eyed Productions; a NYC based production company that exists to bring brave, bold, and culturally relevant new texts to production. Between 2016-2018 Amanda continued pursing acting while lending her experience, artistry, and advocacy to organizations and causes as an: advisor, artist-mentor, producer, panelist, and speaker.
In 2017, Amanda welcomed her daughter into the world; the start of a brand-new adventure. During the height of the pandemic, Amanda was inspired to fulfill a dream of creating a space for those who dared to live authentically, those who love creativity, enjoys diversity and uplifting one another.
In late 2021 Amanda Stephen was one of 18 accepted into NYFA’s Incubator for Arts and Culture Leaders of Color in the Tri-State 2022. Amanda was also selected to join the Broadway Coalition & Columbia Law School for Theater of Change: Reimagining Justice Through Abolition. Amanda currently serves on the board of Holiday Hoops & Arts and is always looking for ways to serve our global community.
Creative+ will be opening its new location in Montclair, NJ on June 5th, 2023. Amanda is excited to connect with the community and beyond!