Lisa Durden

Newark NJ native, Lisa Durden, is an award-winning director/producer, content creator and multi-hyphenate media maker. She recently earned her Masters In Fine Arts Degree, in Social Documentary film, from New York’s School Of Visual Arts. In 2005, Ms. Durden took the leap and launched, Lisa Durden Unlimited Productions, a Multi-Media Company, specializing in developing content for linear television, film, digital and live audiences, with a focus on telling compelling stories about underserved communities, featuring big, entertaining, characters!

Recent projects include: Director/Producer of the short film, Girls Matter, which WON Best Animation at the Tokyo International Short Film Festival ’21 and distributed by LightbeamTV; Assistant Director of the Verizon PSA, Conversations With Mom; Producer of award-winning PBS 2019 Online Festival Short Film, Paris Blues in Harlem; Co-Producer of the provocative, award-winning, feature film TITLE VII; Conceived & Produced the award- winning PBS Maya Angelou Film’s successful Live Twitter Chat, which garnered 8 Million Impressions.

She’s also the Former Broadcast Manager for Black Public Media’s 2016 AfroPoP Series and Produced ImageNation’s 2016 star studded Revolution Awards. Ms. Durden also served as Associate Producer of the award-winning PBS’ feature documentary, Soul Food Junkies; Associate Producer of the Peabody award-winning, Prime-Time Emmy and NAACP Image awards nominated, Sundance Channel’s, 5 part docu-series, Brick City 1; Production Director of the star-studded Reel Sisters Awards and Curator of the 2016 – 2017 Reel Sister Film Festival & Lecture Series. Lisa made her Directorial debut with the critically acclaimed, award-winning, documentary, PROJECT WOW: Men On The Down Low, which broadcast on the 2009 BET J Series, Black Stories and distributed by Echelon Studios Inc. The Ultimate Soul Food Cook Off, her reality sitcom in development, set on an authentic soul food tour, was an Everywoman Studios 2021 Propelle Finalist; a content accelerator program for women-owned production companies.

Lisa’s voice is her activism! She’s best known as a “Radical Woman In Media” and is most recognized as a thought leader, feminist, activist and #BlackLivesMatter supporter. In September 2015, Ms. Durden was featured in Rolling Out Magazine, as the months “Black Intellectual,” who has blazed a trail in news and media with her straight-no chaser commentary. She’s also a brilliantly outspoken social justice journalist and subject matter expert, in the areas of pop-culture, politics and social issues.

In 2017, My Sister’s Keeper & Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka honored Lisa with the “Phenomenal Business Women Award” for her resilience, tenacity and unwavering ability to persevere in spite of all adversities. The previous year, Lisa received the “Vanguard Award for Excellence in Communications” from her alma mater, Seton Hall University’s Black Alumni Association, the “Outstanding Journalism and Community Service Award” from Project Redirect Youth & Family Services, “The Woman On Fire Award For Outstanding Dedication To Media” from the Newark Circle Of Sister, “The Leadership In Communication Award” from Progressive Achievers, given the “Women Who Clap In Media Award” by Girls; Live, Love, Laugh Inc. and was the recipient of the 2014 “Outstanding Contributions & Service To The Community Award” by Essex County College’s Women’s Empowerment Forum.

Lisa “keeps the camera hot” as the Host/Producer of her new podcast, Stop Brutalizing Black Bodies and is a sought after TV personality, as seen on such nationally syndicated programs as: CBS’ The Dr. Oz Show; #APlusPanel Contributor on #TheOpinionZone for the former Chasing News Series on the My9 Network; News Max TV’s The National Report; HLN’s, The Daily Share with Melissa Knowles; PIX 11 Morning News; Fox News Channel’s – Fox & Friends; The Kelly Files with Megyn Kelly; TVOne’s News One Now with Roland Martin; Arise TV’s AriseXchange; and Fox 5 News Live with Ernie Enastos. Her radio appearances include: Hot 97’s Street Soldiers with Lisa Evers; WBLS 107.5, Open Line; WBLS 107.5FM’s The Michael Baisden Show; and iHeart Radio’s American Now with Meghan McCain, to name a few.

Lisa Durden remains a proud role model in her community. Her unyielding commitment to mentoring and bettering the lives of underserved girls, spanning nearly 20 years, has been her most gratifying achievement! Lisa is happily single and child free because she wants to be!! As she always says…#ClapForThat!!