Yara Shahidi

ACTOR-ACTIVIST

Shahidi may be equally as well known for her activism offscreen as she is for her work onscreen in “Blackish” and “Grown-ish.” Some of Shahidi’s community service work includes starting the student empowerment organiza-

tion Yara’s Club and the voter initiative Eighteenx18. Shahidi believes Hollywood has the power to “normalize culture,” and she’s dedicated to breaking the mold. “Culture is something that has infinite impact, so because we have this platform and this platform is oftentimes people’s first touchpoint — not only with a certain type of human, but with a certain issue — it’s important that we remain open-minded to pushing the narrative.”