artists for economic transparency

(AFECT) was formed in June 2020 by Karen Olivo and Eden Espinosa on the heels of continued violence and injustice against Black, Indigienous People of Color. Conversations were started in response to the racism that is prevalent in the American theater and it came to light that prominent Broadway names had repeatedly contributed to political candidates and movements that directly contradict the ideals of many artists in the industry. Armed with this knowledge, Olivo and Espinosa vowed to withhold their artistic services from “any theatre, company, or persons who would knowingly fund organizations that perpetuate inequality”. 

With this pledge came a desire to educate Broadway stakeholders- actors, crew, audiences and beyond- about how the economic structures of the industry uphold systemic discrimination against historically marginalized communities. AFECT was formed as a way to turn passion into action by educating artists and consumers of art about the underlying current of inequity in American theater, empowering artists and audiences to advocate for a more accountable and accessible industry. We’re looking for long term solutions to build a better Broadway- and we want you to join us. 

EDEN ESPINOSA

Co-Founder, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors

(she/her)

Eden is the Co-Founder of Artists for Economic Transparency and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors. She is engaged in oversight of operational activities for the organization and takes an active role in relationship building with community stakeholders and partners. Eden co-created AFECT’s mission and vision and oversees its developmental activities.

Eden has over 17 years of industry experience and is a tirelessly vocal advocate of more progressive, transparent, and accountable live theater. Shaped by her experiences as a woman of color, off-stage advocacy has played a significant part in Eden’s career, including involvement and leadership with countless charitable and nonprofit organizations and causes.

Eden is committed to using her platform to build a more equitable, stronger live-theater community, and passionately believes that in order to generate meaningful change, systems need to be dismantled and rebuilt with love, a value which she brings to her work at AFECT.

KAREN OLIVO

Co-Founder, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors

(she/they)

Karen is the Co-Founder of Artists for Economic Transparency and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors. Karen engages in the oversight of the organization’s development and is actively involved in the formation of the organization’s governance and financial structure, including building key partnerships within the industry and developing the organization’s mission and vision for the future.

Karen has extensive experience as a performer, advocate, and teacher. She has been acting in live performances for over twenty years, winning numerous awards and starring in countless stage productions. Off-stage, she is an educator who deeply values the impact of open, constructive dialogue. As an advocate, Karen’s work is continuous, actively engaging with and leading positive forces for change in her industry, community, and country.

Karen’s growing understanding of the business behind Broadway has shifted their perspective as a member of the live-theater community. Karen is dedicated to taking an active role in empowering others to make informed, educated choices in pursuit of a more accountable and transparent system.

Ari Afsar

Board of Directors

(SHE/HER)

Ari Afsar is a singer/songwriter with placements on ABC, Disney, and Amazon. A graduate of Ethnomusicology from UCLA, Afsar released her EP, "Somewhere I Thought I'd Be." She is the composer of Jeannette, a musical about the first woman elected into Congress, developed at the O'Neill NMTC where Afsar won the Lyricist Award. Last fall, She composed a piece, Allegory produced by the La Jolla Playhouse. She has opened for Michelle Obama, performed in the U.S. Institute of Peace, presented before Gloria Steinhem, and opened at the ACLU national conference. She was the original Eliza in Chicago's Hamilton, Miss California 2010, top 10 at Miss America 2011, and top 36 American Idol Alum. She is the co-founder of "Until We Do It" providing masks to communities disproportionately affected by Covid-19. 

Wendy Garcia

advisor

(SHE/HER)

As Chief Diversity Officer of the NY Comptroller’s Office, Wendy Garcia is responsible for increasing contracting opportunities for Women- and Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and managing the Comptroller Office’s internal supplier diversity initiative, as well as other diversity related projects across all bureaus of the agency. Ms. Garcia also leads the Comptroller’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth through Diversity and Inclusion – a group comprised of national, local, corporate, and government experts seeking to increase supplier diversity in the public and private sectors.

The Comptroller’s Office of Diversity Initiatives, led by Ms. Garcia, releases “Making the Grade: New York City Agency Report Card on Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises,” a report that examines how well City agencies meet existing supplier diversity goals while outlining additional measures that could be taken to increase the participation of MWBEs in City contracting.

Previously, Ms. Garcia served as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer at the Office of New York City Comptroller, Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Deputy Director of the Manhattan Borough President’s Northern Manhattan Office, and Immigrant Research Analyst for the Rockefeller Foundation through Baruch College.

Ms. Garcia earned a Master’s degree in Urban Policy and Management from New School University with a concentration in Economic Development, and a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Delaware.

Bridget Yingling

Chief Operating Officer

(she/her)

Bridget is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Artists for Economic Transparency. She oversees the administration of the organization’s operations and assists the Board of Directors, including operating the organization’s social media and website. 

Bridget’s experience in the live-theater industry is nothing short of kaleidoscopic. Since her graduation from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelors of Fine Arts, she has worked on-stage as an actor, singer, and dancer, and off-stage as a production manager, executive assistant, and in casting. 

Bridget brings her unique brand of creativity and pragmatism to ensuring that AFECT’s mission and vision are recognized while ensuring it has the capacity to grow and change with the industry.

 Ariana Sarfarazi

general counsel

(she/her)

As General Counsel of Artists for Economic Transparency (AFECT), Ariana advises AFECT’s leadership on all legal, policy, and compliance matters affecting the organization.

Ariana is a highly versatile attorney based in New York who specializes in entertainment, corporate, and intellectual property law. Once a proud “theatre kid” herself, Ariana combines her legal skill with her deep-rooted love of the arts to provide legal support to the arts community, and in particular to BIPOC artists, creatives, and stakeholders in the live theater industry. In addition to serving as AFECT’s General Counsel, Ariana is Legal Counsel to Music/Theater/Dance Professionals in the Academy (MTDPA), a non-profit organization committed to supporting, advocating for, and advancing BIPOC teaching artists as they develop their academic careers. Ariana also serves as Legal Counsel to The Nerve Project Theatre Company, an innovative new theater company that produces theatrical works cultivating and inspiring nerve, bravery, and empathy in artists and audiences alike.

Ariana recently joined Sukin Law Group, an entertainment and intellectual property law firm known for groundbreaking work in music publishing and musical theater. She is a volunteer pro bono attorney with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and is a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Entertainment and Sports Law Group (EASL) and EASL’s Theater and Performing Arts Committee. In 2021, Ariana was named “One to Watch” by The Best Lawyers in America, a publication which highlights top-rated U.S. attorneys. She is also a proud participant in the Unlock Her Potential Mentorship Program for women of color in the entertainment industry. 

Ariana is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley (Go Bears!) and GW Law School. When not lawyering, Ariana is a freelance writer, musician, amateur photographer, and avid supporter of the arts.