The Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) has officially dissolved its formal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program and eliminated the Vice President of Equity & Inclusion role, held by Sheila R. Brown, effective December 31, 2025.
When contacted by Reel Chicago, the organization did not provide additional comment beyond sharing a December 22, 2025 letter from National Board Chair Tabitha Mason-Elliott to members of its Equity & Inclusion Committee. In the letter, the Board cites increasing legal barriers, ongoing litigation risk, and a challenging political climate as primary factors behind the decision.
As part of the decision, AICP has eliminated the executive role of Vice President of Equity & Inclusion, which was held by Sheila R. Brown.
Brown was appointed to the newly created position in June 2022. Prior to joining AICP, Brown was a key figure in the creation and development of the CineCares program at Cinespace Film Studios, where she helped design workforce training and paid job placement initiatives focused on expanding access to production careers. A Chicago native, Brown has spent decades working across broadcast, production, and nonprofit programming, with a mission centered on building sustainable pathways into the industry.
The announcement follows earlier changes to AICP’s diversity-focused programming. In late 2024, the organization announced that its Commercial Directors Diversity Program, a long-running initiative developed in partnership with the Directors Guild of America, would be placed on hiatus for 2025 as it is retooled, with a planned relaunch in 2026.
The decision to dissolve the program is expected to draw attention across the commercial production community, where AICP’s equity initiatives have played a visible and ongoing role.
The AICP Board emphasized that the decision does not represent a retreat from the values of equity and inclusion, stating that much of the guidance developed through its equity and inclusion work will remain available on its website.
At press time, AICP has not updated its website to reflect the dissolution of its formal equity and inclusion activities, nor has the organization clarified whether the AICP Equity and Inclusion Committee will also be dissolved.
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