Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity (TTIE - pronounced “tie”) is a volunteer organization led by professional TV writers spanning staff writer to showrunner. We know first-hand the challenges faced by historically excluded TV writers (Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Disabled People) because that’s who we are. As the only intersectional social change organization that advocates within the entertainment industry for a diverse cross-section of historically excluded communities, TTIE is uniquely situated to empower writers and transform the industry into one in which all writers and all stories can thrive. 

TTIE is led by a Steering Committee composed of professional writers with decades of collective experience in the business. TTIE’s Steering Committee is helmed by Co-Chairs Y. Shireen Razack, and Tawal Panyacosit Jr. TTIE's programs are overseen by our Program Director Maha Chehlaoui and Program Coordinator Teri Rusike. TTIE’s internal work is supported by Committee Captains of Education, Barbara Friend; Community Building, MW Wilson Cartozian; Communications, Danny Tolli.

Y. Shireen Razack (Co-Chair/Founder, Research) is a South Asian, Trinidadian, Canadian, Muslim-American drama writer with an affinity for science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural stories steeped in social justice allegory. Born in Canada, mostly raised in Texas, and a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Shireen started her professional life with a career in advertising that took her from Texas to New York, then ultimately to Los Angeles, where she came to pursue her dream of writing for television. She is an alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program and now has over fifteen years of TV writing experience in multiple genres, including sci-fi/fantasy/supernatural, YA, and both medical and cop procedurals. Most recently, she was a Co-Executive Producer on Vampire Academy for Peacock. Shireen is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Writers Guild Foundation, a Writers Guild of America West mentor, and a black belt in San Soo Kung Fu.

Tawal Panyacosit Jr. (Co-Chair/Founder) cut his teeth as a political and community organizer and advocate, galavanting across the country and sleeping on couches for various causes, including racial justice, LGBTQIA+ equality, and immigrant rights. He’s worked with leading organizations such as API Equality-Northern California, Chinese for Affirmative Action, the National LGBT Task Force, and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, among others. Now, through his writing and storytelling, Tawal continues to change hearts and minds. His writing credits include The Girls on the Bus (HBO Max), Vampire Academy (Peacock), and Life After First Failure (CW Seed).

Maha Chehlaoui (Program Director) is a long-time advocate for diverse voices in entertainment. A theater artist turned cultural strategist, she has shaped spaces for underrepresented voices across theater, film, TV, and advocacy—co-founding the OBIE-winning Noor Theatre, producing award-winning shorts, and consulting on narrative integrity and representation. With TTIE, she works primarily with TV executives and writers—from staff writer to showrunner—to help shift Hollywood’s storytelling ecosystem toward accuracy, access, and accountability.

With a welcoming and engaging approach honed through artEquity's National Facilitators training, she skillfully guides important conversations around equity, inclusion, and justice. A creative herself, Maha is a respected consultant in film, television, and theatre. She offers valuable insights on inclusive storytelling and helps foster creative spaces where collaboration and bold ideas can flourish. A 2024 Writers Lab semifinalist, Maha continues to dedicate time to creating and performing her own work, as well as collaborating on the work of others.

Barbara Friend (Education)

MW Wilson Cartozian (Community Building)

Danny Tolli (Communications) is a Argentinian American TV writer who hails from Queens, NY. He has written and produced episodes of ROSWELL NM (The CW), THE CATCH (Shondaland/ABC), and STALKER (CBS), as well as developed new series with CBSTV, Netflix, FX, 20th Television, Searchlight TV, and Freeform. Additionally, Danny serves on the Writers Guild of America West’s Board of Directors, is a member of the WGAW Latinx & LGBTQ+ Committees, and is an envoy for the US State Department’s American Film Showcase. He is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, the National Hispanic Media Coalition Screenwriting Fellowship, and the prestigious WGAW Showrunner Training Program.