Todd Gragg is the Founder and Executive Director of Youth Filmmakers Initiative, a program created from a lifelong passion for visual storytelling and a belief that early exposure can change the course of a young person’s life.

Todd discovered photography in the 8th grade after enrolling in an elective photography class he initially had little interest in taking. Within days, that experience sparked something unexpected. He caught the “photo bug,” and from that moment forward, a camera was never far from his hands.

What began with photography soon expanded into web design, videography, and eventually documentary filmmaking. Today, Todd focuses his work on preserving history through film, particularly stories that have been overlooked or underrepresented, and credits that early introduction to photography as the foundation that set him on his creative path.

His documentary work highlighting Asheville’s Black history, community, and preservation efforts has earned significant recognition. His film Black In Asheville received the Historic Resources Champion Award, while his documentary Urban Renewal Impact received the Griffin Award from the Preservation Society of North Carolina. Todd was also recently honored with the Tzedek Impact Award for his work using storytelling, film, and community engagement to help bring greater awareness to Asheville’s history and its impact on the present.

The vision for Youth Filmmakers Initiative was born from Todd’s own experience as a young person whose life was changed through creative opportunity. He understands firsthand the power of early exposure and the importance of giving youth access to tools, mentorship, and experiences that help them discover their gifts.

YFI also reflects Todd’s belief that young people should have the opportunity to research, document, and understand the history of their own communities. With Black history often receiving limited attention in traditional public-school curricula, Todd believes that helping young people discover where they come from can strengthen their sense of identity, self-worth, and confidence while giving them the skills to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.

Through Youth Filmmakers Initiative, Todd hopes to provide that same opportunity for the next generation—teaching the art of filmmaking while inspiring young people to see that their stories matter, their voices have value, and their possibilities are endless.