Meet JaSaun L. Buckner

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful JaSaun L. Buckner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with JaSaun L. below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have JaSaun L. with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic is deeply rooted in love, community, and vision. Those are values I inherited from my family. From my mother, Peggy Sutton, I learned commitment. She moves through the world with a special grace and execution of her purpose and creativity.

My father, James L. Buckner, helped me develop a level of focus and discipline. He taught me to seek an understanding of the world and to prioritize educating myself. He also taught my brothers and I how to show up fully for the people we love and those who are counting on us.

And from my grandparents, who founded Mayfair Academy on the South Side of Chicago, I received the blueprint for legacy: build something that outlives you. They were innovative and tenacious. They created a space for children to dance, feel loved, and to dream big at a time when those things weren’t always accessible. Watching them pour into others taught me that success isn’t just about achieving, it’s about uplifting.

So, my work ethic is grounded in a family tradition of turning vision into reality—out of love for our people, and belief in what’s possible.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m JaSaun L. Buckner a visionary producer, and media consultant shaped by Chicago’s creative legacy and driven by a passion to amplify Black voices through storytelling.

I grew up on the South Side of Chicago in a family of artists and educators, where the power of narrative was a calling and service. My grandparents founded Mayfair Academy, a place where discipline, dance, and dreams shaped generations. That legacy lives in me. It taught me that storytelling can entertain and also be about purpose, identity, and community.

After studying at Howard University and earning my master’s at USC, I built a career at the intersection of entertainment, digital media, and social issues. Over the past two decades, I’ve produced content for HBO Max, BET, Nickelodeon, Spotify, and Color of Change, and produced projects with artists and icons like Oprah Winfrey, Simone Leigh, Shantrelle P. Lewis, and Rashida Bumbray. Whether it’s branded content, social impact campaigns, or independent films, I lead with integrity, creativity, and a deep commitment to storytelling that honors truth.

I founded Visionary Media to create films, digital campaigns, and branded stories that celebrate the richness of life, especially the experiences of women and girls. From reimagining podcast storytelling to producing global conference content, I approach every project as a chance to blend art with action. I’m also the co-founder of DREAM, a creative mentorship collective that uplifts emerging Black storytellers in the very communities that raised me.

My work is rooted in legacy, powered by truth, and designed to shape the future. And I carry Chicago with me every step of the way.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Truth
Service
Community

Looking back, the three qualities that have shaped my journey most are truth, service, and community.

Truth has always been my compass. Whether I’m producing a documentary, shaping brand storytelling, or mentoring emerging creatives, I return to telling the truth—about our histories, our dreams, and the complexities we live. That has given my work depth and integrity.

Service is the why behind everything I create. I see storytelling as a form of service—to culture, to legacy, to the future. My goal is never just content, it’s impact. The work has to mean something, I want to uplift, inspire, and spark conversations. That’s what keeps me aligned when things get difficult.

Community has been my greatest teacher. I’ve been raised by brilliant minds, rooted in the South Side of Chicago, sharpened by Howard, and expanded by collaboration across media and movements. Every project I’ve led or supported is stronger because of the community around it—elders, peers, young people, and ancestors. I don’t work in isolation. I build in conversation.

For those early in the journey: Be honest about your “why,” stay in service to something bigger than what looks good to other people. Listen deeply, stay grounded, and don’t be afraid to start small if it’s rooted in purpose. Your story will stretch farther when it starts from something unique and true to yourself.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Creating and collaborating are crucial! Right now, I’m celebrating two Telly Awards for branded content campaigns and building momentum on multiple fronts: I’m producing a campaign for a fintech client, working with I Love Art to tell the story of their Hear We Art program for Spring 2025, producing content for the SRI2025 Global Sustainability Conference in Chicago, and developing my own documentary on the legacy of Mayfair Academy. I’m also fundraising for my 25th class reunion at Howard University’s Homecoming. We can party with a purpose – Pull Up!

I’m especially open to partnering with creatives, cultural institutions, brand leaders, and impact-driven companies who value honest storytelling, Black women and girls, and premium execution. If you’re bold and ready to create with purpose – let’s connect. You can find me on LinkedIn and Vimeo.com/JaSaun

Contact Info:

• Website: https://JaSaun.com
• Instagram: @jasaunsvision
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasaunbuckner
• Other: https://vimeo.com/jasaun

Image Credits

!. Jyllian Gunther
2.Karl Kemp
3. Peter Gaona
4. Angelica Callanta
5. Paper Monday / Safara Wanjagi
6. Karl Kemp
7. JaSaun Buckner
8.Erin Morgan Taylor