Sheila Houlahan wears many hats as an actor, singer, and staunch advocate for issues of mental health and race, but she remains consistently authentic and open in everything she does. ScreenRadar.com’s Emilia Yu sat down with her to discuss the easy work of speaking up, the hard work of true allyship, and the powerful potential of more and better representation of diverse stories in media.

If you’re inspired to be a better ally, consider taking a free bystander intervention training, or donating your time or money to a nonprofit organization that provides support for marginalized groups.

Here are a few we thought were cool, but we encourage you to find a local chapter in your own town or city, as they often get much less funding than national efforts.
Red Canary Song - a grassroots collective of Asian and migrant sex workers, organizing transnationally to fight for justice and police accountability
United We Dream - the largest immigrant youth-led community in the country leading campaigns at local, state, and federal levels
Disability Rights Advocates - a leading national nonprofit legal center dedicated to advancing equal rights and opportunity for people with disabilities