Conversations with James Prince

Today we’d like to introduce you to James Prince.

Hi James, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
One of the advantages of being raised in a low-income household is the opportunities afforded you in the hopes that you can afford the advantages of your higher socioeconomic counterparts. In that regard, as a low-income student I was provided the opportunity to be a participant in Upward Bound and Student Support Services, two federally funded projects that are being threatened under our current administration.

Having been a student in these programs I learned that I had a passion for working with students and began tutoring English for Upward Bound, while in college–the same Upward Bound Program I was a student participant at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. After graduating college, I earned my dream job of working as a Coordinator for the Talent Search Program, one of the other five TRIO programs and received a promotion to English Instructor for the Upward Bound Program.

Seven years and a masters of fine arts degree later, I was offered the Upward Bound Director position. In that position, held for over 11 years, I also served on the TRIO state board in various capacities but ultimately became President, where I further found my niche for leading organizations and teams.

After earning my current job as an Account Executive for a small start up working with other TRIO directors across the nation, understanding business, relationships, networking and technology, I decided to start my own non-profit providing sustainable programming for students who have a desire to have a career in the arts.

The Prince & Haynes Institute for Arts & Academics (PHIAA) is a new non-profit organization who seeks to partner with educational and other non-profit entities whose mission reflects its mission to encourage students to obtain post-secondary education opportunities while advancing their knowledge in film, music and visual arts.

PHIAA, in its first year of development, is in its fundraising stages with its first kickoff event planned for January 2026. The plan is to provide training to students in film first and expand to providing conferences, workshops and consultations in the areas of music and visual arts in late 2026.

As a former education and nonprofit professional, I understand the need for these types of chances for students in my community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Unfortunately, I’ve not been on a road that didn’t have potholes or need for construction. This road has not been extremely challenging to ride but it has not been one without pitfalls.

Starting this non-profit in a time where government wants to cut aid for programs and organizations that reflect mine, fundraising and opportunities for consideration for funding has been challenging. I’ve had to be creative in the way I not only fundraise but the way I lobby for funds especially considering that the community that supports me has limited resources itself.

I have utilized a great deal of personal funds to start the business but am working on various connections for fundraising and am applying for 2026 federal grant opportunities to keep the organization sustained. The goal is, no matter how rough the road, to keep going until we get to the destination ahead. My organization is a family based entity and I know that we are a family built like a car with strong shocks and struts–we will continue to achieve as we move forward.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I remember being in the early stages of elementary school and my parents purchasing mounds of handwriting books for me to practice writing. I would write letters and words over and over because of the joy it brought me to simply write.

That grew into a love of storytelling, creative ideations in film and television, and quirky poetry that always had meaning between its lines. However, my faith in my own writing often dwindled and instead of immediately going into writing I opted to work in non-profit education. And, although I thoroughly enjoyed working in that field, I felt I needed a way to connect my experience with students with my own personal love for film and scriptwriting.

I earned my Master of Fine Arts from Full Sail University and began putting together the pieces of melding the two parts of my life that I loved, which birthed PHIAA!

With the organization and even in my own personal goals, I want to use the platform to not only provide resources that will assist students in achieving their goals in film and art, but advance my skill set as well. We will be providing film academies, college tours and admission and portfolio reviews.

Personally, to prepare, I’ve written over 10 scripts — television and film. I’ve worked as a producer on a released film and served as the writer for a film currently in production that will be released in late 2026. I’ve also partnered with organizations to discuss careers in the arts and highly influenced organizations I’ve led in the past to create educational pathways in film and art.

My specialty: screenwriting. And, I want others to understand the importance of screenwriting, entertainment and film as we all understand, “Life imitates art.” Movies have been known to start entire movements that have changed modern society–I just want to continue to be a part of that movement.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
The creation of my non-profit, PHIAA, started because I wanted my family to have a legacy. Haynes is my mother’s maiden name and Prince is my father’s name. In the past four or five years my father’s health started to decline rapidly and so I started the non-profit as a dedication to him and he recently passed this past May. My hope is that my organization is something he can be proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aphiaa.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-prince-823461b1/