Meet the Team
Behind the Vision
Julia Carias-Linares
CEO | Executive Producer
Julia Carias-Linares is a founding partner and CEO of Freedom Studios, Inc. (FSI). She is a TV & film producer, actress, interior designer, and businesswoman. She is the producer of Dear America, A Letter from Black Women, a powerful featured length documentary, which highlights the pivotal role Black women have played in shaping America’s political history. Julia is also producing the Dear America with Shennell Barnes, a podcast and news radio show amplifying Black and Brown voices in collaboration with iHeart Media. Her next film is Niños de Cristo, an 80-minute docu-film that highlights the stories of abandoned children in Latin American, and the heroes who help them. The film began production early February 2025 in the Dominican Republic and is scheduled to film in other countries including Mexico, Colombia, Honduras, and Brazil.
A seasoned media executive with over 20 years of experience producing content for U.S. and global audiences. She has successfully developed and produced for prominent networks such as A+E Networks, Discovery, TLC, Lifetime, History Channel, fyi and iHeart Radio. She’s managed over 200+ hours of television programming and produced high-rated series, including Married Life (considered for the Primetime Emmy Awards), Married at First Sight (nominated for the Critics’ Choice Awards), Seven Year Switch, and Tiny House Nation, among others. In 2019, she executive produced and starred in the short film, Perception, a story about immigration from two points of view. The film was a festival favorite receiving 14 awards including 2 for “Best Lead Actress” in a drama and over 20 nominations. In 2020, the film received a distribution deal from Amazon Prime and PiccenPlay.com.
Julia and her husband are featured in their own show, Fix Mi Casa, a design renovation short form series showcasing their work and company, JCL Staging & Design. The firm has been featured in the NYTimes, History Channel, Discovery, TLC, Apartment Therapy, Dormify, PIX11 News, and more. Julia’s work has been recognized by the Mayor of Yonkers, Mike Spano, as an outstanding women whose contributions shape industries, uplift community and inspires future generations and former Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garetti, for her exemplary leadership and commitment to connecting and celebrating the multicultural creative community.
As a founding principal at Freedom Global Networks, she is driving digital transformation in Latin American countries. She is part of a group of entrepreneurs reimagining next-generation media technologies.
As a community contributor, she has been a staunch supporter for various organizations, including Project Ready NJ, Niños y Niñas de Cristo Orphanages in DR, YWCA in Yonkers, The Cristian Rivera Foundation, and numerous others. She was formally recognized by the Westchester County Board of Legislators, who issued a Proclamation in her honor for her community service.
Julia is a member of the Television Academy’s Executive Group (EMMYS).
MEILING MACIAS-TORO
COO | Executive Producer
Meiling Macías-Toro is a founding partner, COO of Freedom Studios, Inc., and CEO of Freedom Global Network. She has led high-impact productions as Head of Production at top-tier U.S. agencies, including Conill Advertising of Publicis Groupe, Siboney USA, RAPP Worldwide of Omnicom Group and The Vidal Partnership. With her entrepreneurial spirit, she also founded MMT Media, offering creative and production consulting services to agencies and non-profit organizations.
With over 40 years of experience, she has orchestrated award-winning campaigns across television, digital media, content, social media, print, and experiential marketing. Her work has earned prestigious accolades, including Best of Show, CLIO, TELLY, Se Habla Español, FIAP, and El SOL from the Ibero-American Festival.
In 2024, she produced Dear America, A Letter from Black Women, a powerful feature-length documentary amplifying the unheard voices of Black women in America. She also completed post-production on Fix Mi Casa, Freedom Studios’ original design and renovation short series. Currently, she is the Executive Producer of Niños de Cristo, an 80-minute docu-film shedding light on the harrowing reality of homeless and abandoned children in Latin America while igniting hope for change.
A passionate advocate for children deprived of shelter, food, and education. For over a decade, Meiling has championed the work of Fundacion Niños y Niñas de Cristo in the Dominican Republic and Fundacion Hogares Claret in Colombia. She leads with a deep commitment to creating lasting social impact as a board member of the Cristian Rivera Foundation and former President of 100 Hispanic Women of Westchester. Through her leadership at Freedom Global Network and Freedom Studios, she drives transformative initiatives and produces powerful storytelling that inspire action and foster sustainable change in vulnerable communities worldwide.
Meiling has received recognition for her professional achievements and charity work, notably; El Diario’s Distinguished Latina Award, Yonkers Hispanic Trailblazer by Yonkers Mayor Spano, Outstanding Service & Dedication Award by Cristian Rivera Foundation and has been recognized by the New York State Senate, as a Women of Distinction 2022.
Gabi Sanchez
Team Coordinator
Gabi Sanchez is an actress and media marketing professional in the entertainment industry, as well as the Coordinator for Freedom Studios Inc. An MBA graduate, she brings together creative vision and strategic expertise to produce work that is both impactful and culturally resonant.
Gabi earned both her degrees from the College, now University, of Mount Saint Vincent, where she directed and produced two live productions focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and elevating the voices of women of color. These formative experiences cemented her commitment to storytelling as a tool for representation and change—a value that remains at the forefront of her work as an actress.
Her background as a performer uniquely shapes her approach to marketing, allowing her to bring the art of storytelling to life in every campaign and production she touches. Whether on stage, on screen, or behind the scenes, Gabi is driven by a passion for film, a belief in the power of authentic narratives, and a dedication to creating content that connects deeply with audiences across cultures.