Her Story
About Tosha
Tosha Mills is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, author, and advocate serving as CEO of Unheard Productions LLC, a social impact production company she founded in 2020 after spending 25 years working as a paralegal in the legal field. Her path into filmmaking was born out of personal hardship: when her son was sentenced to 40 years in prison at the age of 17, she channeled her grief and determination into a mission of advocacy and healing. That mission first took shape in her Amazon bestselling memoir, Momma I Should Have Listen: A Voice of Pain and Power, before evolving into an acclaimed body of documentary work centered on families affected by incarceration.
Through Unheard Productions, Mills created Unheard Voices: A Mother's Quest for Freedom, a documentary series spotlighting mothers across the country whose children have been incarcerated, and illuminating the emotional, financial, and psychological toll that imprisonment takes on families left behind. Her storytelling has been recognized on national and international stages, earning her the Best Director Award in India, Best Audience Choice at the Silver Fox Film Festival, Best Documentary honors at both the People's Choice Film Festival in New York City and the Eudomania Film Festival, and Best Memoir at the African American Awards show in New York City. She studied Business, Management, and Marketing at Tulane University, where she also participated in Speech and Debate, later continuing her education in Human Resources at the University of Phoenix.
Beyond her work behind the camera, Mills is the founder of Parents with Voices, Inc., a national organization that helps parents of incarcerated children process their trauma and transform their pain into advocacy. She continues to lead Unheard Productions in forging strategic partnerships, community engagement initiatives, and impact campaigns that bring stories of resilience to audiences through film festivals, educational screenings, and public dialogue. Guided by faith, integrity, and a deep sense of purpose, Mills remains committed to ensuring that every family touched by incarceration is seen, every story is heard, and every voice has the power to inspire lasting change.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tosha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God, perseverance, and humility, along with the unwavering support of the people who believed in me. The road here was never easy, but I kept walking, kept believing, and kept speaking my truth. Above all, I kept trusting God with this journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received was not to be afraid to start before I felt ready. You won't have all the answers right away, but if you carry purpose, passion, and a willingness to learn, you can grow into any opportunity. That wisdom came from my beloved late mother, and I carry it with me every day.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this industry not to fear the journey ahead. You don't need to know everything before you begin — start with the voice you already have, and let the journey teach you the rest.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, faith, and trust in God are at the center of everything I do, alongside family, purpose, compassion, humility, authenticity, and impact.
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