"All American: Homecoming," the spinoff of The CW’s hugely popular sports drama "All American," sadly came to its conclusion in late 2024. However, for creator Nkechi Okoro Carroll, its end marked a new beginning in her ongoing quest to bring compelling Black stories to the screen. “I focus on stories that are important to me and that excite me, and that tends to be for the culture,” Carroll says. “I’m raising two Black boys in America. Everything I do is about my family’s legacy and leaving the world a better place for them.”

Her latest project is "Found," the NBC drama now in its second season, which tackles a narrative too often overlooked in the media: missing persons who don’t fit the standard image of the “innocent” white girl. On "Found," the victims are from communities traditionally ignored when the media covers missing persons cases—communities that, as Black Americans know all too well, include many Black women.

The hero of "Found" is one such woman. The series stars Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely, a missing persons expert who runs an agency specializing in cases the D.C. police are reluctant to pursue. A former kidnapping victim herself, Gabi has transformed her trauma into a life mission: helping other victims find freedom and healing while challenging the public to confront their biases. “She happens to be a really dope, layered human—a Black sister at the forefront with locks, who’s out here trying to heal and do her best to leave the world a better place,” Carroll says.

Born in New York but raised around the world in locales including Nigeria, the U.K., and Côte d'Ivoire, Carroll has been championing Black stories for over 20 years. Her career began on Fox’s "The Finder" and "Bones," later expanding to dramas like "Rosewood" and "The Resident." Throughout her Hollywood journey, Carroll has witnessed significant shifts, including the rise of streaming, the boom in Black-centered shows during the late 2010s, and, more recently, the contraction in TV production following the Hollywood strikes. These strikes, coupled with backlash against diversity and inclusion initiatives, have created an uncertain future for representation in media. Carroll remains undeterred.

“There are only so many shows being bought right now,” she explains. “But when I enter a room, I go in with passion, with everything I’ve got, to convince them why this is the show they need to bet on while they’re picking up fewer projects. I’ll battle it out to come out victorious.”

Her determination has paid off. "Found" is one of the few network TV shows to become a reliable hit in today’s unpredictable industry. It has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews and strong support from Warner Bros. and NBC. Its 2023 premiere drew 20 million viewers, with subsequent episodes maintaining an impressive 7.4 million viewers—no small feat in this evolving media landscape. “I always say it’s a miracle I’m even here making television. So I just keep pushing forward with audacious, seemingly unrealistic, crazy dreams, and I fight to get them on the air. That’s not going to change,” Carroll asserts.

While "Found" is poignant and purposeful, it also delivers the juicy drama that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Fans have been captivated by one of the show’s shocking twists, which flips the traditional good-guy-versus-bad-guy format on its head. Without giving too much away, Gabi discovers the man who kidnapped her years ago and makes him pay for his crimes in a way that’s both unsettling and deeply satisfying for viewers. “I’m having fun writing a dope thriller that’s a little bit of a revenge fantasy,” Carroll says. “How many times have you wanted to get back at the person who hurt you? For Gabi to flip the tables on her kidnapper—it’s cathartic. It’s complicated, but at the end of the day, it’s a story about healing.”

"Found" airs on NBC, with episodes also available on Peacock. The show returns for its midseason premiere on January 16, 2025.