Youth Empowerment Panel: Let THEM Lead

Josiah Bruny, CEO and Founder, Music Changing Lives

Music Changing Lives (MCL) began in 1998 when CEO and Founder Josiah Bruny created a music studio in his own home in Moreno Valley CA, where he could teach young musicians how to record, and own the copyright, for their own music. After working for some of the greatest stars in the industry and learning the ins and outs of the business, Bruny was determined to open the way for the independent artist within our communities. He taught youth who are at-risk of dropping out of school, gang violence, drugs, and crime how to record and copyright their own music and offer those students pathways to entrepreneurial success, in addition to providing opportunities for emotional maturity through the creative arts. What started as a one-room studio inside Josiah’s home garage has grown into an 18,000 square foot art and creativity hub for young people ages 5 and older to help them become emotionally developed and culturally mature men and women through musical and artistic outlets.

Catherine “Cat” Corral, Co-Founder & Executive/Artistic Director, trancenDANCE

Cat Corral co-founded transcenDANCE in 2005 with a vision to combine dance theatre and performance with community building, youth leadership, and social change. Cat has co-directed fifteen original dance theatre productions with transcenDANCE to date and has grown the organization from a small, grassroots effort to a nationally recognized and sustainable organization.

Cat is the daughter of a professional Mexican & Spanish dancer and identifies as Latina. Both her Mom & Dad’s families were deeply involved in sharing professional Mexican dance and music in Los Angeles at the historic Olvera Street, Riverside’s Ramona Pageant, and beyond. Cat’s upbringing with dance and music, and understanding of her parents and grandparents’ journey to rise out of poverty, is part of what makes this work so important to Her.

In 2018, Cat received the Moxie Award for being a San Diego local leader with exemplary grit and perseverance. In the same year, Cat received a Sabbatical Award from the Fieldstone Leadership Network and Clare Rose Foundation for her work for over ten years as an Executive Director. Cat received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and holds a professional certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy from University of California San Diego. Her extended training in expressive arts therapy has included work with the Tamalpa Institute and the San Diego Expressive Arts Institute. Prior to transcenDANCE, Cat worked in the social service field and as a dance educator and teaching artist mentor with San Diego City Schools for ten years.

Matt D’Arrigo, Co-Founder and Director, The Center for Creative Youth Development (CYD) at the Clare Rose Foundation

Matt D’Arrigo is the Co-Founder and Director of The Center for Creative Youth Development (CYD) at the Clare Rose Foundation in San Diego, CA. The Center was established to ensure that CYD practitioners, organizations, and young people have access to the resources, tools, and relationships they need to thrive. Through a collective action approach D’Arrigo oversees all local, regional, and national strategy, investments, advocacy, coalition building, and field building activities.

Prior to joining Clare Rose Foundation, D’Arrigo was the Founder and CEO of A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a nationally recognized CYD organization based in National City, CA. His work with ARTS was the subject of the 2013 Academy Award winning documentary short “Inocente”, featured on the Today Show, was a case study in the New York Times best-selling book “Decisive” by Chip and Dan Heath, and profiled in Darius Graham’s book “Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World”. His work in philanthropy with Clare Rose was recently featured in the New York Times.

D’Arrigo is co-founder of the National CYD Funders Forum and Arts Amplifying Youth (AAY!). He sits on the National Partnership for Creative Youth Development, the Arts Ed Impact Group for Grant Makers for Education, Grantmakers for Thriving Youth, the steering committee for San Diego Regional Arts & Culture Coalition, and the San Diego Arts & Culture Challenge Fund, and Art=Opportunity.

Tamaira “Miss Tee” Sandifer, President, Studio T Arts & Entertainment

As President of Studio T Urban Dance Academy & Founder of The California's Day of Dance, Tamaira “Miss Tee” Sandifer’s heartbeat is to champion the development of every child she can to build confidence, character & a conquering spirit that believes anything in possible. She serves over 5,000 youth in school districts throughout Northern California every year through educational partnerships & enrichment programs related to physical as well as mental & emotional health. Sandifer’s mission is to instill real life skills, hope & a sense of belonging to her students. Dance is the vehicle; her choreography includes a bold coaching style that triumphantly declares to each family and school she serves: DREAM BIG. Her passionate advocacy for the arts has taken her to the State Capitol where she partners with local and national civic leaders to bring arts-inspired, socially and culturally relevant incentives to the academic day. She works closely with Assembly members to ensure the arts are available, even in communities that are starved for programs. She created the idea of The California National Day of Dance to highlight the diversity and the power of unity through creativity. Studio T produces Hollywood’s most sought after young dancers including THE 2016 winner of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, 2018 World of Dance stars, members of the Jabbawakeez. Her graduates currently travel the world with artists and celebrities that include: Justin Beiber, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Usher, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Ellen & More. You’ll see her graduates on the stages of MTV Music Awards, Nick Choice Awards, BET Awards & more.

Viviana Alcazar-Haynes

Viviana Alcazar-Haynes graduated from California State Long Beach where she received a B.A in Dance while training in Ballet and Modern with Keith Johnson, Susan McClain and Sophie Monet. Since moving back to San Diego Viviana has been an active part of the Dance Community performing and creating original pieces featured in the Los Angeles and San Diego Area. Viviana is currently a Dance Teaching Artist for Young Audiences, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego Danceworks, and is the owner of Heart2art offering educational dance training in San Diego. Viviana was awarded 2012 Teaching Artist of the Year with Young Audiences.

Anaya Bullard

Anaya Bullard, age 16, grew up in Riverside, California and is currently a Sophomore in high school. She is committed to academic excellence and is in several Honors classes and has participated in the AVID program since 7th grade. Anaya is passionate about health and fitness and also plays on the girls volleyball team. Currently, she stays active in her community and sits on the board for MENTOR California, as a youth voice and volunteers her time with Music Changing Lives at various events throughout the year.

Linzy Clara

Hi, my name is Linzy Clara; I am a sophomore at King Chavez Community High School. I am a dancer at TranscenDance Youth Arts Project, I have been in the Create program for 3 years. I was first introduced to TranscenDance by Seiha Vor who is one of the teaching artists at TDance. Seiha often said that TranscenDance has changed his life, hearing him speak of the program so passionately inspired me to join. Indeed joining TDance was the best choice that I have made, I do not regret any 8 counts since my first step Into the studio. One thing for sure is that TDance helped me to become a better version of myself. Coming from a minority community creates obstacles like lacking art programs, having TranscenDance gave me a space to flourish. Not only did I flourish through dance but TDance has helped me manage the outside world. As the year passed by TranscenDance became a home. A home full of support, comfort, and love. I am blessed to be in a program in which my voice is being heard and my talent is appreciated. In the future I want to give back to my community, I want to help youth around my age to find and get opportunities. I want to help families who are in need. I want to build a space where people in my community feel safe and supportive.

Hannah Feuerwerker

Dance Captain Miss Hannah Feuerwerker discovered her passion and talent for dance when, at the age of twelve, she started at Studio T Urban Dance Academy. By the time she was sixteen, she was not only teaching herself, but she had bloomed into a confident young woman with a strong work ethic and a drive to do more. Eight years later, she has become a walking example of the program, modeling the power of dance in Sacramento’s schools, churches, community centers, and libraries. She is a debt free college graduate with a Dance major and Communications minor, from Sacramento State. Additionally, she owns her own DJ company and is the Program Manager and Lead Dance Captain for Studio T Arts & Entertainment.

In a very short time, Miss Hannah has performed, traveled, and attended workshops across the country, including: Pulse New York, LA Hip Hop Intensive, Monsters of Hip Hop, and Los Angeles’ BuildaBeast. She has worked with artists like Kehlani, Lecrae, DLow, Khaled, Ella Mai, and Kamaiyah. As a DJ she worked with professionals at her local radio station Hot 103.5. Miss Hannah is a testament to the power of dance and community connection she received as a Studio T student.

Terrell Powell 

My name is Terrell Powell and I am a Junior at San Jacinto High School. I am working on being a inspired motivational speaker, and I enjoy using my skills to contribute to the BSU at my high school I earned the spot of president and go to monthly meetings. I really enjoy talking  about the things that goes on in the world and coming up with solutions and plan on resolving those things. Even tho sports aren't how it used to be because of COVID -19 I still enjoy playing/watching sports such as basketball, football, boxing and when things get back right I Plan on playing football for my senior year. After high school I plan on going to a university.