Annual Conference

Adriene Jenik (she/they) is an artist, educator and end of life doula who resides in the high desert of California. Her mediated performances have been written about in The New York Times, published in The Drama Review, and recognized by the Rockefeller Foundation. Her current creative research practice spans “data humanization” performances, ECOtarot readings, and experiments in extreme experiential learning. Jenik serves as Professor of Intermedia at the School of Art, Arizona State University, and is the creative producer of The Artists’ Grief Deck.adrienejenik.net, griefdeck.com, @ecotarot

American conductor, Anthony Parnther, is the son of immigrants. His father emigrated to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica at the height of the Korean War and served in the US Navy. His mother came to America from the remote Pacific microstate of Samoa. Anthony was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and the family eventually relocated to Washington D.C. and New York City before settling in central Virginia where Anthony became active in the instrumental music program. While in high school, Anthony learned the bassoon and the tuba and developed secondary interests in acting, singing, forensics, and creative writing before deciding to enter university fully committed to music.Anthony is Music Director of the Southeast Symphony, an appointment he has held since 2010. The Southeast Symphony is recognized as America’s most diverse symphonic institution and in 2018, celebrates its 70th anniversary. He was profiled by Los Angeles’ KCET/ TV as a “Local Hero” in 2015 during black history month for his contributions to classical music, community outreach, and passionate advocacy for the performance of works by minority and women composers. In 2018, he was featured on the BBC 3’s In Tune with Sean Rafferty.As a conductor, Parnther has concertized on five continents and has garnered considerable praise for his orchestral leadership and interpretative prowess. Only two maestros have had the distinction of opening Southbank Centre’s venerable Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, England. Benjamin Britten conducted the inaugural concert in 1967; Anthony Parnther had the honor of re-opening the newly renovated hall 50 years later (after three years closure for renovations) with the Chineke! Orchestra. The historic concert, which was broadcast live internationally on the BBC3, was met with universal critical acclaim by London’s active media and press.Anthony is a leading advocate for the performance of orchestral works by minority and women composers, both of whom are widely neglected in America’s leading concert halls. Lauded for his championship of this genre, Anthony has successfully commissioned, reconstructed, performed and/ or recorded over 100 works in this genre. This list includes scholarly restorations, reconstructions, performances and premieres of works by Florence Price, Zenobia Powell Perry, George Walker, Wynton Marsalis, Margaret Bonds, Renee Baker, John Wineglass, Gary Powell Nash, William Grant Still, Adolphus Hailstork, Duke Ellington, Marian Harrison, and Samuel Coleridge Taylor.

Anthony is in demand as a session conductor in the L A recording studios and led the Hollywood Studio Symphony on all the historic L os A ngeles scoring stages, including 20th Century Fox, MGM/ Sony, Warner Brothers, and Capitol Records. He A nthony has collaborated with a who?s who of artists from every musical genre, including Joshua Bell, Frederica von Stade, Roderick Williams, Cirque de la Symphonie, RZA, Wu-Tang Clan, the Canadian Brass, Kanye West, Wes Borland, Imagine Dragons and Rihanna.League of Legends©, with its over 100 million active players worldwide, is the most played video game on earth and Anthony has served as it’s Principal Conductor since 2014. These live concerts attract some of the most massive crowds an orchestra has concertized for. With live audiences upwards of fifty-thousand in attendance, the live broadcasts of the L OL World Finals opening and closing ceremonies outpace the World Series with an average of thirty-five to forty million viewers worldwide. Anthony has led international League of Legends mega-concert productions globally, including the World Cup Stadium (Seoul, South Korea), the Palau Sant Jordi (Barcelona, Spain), the Water Cube and Birds Nest National Stadium (Beijing, China), and the Staples Center (Los Angeles, CA).Anthony previously served as Music Director of the Orange County Symphony (Anaheim, CA) and the Inland Valley Symphony. (now the Temecula Valley Symphony) In 2008, Anthony founded the Orange County Wind Symphony, which was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. In 2015, he established the Wind Orchestra of the West, comprised of musicians from Southern California’s preeminent orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, and Hollywood Studio Symphony.

A dedicated educator, he taught at the University of California, Berkeley, from 2010 – 2015 where he was the Music Director of the nationally acclaimed Young Musicians Choral Orchestra. From 2015-2017, Mr. Parnther was named Artist in Residence at the Oakwood School. He taught at Fullerton College from 2008 – 2010. Prior to moving to California, Anthony led the Opera Workshop, Concert Band, Athletic Bands, and the Marching Buccaneers at East Tennessee State University. Anthony studied orchestral conducting at Northwestern University with Victor Yampolsky and at Yale University with Lawrence Leighton Smith. He also received guidance and mentorship from mentorships with Cliff Colnot, W. Francis McBeth, and Frank Battisti. He resides in Los Angeles.

Born on January 23, 1987, to a loving mother and father, then later a younger brother. Brandon was raised in Memphis, TN and learned fast how societal norms affected his self esteem and relationships.
The affect of addiction and struggles that stem from it, played part into what led to many poor decisions, pride, and continued failures, that eventually ended with homelessness. Feeling muted and discarded he slipped into a dark destitute state. Holding on by a thread he searched for an answer to the hovering question: “why don’t I just give up?” Then in 2009 he had an encounter almost like an awakening. He had an experience with God that was more alive then he could ever imagine and it pushed him into seeking a relationship he never truly had. From a Father he never really knew. This opened the door into his destiny.
In Brandon’s poetic work and profound thoughts about life events and his walk with Christ, you learn exactly what happens “WHEN THUNDER SPEAKS” by gaining insight into a world that is equally balanced with the ugly truth and the beauty of coming out on the other side. His passion for community, Christ, and building up those who come in contact with him are only a few of his gifts.
As the Program Director of Rescue A Generation, founded by Rodriguez, Brandon pushes to motivate a generation through life changing engagement. The vision and fruition of his creative mind can be seen in the works of his clothing line PA APPAREL, SPOKEN WORD, and LIFE’s MISSION of being a voice for those who cant speak for themselves.
Proverbs 31:8
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

Crystal.R.Edwards started dancing in 2009 at A.B. Miller HS, in Fontana, CA, training in multiple styles of dance. After graduating in 2013, she went on to study dance at Riverside City College from 2013 until now, where she continues to create work and train. She has also presented work for Infuse Dance Studio, in Riverside, CA. Edwards has also collaborated with many Inland Empire artists: Kirsten Johanson, Mark Haines, Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier, and April Maclean.

In 2018, she performed site specific work by Wade Madsen (Seattle), in Trolley Dances Riverside. Crystal also utilizes dance to outreach to her community as she has performed and taught in spaces that do not have many opportunities to learn and see dance. Edwards performed at Eastside Glow up, in Riverside, CA., an event that provided free performances by people of color, inclusive activities, and promoting good health within the community.

Edwards was in a contemporary company, Animus, for one season, that focused on storytelling of the life experiences of women that come from different cultural backgrounds. Currently, she is a part of an all women drum and dance group, Tropecaliza. Where they combine dance while simultaneously playing drums and other instruments. She is finishing up her last year at Riverside City College and plans to transfer in Spring 2022. Edwards is new to cinematography but has been a photographer for ten years. She is currently working on her own dance film series that explores the female black experience.

In November 2018, Assemblymember James C. Ramos became the first California Native American elected to the state’s Legislature. He is a lifelong resident of the San Manuel Indian Reservation, member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribes. Assemblymember Ramos places a priority on public service and fostering Native American opportunity and participation in public institutions. He is an ardent and active advocate in preserving California Native American language and culture. He co-founded the San Manuel Band’s Cultural Awareness Program and served as director of the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference held annually at California State University, San Bernardino and is a past chair of the California State Native American Heritage Commission. In 2020, his bill AB 275, was signed by the governor. It calls for a more inclusive and streamlined process for the return of Native American artifacts and remains to tribes.

Jing Fang graduated from La Sierra University violin performance major at 2014. She had been working for Shenzhen symphony orchestra for 12 years, (1999-2012).
And she has 20 years violin teaching experience.

With the orchestra She has performed with many world-famous musicians，such as violinist Midori Goto, famous tenor singer Jose Carreras, Top pianist Lang Lang and so on. She and her daughter Annie Hu started work with Music Changing Lives in 2018.

Josiah Bruny is the CEO and Founder of Music Changing Lives, (MCL), a non-profit organization focused on reducing our communities’ dropout rates through innovative music and art enrichment programs. Josiah’s vision is to build new-age community centers around the nation for disadvantaged youth who are aspiring to learn what it takes to compete in the entertainment industry and to teach them how to become successful entrepreneurs. Prior to establishing MCL, Josiah created and led the independent record label, Higher Ground Records, LLC to become one of the leading underground labels in Southern California.

Josiah was raised in Altadena, California for most of his young life, but now considers the Inland Empire his home. Due to his hard work and dedication for the youth in his community, Josiah has been honored with several notable awards including President George H. W. Bush’s Daily Point of Light Award, the Executive Director of the Year presented by the  Community Foundation, Cal State University of San Bernardino’s Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, and the Western Riverside Council of Governments Outstanding Community Service Award to name a few honoring his efforts of service through Music Changing Lives. 

In 2012, Josiah collaborated with the Moreno Valley Unified School District, (MVUSD) to establish what is now known as the “Changing Lives Showcase,” a performance-art competition between schools in MVUSD. Josiah’s vision is to replicate his program throughout the region and one day the nation, “changing lives, one note at a time.”

Since the pandemic Music Changing Lives has begun a food rescue program where we distribute over 20,000 lbs. of food weekly and are taking control of the narrative by leading a “Spread Paint, Not Hate” initiative across San Bernardino County, in response to the social injustices nationwide.

Julie Baker is a seasoned artist and marketing professional. Prior to becoming Executive Director of Californians For The Arts and California Arts Advocates in October of 2018, Julie Baker served on the board for four years as chair of the membership committee and of Confluence, an arts advocacy conference. She serves as the California State Captain to Americans for the Arts’, National Arts Action Summit and is chair of the visibility committee for the State Arts Action Network. From 2009-2017, Julie Baker served as the Executive Director of The Center for the Arts, a non-profit performing arts venue and California WorldFest, an annual music and camping festival located in Grass Valley, CA.
Prior to moving to California, Baker worked in New York City at several prominent art galleries and the international auction house Christie’s before becoming the President of her family’s art marketing agency, Gerngross & Company Inc. In 1998, she moved with her family to Nevada City, CA where she was first employed as a Senior Executive Producer for Tristream, a 20- person web development and marketing/branding company. In 2001, she returned to her passion for the arts and opened Julie Baker Fine Art, a gallery of emerging artists. She was the co-founder of Flow art fair, a satellite art fair to Art Basel Miami Beach. She is active in her local community including serving on the high school Site Council and the board of California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project. She is the owner of Julie Baker Projects, a full-service arts consulting firm where projects have included talent buying for multiple performing arts centers, curating projects such as the Global Rhythms Series at the Crocker Art Museum and event planning for non-profit organizations.

Karen Suarez is the Director of Uplift San Bernardino, a collective impact program of the Making Hope Happen Foundation. Together, community based organizations, residents, community leaders, students, and more are building a generation of successful adults committed to growing roots in San Bernardino. We are collectively building and aligning systems to advance a more equitable San Bernardino.
For over a decade, Suarez has worked in roles to support and advocate for students, women, community and education. Suarez has worked as a Congressional Field Representative for the 43rd Congressional District, Business Development Director for the Go Red for Women campaign for the Inland Empire American Heart Association, the Executive Director for The Dominguez Dream, and more recently the Assistant Vice President, Community Development Officer for Wells Fargo & Company serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, focused on housing affordability, small business growth, workforce development, and financial health.
A proud daughter of immigrants, Suarez is a first generation college graduate with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development from California State University, San Bernardino. Suarez also holds a Master’s of Science in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University. She serves as the Co-Chair for the Inland SoCal Housing Collective, and Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity, and serves on other boards and collective impact work throughout the region.
Suarez lives in the City of San Bernardino with her husband, 2 daughters, and 2 fur babies. She enjoys traveling, reading, and volunteering. Suarez hopes to continue to share her knowledge, skills and abilities in promoting education, community development, and inspiring the next generation to build wealth and serve.

Kate Zankowicz (she/her/hers) is a museum education practitioner who has created community-driven, inclusive programming in museums in Canada and the U.S. for the past 15 years. Her practice has centered around creating collaborative programming with, not for, communities. As a museum educator with disability, Kate’s museum education pedagogy and philosophy is grounded in her lived experience. She has served as an accessibility consultant within various arts organizations, and she has been part of multiple accessibility projects within museums, including creating accessible exhibits and displays, writing verbal description audio tours, developing multisensory tours and other inclusive programming. She has also developed and implemented training programs for museum staff about disability, accessibility and inclusion. Kate holds a PhD in Education, with a focus on museum-based education from the University of Toronto (OISE). Kate speaks regularly about inclusive museum education at local and international conferences. Kate serves as the Manager of Youth, Family and Community Engagement at The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens.

Michelle is the CEO of the Inland Empire Community Foundation in Southern California where she focuses on impact, equity, and growth. For 28 years Michelle held leadership positions in community economic development nonprofits focused on participatory development, and has specialized in building or rebuilding organizations in both urban and rural communities. Prior to joining IECF, Michelle was the 10-year CEO of Rural Action, a community development corporation in Appalachian Ohio working on local sustainable development and mission-based social enterprises.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Nalani’s upbringing was immersed in the arts, fairy tales, and magic and rooted in her Mexican heritage. Following in the steps of her Ancestor Yerberas, Nalani began her formal studies as a Curandera (Mexican Medicine Woman) and Intuitive Energy Healer + Reiki Master in 2013. And since 2014, Nalani has been leading guided sound baths and facilitating spiritual limpias throughout the Coachella Valley and Los Angeles area. While honoring her family’s lineage of medicine women and combining her passion for community healing, Nalani created Botanica Melo as a means to keep her ancestors’ traditions within the modern Latinx landscape.

Patrick Brien (Executive Director) has been the Executive Director of the Riverside Arts Council for the past 17 years. In addition to teaching workshops and providing private consultations throughout Riverside County, he has developed programs that include art as therapy for dementia patients and arts in corrections within the state penitentiary system. Sporting a long list of acting, directing and producing credits that span from Hawaii to Germany, Patrick ran theatre companies in various parts of the world before entering the local arts agency field. On the side, he is Founder and Artistic Director of The Gestalt Theatre Project. The numerous boards he serves on include the Riverside Downtown Partnership, Californians for the Arts and California Arts Advocates. He is also the President of the Inland Theatre League and serves on the executive committee of the United States Urban Arts Federation.

Priya Vedula is a first-year medical student at the California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM). She attained her Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan and her Master of Public Health from Columbia University. Her leadership roles in school include President of the Physicians for Human Rights Interest Group, Vice President of the Research Interest Group,
 elected American Medical Association (AMA) Delegate for CUSM, and the San Bernardino County Medical Society Student Delegate. Priya also holds leadership roles in the community as the Vice President of Communications of the American Association of University Women, Redlands Branch, Board Member of the Friends of Prospect Park, Youth Leader Appointed Council of the Southern California Air Quality Management District, and Appointed Youth Leader of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) of the Inland Empire.
 In her free time, Priya enjoys singing and was a Season 13 American Idol Finalist. She lives with her husband in Redlands, California

Romaine Washington, M.Ed. is the author Purgatory Has An Address (Bamboo Dart Press) release date,  April 15th 2021 and Sirens in Her Belly (Jamii Publications, 2015). Her writing has been published in many anthologies and periodicals, including San Bernardino Singing, Lullwater Review, and Cholla Needles.   She has presented her work in a wide variety of venues from National Poetry Slam to NPR and KPFK.

​Washington is a fellow of The Watering Hole, South Carolina and the Inland Area Writing Project at the University of California in Riverside.  She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from California State University San Bernardino and her Masters in Education from Azusa Pacific University.  As a university instructor, she taught in the Cross Cultural Language and Academic program and she has been an educator for over twenty years. Washington is active in the local writing community through workshops and readings, the organization Women Who Submit, book festivals and literary events. 

Sara facilitates civic engagement within developing landscapes, exercising arts and cultural exchange strategies based in over two decades of experience. With headquarters in Los Angeles and Milwaukee, her initiatives, including MKE<->LAX, encourage local cultures to value neighborhoods, public space, civic art, social entrepreneurship and racial and gender equity. She consults on leadership development, organizational development, real estate development, and economic development, as well as strategy, facilitation and evaluation for numerous nonprofits, for profits, government bodies and networks. She additionally has an expertise in working with artists and other entrepreneurs for creative placemaking, public art, artist residencies and small business development. Collaboration has been project-based or ongoing with 18th Street Arts Center, America’s Black Holocaust Museum, American Monument, Arts Connection, Arts Wisconsin, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Beerline Trail Neighborhood Development Project, Being Pedestrian, California State University–Long Beach, Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park, City of Chicago, City of Los Angeles, City of Milwaukee, City of Santa Monica, Clean Power Alliance, ClimatePlan, Clockshop, Community Arts Resources, County of Los Angeles, Forecast Public Art, Freewaves, Friends of Blue Dress Park, Future IDs, Greater Milwaukee Committee for Community Development, HEART L.A., HomeWorks: Bronzeville, lauren woods, Los Angeles Food Policy Council, Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design, Los Angeles Urban Rangers, Los Angeles Walks, MAK Center for Art and Architecture, Mandel Group Inc, Mike Kelley Foundation, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, National Endowment for the Arts, Threewalls, Urban Land Institute, Watts House Project, West of Rome, Wisconsin Arts Board and Zeidler Center for Public Discussion. She received her Master of Public Art Studies degree at the University of Southern California (USC). She has served as a senior lecturer and program consultant with Otis College of Art and Design’s Graduate Public Practice program and has additionally taught at and consulted with USC, Woodbury University and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

Shenhua Hu graduated from USC violin performance major in 2014. He had been working for Shenzhen symphony orchestra as concert master for 8 years,(2004-2012). He is the associate concert master of Fresno philharmonic since 2017 to present. He got the first prize of Hong Kong International Music Festival violin competition in 2017.
He got the first prize of California Association of Professional Music Teacher Concerto Competition in 2014. He was awarded the second prize of American Protege International Music Talent Competition in 2015.
He has performed with many world-famous musicians, such as Oscar-winning composer of Music Tan Dun, top pianist Lang Lang, famous violinist Midori Goto, and so on.
He started work with Music Changing Lives in 2020.

Vanessa Vizard, Founder and CEO of Vizard Marketing & PR is a marketing and public relations professional and big community advocate.  Vanessa develops and implements highly effective marketing and public relation strategies for her clients that engage the public and influence consumer behavior and interest.

In Vanessa’s 10 years of experience as a PR professional, she has represented clients from multiple industries including healthcare, insurance, real estate, small business, political officials, entertainment, motorsports and nonprofit organizations.  

Her clients have been featured on leading news outlets including NBC4, ABC7, CBS, The Weather Channel, Charter News, PBS, LA Times, Associated Press, Press Enterprise, The Sun, OC Register, Inland Empire Magazine, CA Broker Magazine, CIE Fashion Magazine, Indikids Magazine, MotorcycleUSA.com, WhiteHouse.gov, KOLA, KGGI, POWER 106, KCAL and much more.

She is known for her successful public relations campaigns and strategic communications that result in new business partnerships for her clients, media exposure, expansion and growth.  Under her leadership her team has orchestrated successful branding campaigns for the nonprofit, Music Changing Lives, by bringing on large partners like Ontario Mills, Wells Fargo, Niagara Water and more resulting in increased cash and in-kind revenues.

Throughout her career, Vanessa has served as the community outreach specialist for 3 sister agencies (overseeing development operations for a total of 15 offices throughout CA, Nevada & Texas), has created effective strategies and campaigns that afforded her client to expand from 1 location into 6 sites throughout the Inland Empire, and was the driving force behind the successful PR campaign that resulted in her client Jeffrey Giba being elected as City Councilman for District 2 in Moreno Valley, CA.   

She has successfully managed and launched corporate, community and celebrity events for her clients including sales and training events, expos, tradeshows, grand openings, launch parties, health fairs, mixers, festivals, red-carpet events, performance competitions and more.     

Vanessa is actively involved in the community volunteering her time several organizations both locally and internationally.  She serves on the Executive Board for the award-winning nonprofit, Music Changing Lives in addition to be a founding, executive board member for Arts for IE. She’s received numerous awards including the Role Model Award, presented by Ontario Mills, and multiple recognitions by the California State Senate and Legislators office for her work in the community.  

Ms. Vizard attended University of Redlands for her Bachelors of Science in Business, holds a Certificate of Completion in Capacity Building from Alchemy+ and a Fundraising Certificate from the Academy of Grassroots Organizations.

Ana Cervantes is an arts advocate, educator and artist specializing in multimedia painting and expressive art from San Bernardino, California. Her own work is expressive, fueled by emotion and a desire to process the deep range of human feelings and her personal experience. Through her art, Ana hopes to encourage viewers to connect with their creative selves and the many nuances of the self as the medicine with the potential to heal our families and communities. Ana enjoys teaching “art freedom”, creating for the soul and gaining power through our voice for social justice through expressive art practice.

Ana received her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Long Beach where she developed her passion for creating. She has since been featured in exhibits in Los Angeles and her hometown of San Bernardino, and has displayed at the Museum of Latin American Art. Ana is currently attending Azusa Pacific University pursuing her Master’s in Art Education with the goal to create curriculum for youth uniting creative exploration and mental health.

Andrew K. Thompson lives and works in Colton, California. Thompson holds a MFA degree in Studio Art and Design from the California State University, San Bernardino, a Certificate Degree in Art Business from New York University as well as a BFA in Photography from the Academy of Art, San Francisco. His has exhibited throughout the United States including at the Klotz Gallery in New York, Gallery 1/1 in Seattle, California Museum of Photography in Riverside, CA, The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO, and a solo show at the SRO Photo Gallery at Texas Tech University. Musings on his work have appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Village Voice, L.A. Weekly, and KVC_aRts. His published images include The Hand Magazine, Urban Italia, Rhythm Magazine, Time Out New York, The Village Voice, and Artvoices. He has written for Artvoices and Dotphotozine. Curatorial projects include The Mysterious Burial Mask: Information and Evidence at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art. Thompson is the founder of The Little Gallery of San Bernardino.

His website is www.AndrewKThompson.net.
Contact at AndrewKThompsonArt@gmail.com

Anthony Victoria is a former reporter, who is now helping facilitate Communications for CCAEJ. He’s built a career on being the community’s watchdog. At a time when local news is underreported by major news media, as a journalist, Anthony helped shine a spotlight on Inland Empire policymakers and government agencies and their policy positions on immigration, homelessness, job-creation and public safety. He wrote about the growth of Latino-owned small businesses, the warehouse industrial complex, and the significance of community events.

Benjamin Christmas-Reynoso is the creative mind behind social justice media and content for The Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) and works in partnership with his brother Anthony Victoria to set a standard of experimentation in education and community-organizing. Ben lives by the idea that creativity is the way we will get the masses to understand their truths and begin to work together as we grow in community. His motto for engagement: “short and sweet.”

As a teen, Ben got heavily involved in grassroots organizing with the Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC). From this Ben became an outspoken critic of all injustices and disparities between the law’s protections/intent and its actual translation to the people. Ben has been working as a part of ICUC and the SBAirport Communities coalition (loosely named) battling to establish a COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT as the law of the land and potential mitigator of warehouse development and pollution through a CBA.

Ben lived all over Southern California growing up with the majority of his childhood spent in the Inland Empire and San Bernardino specifically. From 2010-2016 Ben lived on the gulf coast of Mississippi while attending the University of Southern Mississippi where he obtained his Bachelors in English. While in MS he mobilized the gulf coast community with a public radio show known as “Revolutionary Prose” (sponsored by educators) and shortly after became the spokesperson for the Hancock County chapter of the NAACP.

Ben is currently completing his master’s in education at Loyola Marymount University and works to create more educational organizing curriculum to pair youth with the tools to assist them in shaping their own futures. Ben is a passionate leader and has never been easily moved because he can’t un-see what he’s seen growing up in SB, battling state sovereignty in MS, or in his time working in the foster care system as a group home administrator in South Central LA.

I firmly believe in knowing where you come from in order to know where you are going. This is an idea that is consistently visible in my imagery. Whether it is working on personal projects, or collaborating with other artists in the community, the idea of honoring where you come from guides my work. Through my art, I pay homage to my motherland; the beautiful facets of Mexico, the diversity of my tribe, and the many radical humans that inspire my everyday life.

Themes I explore are the various emotions humanity has to navigate through. Family dynamics, the aftermath of love, the intricacies of culture, the stories and narratives of my ancestors and the world around me, and political commentary are various subjects that have risen in my pieces. It is essential in my evolution as an artist to create work that opens a dialog and connect people to one another.

I have had an intense relationship with Frida Kahlo. She is a muse, my Comadre de las Penas, and who I draw when I need to get over my own sorrows. Frida is a constant reminder that love can take many forms and lead your life into unimaginable places. As I draw and paint her, all I feel is my own worries lift and take the form of this Mujer Chingona.

I often refer to myself as a Jack of all trades. I have explored and worked in diverse mediums including: painting, watercolor, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and woodburning. I am a printmaker by trade and as of 2012 I have been exploring woodburning and acrylic painting. It is a medium that I have practiced tirelessly to develop and I find myself steadily working in and perfecting. In art I have found catharsis, a true companion, my most sincere form of self-expression…and most of all the vessel in which I communicate my thoughts to the world.

I am very passionate about making art accessible in our community. I believe that art is a gift that should be shared and available to everyone. In my capacity as an art educator, I am striving to make art an everyday practice in the lives of those that cross my path. I believe that art is therapy and it can heal our communities. In 2018, I co-founded Inland Mujeres with Mariana Gomez and Jessica Carrillo with the intent to make art affordable and unite womxn of the Inland Empire. This collective has taken a life of its own and it fills my heart to see so many womxn take ownership of this movement and find a space that represents them in a very intentional way.

Daniel Gohman is a mixed-media artist, photographer, and designer from Redlands, CA. He is known for utilizing a minimalistic style that is often found in pop art and mid-century advertising. Instead of putting the focus on mass consumer brands and media icons, he draws inspiration from the landscapes, spaces, and the people of California and beyond.

Daniel graduated from the University of California Riverside’s Film and Visual Culture program in 2007, where he studied cinema, film photography, video art, experimental film, and comparative media.

He has gone on to work for KESQ-TV (an ABC News affiliate), the California Museum of Photography, Technicolor, the USA Today Network, and is the former Associate Publisher of The Reader Magazine.

He is the founder of the non-profit creative organization, The Artlands, which owns and operates a gallery/shop in downtown Redlands, and currently serves as it’s Director and Curator