OUR TEAM

Meet our award winning team of artists, leaders and change makers.

Artistic Staff

Rashidi Omari

Performing Arts Director & DAYPC Co-Director

Rashidi Omari is the Performing Arts Director & DAYPC Co-Director at Destiny Arts Center. He teaches dance and spoken word at our North Oakland Center and in school and community spaces throughout the bay area, and presents on Destiny’s Creative Youth Development model around the country and around the world. An Oakland original, Rashidi has been with Destiny in various roles since 2003, became the Co-Artistic Director of the DAYPC in 2010, and Director in 2020. Rashidi knows that creative exploration and expression are integral components of culture and society. He believes that collaborative arts practices help nurture confidence, connection and cooperation which in turn helps to foster transformative social change. Rashidi has been dancing since the age of three and has been performing locally, nationally and internationally since 1993. He has performed as a dancer and M.C. with Unidentified, Company of Prophets, Loco Bloco, Starchild Entertainment, Unsmokables, Ashe West Dance Company, Liberation Dance Theater Company, and Kiandanda Dance Theater Company, to name a few. Rashidi can’t stop and won’t stop creating music and performance material as an artist. Rashidi’s love and breadth of knowledge of hip hop and performance comes from his experience growing up before and during what is referred to as the “Golden Era” of hip hop, and being inspired by great performers like Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Prince and Sammy Davis Jr.

Tesfaye Tekelu

Martial Arts Director

Tesfaye Tekelu is the Martial Arts Director at Destiny Arts Center, where he teaches Aikido and other forms of Martial Arts as well as gymnastics and dance. Originally from Ethiopia, Tesfaye has been with Destiny since 2016. Tesfaye believes that the study of Martial Arts encourages young people to improve their self-confidence, learn important values, develop healthy habits and improve their ability to focus and persevere. Prior to moving to the Bay Area in 2015, Tes taught martial arts and offered trainings in non-violent communication in New York City schools. While in New York he also served as Peace and Culture Director for the arts-based peace education organization Kids Creative. In addition to his work at Destiny, Tes is Chairman of the Board and Co-founder of Institute for Social Advancement (ISA) which endeavors to advance youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, conflict-resolution and peace-building, education, gender equality and HIV awareness in both the United States and Sub-saharan Africa. Tes is also responsible for introducing the discipline of Aikido in East Africa. Tesfaye currently holds a 3rd degree black belt in Aikido and has training in other martial art forms. He was awarded the State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition in honor of his work by Senator Mark Leno. A teacher-trainee at Strozzi Institute, Tesfaye is always learning and always creating—in his free time, he writes and produces music in the United States and Ethiopia.

Paula Dewart

Co-Director of the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company and Teaching Artist

Paula Dewart is the Co Director of the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company and Senior Mentor & Teaching Artist at Destiny Arts Center. She is an award winning dancer and choreographer with over 25 years of professional performance experience and 15 years of mentoring, developing and teaching the arts to youth throughout Oakland and the Bay Area. Born, raised, and trained in both Oakland and San Francisco, Paula uses her background in ballet, modern, and Hip Hop to create dynamic works of art. Paula started out in the Bay Area dance community at a young age and performed in many companies such as City Shock, No Label, and SoulForce before she found her dance home with Allan Frias’ Mind Over Matter. She has performed with artists including LL Cool J and Goapele. She has also danced, worked with, and choreographed for many up and coming Bay Area artists. She has danced in tv shows such as Blindspotting on Starz. Paula is a proud alumna of Ruth Asawa’s San Francisco School of the Arts.

Marjorie Ortiz

Director and Creative Lead of DJC & Teaching Artist

Marjorie Ortiz (she/her) is a teacher, choreographer and dance director who serves as Director and Creative Lead of Destiny’s Junior Dance Company (DJC). Marjorie has been choreographing, and directing dance programs in the Bay Area since 2006 with the Team Up for Youth and The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro, Berkeley Jr. Bears Cheer & Dance Team, and Destiny’s very own Teddy Bears. Marjorie is a Bay Area native born in San Leandro, CA who graduated from California State University, East Bay and placed on the Dean’s List and as one of CSU’s Most Notable Women. She was one of the founding members of the award winning Eclectic Pulse Dance Team. and received an MS in Educational and Instructional Technology from California State University, East Bay in 2020. Marjorie is also a proud member of Dance the Bay’s Advisory Board as a Dance Education Specialist mentoring aspiring dance instructors. She inspires her Destiny Arts students to use their voice as performers to create art that is personally significant and impactful on society.

Julia Chigamba

Senior Mentor Teaching Artist

Julia Tsitsi Chigamba, grew up in the cultural traditions of Shona music and dance, guided by her parents who are both from a long line of musicians and storytellers. Julia is the first master Zimbabwean dancer to make her home outside of Zimbabwe. Her father, Tute Chigamba, is a master mbira player and her mother was a master dancer. Julia’s brothers, sisters and cousins were members of the Zimbabwean National Dance Company and later founded their own mbira and dance ensemble, Mhembero. The Chigamba family lived in poverty during colonial times, when ceremonies were banned, but they held onto their traditions. The family thrived following Zimbabwe’s independence in 1981, when traditional music was in demand. However, Julia was forced to re-locate to the U.S. in 1999, when Zimbabwe’s economic downturn began. She left three children, ages 4, 7 and 9 years, in the care of her parents, until she was finally able to bring them to live here in the U.S. in 2010. Two years after moving to the U.S., she established the music and dance company the Chinyakare Ensemble in Oakland, California, to share the beauty and wisdom of her culture. Julia and the Chinyakare Ensemble have continued to perform throughout the Bay Area and across the U.S. In 20**, Julia founded the non-profit the Kumusha Foundation in order to continue to preserve and promote traditional Zimbabwean music and dance. In addition, in 2014 she started her own clothing line of African inspired designs, the Tsuro Collection. Julia Chigamba’s professional experiences include tours of Africa, China, Europe, Canada and the South Pacific with Mhembero. She has performed at such prestigious venues as the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles; Davies Symphony Hall and the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Julia has performed at social consciousness raising events at the University of California Berkeley and the East Bay AIDS Walk in Oakland. She and the group that she founded, the Chinyakare Ensemble are recognized for their authentic presentation of Zimbabwean music and dance and are regular invitees to the annual Zimbabwe Music Festival that takes place in the northwest; Camp Tumbuku in New Mexico; and the Collages des Cultures Africaines in Oakland. Julia and Chinyakare have performed in the Bay Area for Princess Nandi Zulu and Archbishop Ndungane from South Africa and have opened for Zimbabwean musicians Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo. She is featured on recordings including Zviri Kufamba Zvishoma (Boka Marimba – 2000); Kushinga Mhavambo, (Kusinga Mhavambo – 1998); and Pasi Mupindu (Mhembero Mbira Ensemble – 1998). In 2015, Julia served as the cultural consultant on the play, The Convert, written by Danai Gurira. Julia has also taught Zimbabwean dance in schools throughout the greater Bay Area since 1999, and currently teaches dance at Destiny Arts in Oakland.

Administrative Staff

Archie Nagraj

Executive Director

Archie Nagraj is the Executive Director at Destiny Arts Center, where she oversees Finance, Human Resources, and Operations, supporting all of the back-end operations that make Destiny run. Originally from Boston, by way of New York City, Archie has been with Destiny since 2015. Archie believes that the arts are fundamental to positive social change and community health. The arts provide shared languages that young people can use to take control of their lives, make healthy decisions and build community. Archie has been in the youth development field for over twenty years, honing her holistic expertise in programs, administration, development, and executive leadership. From Citizen Schools in Boston to Creative Arts Workshops for Kids in New York City, where she served as the Executive Director from 2004-2009, Archie has facilitated the operational systems and working relationships that make it possible for passionate people to effect positive social change. In addition to working at Destiny, Archie loves spending time with her son, exploring the wonders of the West Coast, baking and traveling. Archie received her BA from Boston University, and holds an MPH from Columbia University as well as an MSW from Rutgers University.

Aliza Schnayer

Deputy Director, Institutional Advancement

Aliza Schnayer is the Deputy Director, Institutional Advancement at Destiny Arts Center, where she works to develop relationships around contributed support for the organization. Having grown up in San Diego, California, Aliza has been with Destiny since 2017. She believes that fundraising is a meaningful way to participate in Destiny’s mission and she knows that all students benefit from arts education. Aliza recently served as Director of Development for Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Prior to that, she helped raise money for the new Strand Theater as the Associate Director of Development at American Conservatory Theater. She grew the individual giving program at The Contemporary Jewish Museum and was previously the Manager of Individual Giving at Children’s Musical Theatre San Jose. Aliza was the Director of Educational Programming at Pentacle, overseeing school partnerships and managing fundraising. In addition to her work at Destiny, Aliza is an avid explorer of all of the Bay Area’s culinary and beverage delights. Aliza is a graduate of the Kennedy Center Performing Arts Management Fellowship Program. She holds a certificate in Fundraising Management from Community Resource Exchange/City College of New York. Aliza is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University with degrees in Dance History and Art History.

Mike Lee

Deputy Director, Programs

Mike Lee is the Deputy Director, Programs at Destiny Arts Center, where he works to provide programmatic oversight for center-based work and school and community sites. Mike has been with Destiny since 2019. Born and raised in Oakland, Mike believes that investing in young people is one of the most valuable things a society can do and is committed to ensuring that Oakland maintains safe spaces for creative expression and youth development. Before joining Destiny, Mike developed and expanded youth programming at YR Media (formerly Youth Radio). He formalized their workforce development program by expanding its budget and forging key relationships with quality employer partners and developed a restorative justice program at the organization. Mike has over 15 years of experience developing and managing programs in social services and youth development, including international experience working with systems-engaged young people in Germany. In addition to his work at Destiny, Mike provides training through A Better Way and Fred Finch Youth Center on best practices for working with transition-age youth. Mike founded a local charitable group, Give Oakland, which provides support during the holidays for Oakland Head Start programs. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Equitable Futures Project through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University.

Christina Chan

Director of School & Community Programs

Christina Chan is the Director of School & Community Programs at Destiny Arts Center. She works with partners at schools and community centers to create programs that provide students with spaces for artistic expression and community building. Originally from Tacoma, Washington, Christina has been with Destiny since 2015. Christina believes that all youth are vulnerable to different risks in this world. However, through the love and nurturing of their communities, young people can become caring leaders who have the power and drive to implement positive social change in our society. Through her work at Destiny, Christina supports youth on this journey through building strong bonds and encouraging them to find their own unique voices. As a Manager for the California Youth Energy Services program, Christina helped set over six-hundred young people on a path to higher education through job skills training and community service. During her tenure with An Taisce, the Green Trust for Ireland, Christina created programs and curriculum to help young people become better stewards of the earth through action and example. In addition to her work at Destiny, Christina enjoys finding new hiking trails with her partner, Matt and her dog, Buddy, who also happens to be the official Destiny office dog. Christina graduated from UC, Berkeley in 2002 with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Education.

Nasim Coy

Business and Operations Manager

Nasim Coy is the Business & Operations Manager at Destiny Arts Center, where she supports the daily office management and accounting functions of Destiny. Originally from Iran, Nasim has been with Destiny since 2015. Nasim believes that given the proper tools, youth can transform into strong, fearless nurturing leaders dedicated to changing the world for the better. Before coming to Destiny, Nasim worked with the UCSF Athena Breast Health Network, a collaboration between all five U.C. medical centers to create quality breast health care for all women. In addition to her work at Destiny, Nasim enjoys salsa dancing, travelling and spending time with her best friend and husband, Josiah, and their dog, Paxton. Nasim holds a BS in Health Education from San Francisco State University.

Nefertiti Asanti Martin

Institutional Giving Manager

Nefertiti Asanti Martin is the Institutional Giving Manager, where they work to develop compelling proposals and funding relationships in support of the organization. Originally from the Bronx, NY, Nefertiti joined Destiny in July 2021.

Nefertiti believes in creative, embodied expression as a vehicle for healing and transforming our society. She is passionate about ensuring young people and their communities have the resources they need to impact change in their lives and their world.

For over a decade, Nefertiti has worked with various organizations in the Bay Area and New York City to advance equity and social justice, including Girls for Gender Equity, Community United Against Violence and Color Of Change. Nefertiti’s work has spanned addressing gender-based violence, racial and economic justice and youth leadership development. In addition to their work at Destiny, Nefertiti is a published poet and editor. Her chapbook fist of wind won the inaugural Start a Riot! Chapbook prize sponsored by Foglifter Press, Still Here San Francisco, and RADAR Productions. Nefertiti is also a 2021 PEN America Emerging Voices Fellow in Poetry.

Bryan Massengale

Culture Keeper

Bryan Massengale is the Culture Keeper at Destiny Arts Center, where he embodies our culture of welcome, supporting Teaching Artists, families, students, partners and guests to thrive at our North Oakland center. Hailing from Pasadena, California but with deep familial roots in Oakland, he has been with Destiny since 2016. Bryan knows firsthand how important the work of supporting and mentoring youth is through his decades of experience providing direct services to young people in various capacities. Bryan first learned about Destiny while running the after-school program at Oakland’s Westlake Middle School. He spent fifteen years working with autistic, blind, and learning-disabled youth at the LeRoy Haynes Education Center and Group Home. There, he advocated for justice-involved youth who had been identified as vulnerable to repeated incarceration, helping them reintegrate into their communities after being released from correctional or foster care facilities. Bryan holds BA in Social & Behavioral Sciences from San Francisco State University.

Danielle Kreie

Development and Finance Manager

Danielle Kreie is the Development and Finance Manager at Destiny Arts Center, where she works to improve data tracking systems while supporting the organization’s development efforts. Originally from Illinois, Danielle has been with Destiny since 2018. Danielle knows that arts programming can be a powerful tool to engage the mind and empower youth. She believes that every child has great potential and that the arts provide a unique opportunity for young people to build confidence, gain leadership skills, and learn self-discipline while becoming part of a welcoming community that promotes self-expression and creativity. Danielle has many years of nonprofit administration experience in the youth development sector. Prior to joining Destiny, Danielle was the Office Manager for the Bay Area Urban Debate League, an organization working to bring debate to under-resourced high school and middle schools. Danielle also worked, and still volunteers regularly, with the Sun Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing youth education through the arts and sciences. In addition to her work at Destiny, Danielle enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and exploring new places. Danielle holds a BS in Architectural Engineering with a minor in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Susan Andrien

Director of Wraparound

Susan Andrien LMFT, has 25 years of experience providing mental health services in communities heavily impacted by trauma. Focusing on healing centered practices and the physiology of trauma, Susan integrates several core principles of trauma informed practices into a comprehensive approach that matches specific therapeutic techniques to developmental stages and brain regions mediating social, emotional, behavioral and academics. Susan is. Phase 2 trainer in the Neurosequential Model and a Certified Forest Therapy Practitioner.

Elaine Andres

Manager of Learning and Evaluation

Elaine Andres (she/her) recently joined Destiny as the Manager of Learning and Evaluation and American Council of Learned Societies Leading Edge Fellow. In this role, Elaine collaborates with youth, caregivers, and teaching artists to tell the story of Destiny’s impact and ensure that its programs continue to respond to the evolving needs of young people in the Oakland Bay Area. Prior to joining Destiny, Elaine worked as an educator, interdisciplinary researcher, and writer supporting individuals, organizations, and coalitions building power for working class communities of color. Elaine earned her Ph.D. in Culture and Theory at UC Irvine with emphasis in Asian American Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Visual Studies. Her research focuses on the intersections of Black and Filipinx intimacies and solidarities, popular music, and U.S. empire. Her writing has appeared in AAPI Nexus, Journal for Asian American Studies, SmithsonianMagazine, PBS American Experience, and the SAGE Encyclopedia for Filipinx American Studies. In addition to her work at Destiny, Elaine teaches classes in the Department of Ethnic Studies at CSU East Bay.

Sophie Nadler

School and Community Programs Coordinator

Sophie Nadler (she/her) is the School and Community Programs Coordinator at Destiny Arts Center, where she supports the coordination and administration of Destiny’s school-based arts programs. After growing up in Piedmont and Oakland and a 4-year stint in Minnesota, Sophie has been with Destiny since October 2022. Sophie believes that access to various educational and youth development opportunities is the key to fostering happy, healthy, and thriving youth. She is driven by finding how playing, learning, and growing intertwine in her work with youth. Sophie has worked directly with young people in formal and informal learning environments, with a particular passion and focus on early childhood and museum-based education. Before Destiny, she worked at the Bay Area Discovery Museum as a Lead Educator, facilitating and coordinating their school and community programs. Outside of her time with Destiny, Sophie enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, searching for well-price vintage furniture, and searching for the best pastry in the Bay Area. She holds a bachelor's degree in Educational Studies and American Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.

Maddie Larkins

Enrollment Coordinator & Teaching Artist

Maddie Larkins (she/her) is the Enrollment Coordinator, as well as a Hip Hop teaching artist, at Destiny Arts Center. She has been working at Destiny since 2022, and is also an alumni of the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company. DAYPC made a big impact in Maddie’s dance journey, through the embodiment of mindfulness incorporated into the program and the family-like sense of community. She is now training on an Oakland-based, Hip Hop foundation, dance team, called 1up Crew, where she gets the opportunity to travel and compete. While she teaches our youth here at Destiny, she also teaches adult choreography dance classes at Full Out Studios, as well as one on one private sessions. Being a part of our hands-on program team has given her the opportunity to understand and connect with the youth on a deeper level, while teaching the youth inspires her love for dance through their curiosity and excitement to learn. Her favorite part about teaching youth is getting to witness them blossom and realize their potential.

Reggie Edmonds-Vasquez

Center Program Manager

Reggie Edmonds-Vasquez (they/them) has been the Center Program Manager at Destiny Arts since 2024, where they manage and support the Center Programs team in creating wonderful and engaging experiences for all of our participants. Originally from Richmond, CA. Reggie has spent the last ten years as a teaching artist and arts administrator, specifically centering Creative Youth Development, youth leadership, and liberatory educational theory as cornerstones of their praxis. Outside of Destiny, Reggie is also a published writer and nationally ranked slam poet, competing and touring across the United States and internationally. Their work has been published in Rigourous Magazine, Foglifter Journal, Red Wheelbarrow, elsewhere. They have been selected for fellowships and residencies with the AfroUrban Society, Foglifter Journal, Shuffle Literary Collective, Winter Tangerine, and the Museum of the African Diaspora. In their spare time, Reggie creates spaces for other artists to write and perform through their literary arts events program, Rich Oak Events.

MV Candelaria

Communications Associate

MV Candelaria (they/them) joined Destiny as the Communications Associate in 2024. Through this position, MV handles the compilation, curation, and creation of marketing materials. This includes graphic design, video-editing, photography, and marketing strategy. They also manage all of Destiny’s social media channels. Having grown up in Hayward, California, the East Bay community and its youth is one that is near and dear to their heart. MV has a plethora of experience working with youth as an educator in the Bay Area and the Bronx, New York before becoming a copywriter and marketing consultant for various small businesses in the Bay Area. They are also a writer, with publications in the California Aggie, Review Rewind and Respond, and more to come. MV received a BA in English Literature at the University of California, Davis, with a minor in Asian American Studies. Currently, MV is pursuing an MFA at California College of the Arts for Creative Writing, where their thesis will culminate into a chapbook detailing the experience of grief through the lens of intergenerational trauma and the immigrant experience.

Neika Niakan

Case Manager

Neika (she/her) is the Case Manager at Destiny Arts Center, where she supports the overall Destiny community to ensure that they get the care and resources they need. She interned with Destiny in 2021-2022 and is elated to be joining the Destiny team once again, now, in a full-time role! Originally from Southern California, Neika believes that all youth deserve to feel safe, respected, empowered, accepted, and celebrated for who they are; she is so proud to be a part of Destiny, where self-expression, self-respect, self-discovery, and self-empowerment are at the center of everything. She graduated from UCLA with her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Education Studies, where she most notably conducted research and programming on disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline through alternative, healing-centered modalities such as: restorative justice programs, culturally relevant pedagogy, poetry, therapy, and various culturally-centered artistic forms. After graduating, she moved to NYC and taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, and preschool at various schools across Harlem and the Bronx. Her experience led her back to California to earn her Master's degree in Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley with a specialization in strengthening children, youth, and families. Neika comes to Destiny with 10 years of knowledge and experience in supporting people, families, and communities across a wide range of demographics–-inside and outside the educational realm.

Teaching Artists

Samara Atkins

Teaching Artist

Samara Atkins is a teaching artist at Destiny Arts Center, where she teaches hip hop dance and movement in our programs at schools and community centers throughout the East Bay. Originally from Oakland, CA, Samara has been with Destiny since 2011. Samara knows that movement and dance are powerful tools for everyone to share their story, process, cope, and heal from the things we experience in our society. Movement brings communities together and connects people to people. Samara believes that through movement, youth are able to access and channel their emotions, communicate their experiences more clearly, connect with others, and empower, as well as express themselves in ways that allow them to thrive. Samara has danced for CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers at the 2015 FOLD Festival, representing Destiny Arts Center. She has been a featured dancer for Adobe Max product launch and their 2017 Adobe Design Achievement Awards ceremony. Samara has been featured in music videos, news articles, and was a dance journalist for Dance Studio Life magazine. She has co-founded Mix'd Ingrdnts, an all female-identified performance company est. in 2010, that exists to empower womxn, youth, and the community to express themselves through performance and dance education. As co-artistic director, choreographer, and dancer of the company, Samara has received notable dance awards, notoriety in the community and internationally, and appeared on the Harry (Connick Jr.) Show. She also was choreographer and director of Howard University's Vizion Performance Company while attending. Samara has been a dance company member and received training from two of Oakland's premiere studios/companies Newstyle Motherlode and Dance-A-Vision. In addition to her work with Destiny Arts Center, she has co-started and co-lead Power of Hope Bolinas since 2015, and been a lead-facilitator for Partners of Youth Empowerment Global's Creative Faciliation Training. Samara is a core member of the grammy-nominated Alphabet Rockers as choreographer, dancer, singer, and songwriter. Through Alphabet Rockers, Mix'd Ingrdnts, Destiny Arts Center, and her own mantra in life, Samara engages in, creates, and produces content that positively impacts social change and creates spaces for people to be seen & heard. She also really loves to travel and share her love of dance and storytelling. Through Mix'd Ingrdnts, Samara has received Bay Area's Best Dancer award. She's also represented the US on a dance tour in China and workshopped with Debbie Allen at her studio with the St. Mary's Dance Ensemble, under Naa Dodua - Diane Green. Samara will always spread her joy and love of dance to people around the world.

Arayah Fleming

Teaching Artist

Arayah Fleming (she/her) has been a professional dancer and teaching artist in California since 2018. She teaches hip-hop dance classes for adults and youth starting at the age of 3, with her main organization, Destiny Art Center and for various schools in the Oakland Unified School District. As a professional dancer, she’s had the opportunity to perform at various shows throughout the Bay Area, travel to other states to perform, and even dance in commercials for a few companies including Google! When she’s not working with the youth or performing, she’s also teaching at Full Out Studios or choreographing for Grammy Award-winning singing group Alphabet Rockers, whose music spreads a message of inclusivity and positivity throughout the Bay Area. Arayah’s biggest priority as a teacher is to see her students leave with a new sense of confidence in their movement and an understanding that no matter where they are in their dance journey, they are amazing and deserve to be celebrated.

Aaron Kierbel

Teaching Artist

Aaron is a rhythmALLogist and teaching artist at Destiny Arts Center, where he teaches drumming and percussion at schools throughout the East Bay. He is originally from Los Angeles, CA and has been teaching with Destiny Arts since 2015. Aaron knows that rhythm is one of the most powerful, direct and universal ways of unifying a group of people, ushering in creativity, connection and personal transformation. In addition to his work at Destiny, Aaron teaches with several other leading Bay Area teaching arts organizations, such as LEAP, Attitudinal Healing Connection and East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. Aaron is founder of RhythmALLogy (www.rhythmallogy.com), an organization using interactive drumming and rhythm making for building community and human potential. He has presented workshops on several continents, working with youth and adults in schools, jails, corporate boardrooms and everything in between. He is also an integral member of the Bay Area music scene, playing with groups such as Jazz Mafia, Orchestra Gold, La Misa Negra and is internationally touring drummer with Rupa and the April Fishes, visiting 30 countries since 2005. Aaron studied jazz drumming performance at Sonoma State and San Francisco State University, pursuing a deeper study of rhythm in Cuba, Ghana, Morocco and Italy. He has taken a plethora of rhythm facilitation trainings all over the world with such teachers at Arthur Hull, Simon Faulkner, Musicians Without Borders, Christine Stevens and others. He holds a BA in Integral Studies from C.I.I.S in San Francisco and draws inspiration from coffee, laughter, found sounds, mistakes and the boundless creativity of the youth he teaches.

Renysha Franklin

Teaching Artist

Bio coming soon!

Salê Ramos

Teaching Artist

Dedicated Capoeirista teaching artist, educator, and fluent speaker of Portuguese, Spanish and English, Salê Ramos has been a capoeira practitioner for over 25 years. He came to the Bay Area in 2001. Today, Salê teaches basic body movement, history, philosophy, rituals and music from Capoeira to inspire and direct young students in reaching high and respectable social skills. Salê has been teaching capoeira and working with Performing Arts Workshop since 2009 and has taught in many schools all over the Bay Area. He adapts his teaching methodology to individual student needs in order to create a safe and comfortable environment for all levels of learning.

Kanukai Chigamba

Teaching Artist

Kanukai Chigamba is the Assistant Teaching Artist for the Zimbabwean Dance Class at Destiny Arts Center, where she assists Ms. Julia by drumming and also dancing during classes at the arts center and in schools across Oakland. Originally from Harare, Zimbabwe, Kanukai has been with Destiny since 2018. Kanukai believes that many Zimbabwean traditional dances are deeply rooted in their everyday life. She also knows that when working with young people, it is easier when they can connect with the culture they are being introduced to. She feels creating this connection between her own personal and the students’ experiences based on what we do every day and connecting it back to the choreography is such a beautiful process to witness. Kanukai has performed across the United States with the Chinyakare Ensemble, Afro-Urban Society, and Cheza Nami foundation. She has performed at events such as the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Zimfest, Monterey Bay Reggaefest, and the Africa Day Celebration in Washington DC. In addition to her work at Destiny Arts, she teaches dance workshops and performs in the Bay Area. She enjoys taking photos, hiking, and sleeping. Kanukai Chigamba holds a BA in Political Science and African Studies from California State University, Sacramento. She hopes to further her education and land a job at the United Nations one day. Kanukai draws inspirations from many African women dancers who are constantly evolving to better themselves and their art.

Juliana Mendonca

Teaching Artist

Juliana Mendonca, Venezuelan Contemporary Dance performer, choreographer and teacher. Graduated with a degree in dance from University Institute of Caracas, Venezuela (IUDANZA - UNEARTE) in 2005, she also served as an instructor at the Performing Arts Department of the University of the Andes, (U.L.A) in Mérida-Venezuela and at the Traditional Dance Program of the National University for the Arts (UNEARTE). In 2018-2019 she received certification in Hatha Yoga and Yoga Philosophy and Ayurvedic Lifestyle Coach by the Divine Values School, Ecuador and Dev Sanskriti University, India.

In 2005, Juliana co-founded Raíz de Agua, a music and dance company. Since then, she has performed mostly as a solo artist with the Company and through dance has found a way to connect her creativity to spirit and nature, compounded with a unique feminine and artistic self-awareness. She has drawn influences from contemporary and popular dance styles such as Butoh, Latin Traditional Dances, Contact Dance Improvisation and Physical Theater, to find a unique language with which she can express and create powerful works of art and healing.

She has lived in Oakland, California for five years and is dedicated to teaching Latin Rhythms, Creative Movement and Yoga for children and also to her dance projects, Liquidanza, Virtual Dance Lab and Raíz de Agua.

Aminah Hanif-Cruz

Teaching Artist Assistant

Aminah Hanif is a martial arts teaching assistant at Destiny Arts Center, where she teaches Kajukenpo and traditional Filipino karate, as well as assisting as a counselor and staff member at the Camp Destiny day camp in the summer. Originally from East Oakland, California. Aminah has been with Destiny since 2016.

Laurie Fleurentin

Teaching Artist

Laurie Fleurentin (she/her) a versatile Haitian dancer and has dedicated herself to the research, development and promotion of traditional Haitian dance, song and storytelling. Laurie was born in Haiti and began dancing at the age of five at Academy of Ballet and Arts under the direction of Ms. Heileing Herzog. She studied traditional Haitian dance with Armande J. Piard and Vivianne Gauthier, and received a Diploma in Dance at L’ ENARTS (École Nationale des Arts) school of Arts in Haiti and is a trained vocalist in Haitian Folkloric Traditional chants. Laurie became a professional dancer for Vivianne Gauthier Dance Company where she met Florencia Pierre and started dancing for Afoutayi Jaka. She has also performed at San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival with Eloi Movement and the Haitian Festival at San Francisco with Afoutayi. Currently, Ms. Fleurentin is studying at Laney College and teaches master dance classes at Mahea Uchiyama Center International in Berkeley and Destiny Arts Center where she loves working with young artists.

Jay Gash

Teaching Artist

Jay Gash (she/they) is a Black & Queer filmmaker, 3rd generation photographer, and educator born and raised in Oakland, CA. Their photography explores intimacy between moments, people, places, and things. Jay was a filmmaker in the inaugural Re-Take Oakland cohort from 2019 - 2021, an education and documentary filmmaker mentoring program, where she started producing her second short documentary film, ‘When the Garden Comes’ - which premiered at the 18th Annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival in 2022. Jay recently completed the 2022 Oakland Surge Fellowship, a cohort based program that unites, accelerates, and empowers emerging leaders of color in education. They previously held the position of Associate Director of Youth and Emerging Media Maker Programs and Creative Director of Youth Productions at BAVC Media. Currently, they hold the position of Strategic Capacity Coordinator at the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project. Jay hopes to continue building a legacy of voice and representation for people of color through storytelling in all forms.

Julia Chigamba

Senior Mentor Teaching Artist

Koozi (Denzel Harris)

Teaching Artist

Koozi (he/him) has been dancing since 2009. His main dance styles are turfing, bonebreaking, and other sub-styles of street dance. Koozi has performed and been featured in music videos with many Bay Area artists, such as E40, G-Eazy, Kehlani, H.E.R, and many more, and has also been a part of the MOCAP for Star Wars. Aside from his performance career, Koozi’s first love in dance is battling. Koozi has traveled across the country competing in different battles. He recently won the all-styles battle at The Cave, was King of Turfinc 2018-2019, and featured in Battle Fest, among others. Koozi hopes to spread his knowledge in dance and help expand Bay Area culture while becoming one of the greatest battle dancers ever. Koozi was born in San Francisco and currently resides in Oakland, California.

Salani Hahe Matshoba

Teaching Artist

Salani Matshoba (he/him) is a Teaching Artist at Destiny Arts Center, where he teaches Zimbabwean Traditional Music and Dance. Salani is an Mbira and Marimba instrument maker, player, and teacher who also knows various traditional dances of Zimbabwe. Originally from Zimbabwe, Salani grew up in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. His background and appreciation for music started as early as eight years old. Salani is primarily a self-taught instrument player. He is passionate about sharing his musical and dance knowledge with all ages and particularly believes in investing in young people and continuing artistic legacies. He has had exposure with various renowned elders whom he drew inspiration from. Salani has been part of various Mbira groups in Zimbabwe and performed at national events and international tours, sharing his passion for traditional musical art. In addition to his work at Destiny, Salani performs with his group called MBIRADZASOKO, and enjoys making instruments and listening to any type of music.

Camille Schmitt

Teaching Artist

Camille/Camila Schmitt (she/they) is a Teaching Artist at Destiny Arts Center, where she teaches a variety of art forms, including afro-latin-infused hip hop dance, spoken word, visual art, performance technique, and a style of dance called “groovement.” Camila performed with Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company during her middle school and high school years and is committed to honoring the Destiny values. Camila performed as a background dancer for Nile Rodgers and The Chic Band, trained with Ana Maria Alvarez in the Urban Latin Dance Theater group, Contra Tiempo, and has participated in artistic collaboration with Prayasam, a social justice and arts youth community in Kolkata, India. Camila finds healing in moments with nature, spending time honoring her ancestors, and expressing herself through any art form she feels most inspired by at the moment. Camille holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Cultural Communication and a minor in Dance from Mills College. Camila was born and raised in Oakland, California.

Kory Watkins (KATO)

Teaching Artist

Kory Watkins, aka KATO (he/him) is a modern-day samurai of dance whose swords are precision and movement which open the way of dance for all ages. A 30-year veteran of dance, and originally from Waco, Texas, KATO elevates dance from a visual form of entertainment to a physical learning experience and way of life. He embodies the Bushido code of dance principles in his teaching: Courage, Integrity, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor, and Loyalty, and like a samurai of the past, he holds his position with dignity. KATO’s repertoire includes a variety of Hip Hop styles, including Breaking, video choreography, popping, and robotting. He finds inspiration from the styles of late greats like Michael Jackson and Sammy Davis Jr, as well as the youthful influence of the kids in Richmond, California. Utilizing a variety of media, he exposes his Destiny Arts students to a plethora of styles and formats to encourage them to develop proficiency in multiple areas of dance.

Antwan Davis

Teaching Artist

Antwan Davis is a teaching artist at Destiny Arts Center, where he teaches stepping and body percussion in schools and dance studios throughout the the Bay Area. Originally from Las Vegas after having grown up in Albuquerque, NM. Antwan has been with Destiny since 2017. Antwan is a multi-percussionist who has been engaging audiences for 14 years with body percussion and stepping. He co-founded and performs with the Las Vegas-based body percussion dance company Molodi. He has also performed with the Las Vegas and North American production of Stomp, and has toured nationally with Step Afrika! He performs and teaches workshops and residencies in the U.S and internationally. As a performer, he thrives on breaking down musical and genre barriers through creative, interdisciplinary projects. As a teacher he is enthused by creating community through body music, giving people a different outlet of expression. Antwan has recently expanded his artistic crafts by becoming an improvisational actor and stand-up comedian. “My passion is people, I love connecting, inspiring, sharing and creating with people.” – Antwan Davis

Rama Hall

Teaching Artist

coming soon

Board Members

Castle Sinicrope

Treasurer

Castle Sinicrope has been a Destiny Arts Center board member since 2018. She learned about Destiny through her evaluation work for the City of Oakland and saw the power of its programming and social change mission firsthand when Sarah invited her to attend an end-of-summer camp performance in 2015. Castle is an independent evaluator who helps local, state-wide, and international organizations understand and improve programs that promote social and economic opportunity. She currently serves as the external evaluator for the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)’s Healthy Neighborhoods Collaboratives and supports their place-based collaborative approach to neighborhood revitalization in East and West Oakland. She holds a BA in German from Georgetown University and an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Originally from Amherst, Massachusetts, Castle has been in the Bay Area since 2008. After years of competing at the highest levels of ultimate frisbee nationally and internationally, she now chases after toddlers and can sometimes be found in the ceramics studio.

One of the Destiny Arts Board Members named David Nixon

David M. Nixon

Board Co-Chair

David has been a Destiny Arts Center board member since 2012. He came to Destiny after seeing the Destiny instructors inspire his children with their thoughtful, nurturing approach. Years later his son still proudly remember his yellow belt promotion in martial arts. David is a Director or Competitive Marketing at New Relic, where he researches software markets and advises sales professionals on how to build successful client relationships. Prior to Joining New Relic, David worked for several leading companies including Oracle, Salesforce, Polaroid, A.T. Kearney and Booz-Allen & Hamilton. He holds a BS in engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Originally from New Jersey, David has been in the Bay Area since 1997. David is passionate about youth activities and spending time with friends and family. He can be found at a family BBQ or watching his children play, dance or act when he’s not at work or here at Destiny.

David Schoenberg

Board Member

David has been a Destiny Arts Center board member since 2015. He came to Destiny, because of its deep roots in the community and its work with young people. David is a Director of Customer Experience at PG&E, where he leads a team of 50 employees who work to make it easier for customers to do business with the company. He holds a BBA from Emory University in Atlanta, GA and a MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. Originally from Germany, David has been in the Bay Area since 2008. He enjoys spending as much time as possible outside – whether it be running, skiing or backpacking.

Jill Schweitzer

Board Co-Chair

Jill has been a Destiny Arts Center board member since 2017. She came to Destiny because of the incredible mission and visible impact she observed through attending multiple performances and events, since being introduced to the organization by long-time board member David Riemer back in 2014. Jill is a product manager at Airbnb, where she works to bring authentic dining experiences to travelers as PM for their Restaurants business. Most recently a product manager at Uber for the last 2 years, Jill brings experience in product management, entrepreneurship, and sales/business development. Jill worked for Cisco in sales and business development on the Microsoft account for several years, then earned her MBA at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. After business school, she moved into product management, and pursued her own startup in the hiring and recruiting space. Jill previously served as a board member for Net Impact Seattle. She holds a BA in Government and Legal Studies from Bowdoin College. Originally from Connecticut, Jill has been in the Bay Area since 2011. Jill is also passionate about food, running, and cycling, and she and her husband aim to visit all the US National Parks.

Marcus Chairez

Marketing and Development Committee Chair

Marcus has been a Destiny Arts board member since 2019 and has served on the Marketing and Development committee since 2014. Marcus was introduced to Destiny through the initial F R E E documentary screenings at Grand Lake Theater and was immediately hooked to the organization after a Q&A session with a group of DAYPC kids after the screening. He said, “all you have to do is listen to the kids speak for 5 minutes about their community, values and aspirations and you quickly understand that Destiny’s method works”. Marcus is a Program Director at Beyond, a design agency in San Francisco. He was born in Fremont, graduated from Santa Clara University and has lived in the Bay Area for the last 8 years. Marcus got started in non profit work by starting a group called Project FUN which organized, designed and facilitated social events to raise money for local youth organizations in the Bay Area. Marcus is deeply passionate about youth development, design’s role in diversity, equity & inclusion and has most recently been leading an award winning design team that has been combatting the tobacco industry.

Rick Butler

Board Member

Bio coming soon!

Tana Johnson

Board Member

Tana Johnson joined Destiny Arts Center in 2016 after witnessing Destiny’s ability to create strong youth leaders and community advocates through its social justice oriented curriculum in movement arts. Tana is a screenwriter with over twenty years of experience as an arts educator, video producer, and teacher trainer in non-profits, museums, colleges and county offices of education. Tana ran the Integrated Learning Specialist Program at Alameda County Office of Education where she led a training program for educators to deepen their practice through Teaching for Understanding and Studio Thinking Framework. Tana has received awards for her own films as well as digital films and products she produced at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She holds a master’s of arts in Creativity and Arts Education from San Francisco State University. Originally from Idaho, Tana has been an active member of the Bay Area arts community since 1992. Tana loves traveling with her husband and two daughters, hiking the hills of Oakland with her two dogs, and attending the inspiring Destiny Arts performances.

Jessica Ozberker

Secretary and Governance Committee Chair

Jessica Ozberker, LCSW, LPCC, is a first generation American, born to Jewish, European and Middle Eastern parents. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and has traveled to over 30 countries. Ms. Ozberker attended the Evergreen State College and earned a B.A. in Humanities with an Emphasis in Cultural Studies. She then went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Social Work at San Jose State University. Ms. Ozberker soon became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.

She has close to 20 years of experience offering and developing psychotherapy and providing psychoeducation through community events, presentations, and trainings. Ms. Ozberker has extensive experience in non profit management, case management, advocacy, lobbying, research, and community outreach among diverse populations of at risk children, youth and families, elders, and triple diagnosed homeless adults.

Throughout the past 10 years, Ms. Ozberker has served on three board of directors for various non profits. Currently, Ms. Ozberker has a private psychotherapy practice, supervises clinical interns and works with Jewish Family & Children Services. She centers her work on empowering, and involving people to be active partners in their own care. Through her work she supports her own personal, professional and philanthropic commitment to social justice.

Ms. Ozberker’s favorite activities involve being in or near the ocean, spending time with her children, family and friends, travel, and anything related or connected to the arts.

Scott Gelin

Board Member

Scott has been a Destiny Art Center board member since 2021. He was drawn to Destiny because of its incredible mission and the positive impact Destiny programs have on kids and teens and the arts community in Oakland. Scott has long been a proponent of using the arts to reach out to underserved youth and to build build communities.

Scott served for over a decade as Board President of Creative Art Works serving East Harlem in New York City. He helped revive the then-dormant organization and helped it grow from a volunteer-only organization with no budget to a vibrant organization serving thousands of kids and teens each year with a full-time staff. Over his career, he has provided pro bono advice to a variety of other arts and theater groups.

In his professional life, Scott leads Apple’s global intellectual property enforcement program and manages a team of attorneys, investigators and analysts in worldwide enforcement of Apple’s intellectual property rights against counterfeiters, pirates and infringers. Scott attended Duke University and Cornell Law School and graduated from both with honors. Outside of work, Scott is an avid runner and cyclist and enjoys Pilates, yoga, pretty much any outdoor activity and spending time with his family.

Co-Founders

Anthony Daniels

Co-Founder

Sifu Anthony Daniels is a Co-Founder of Destiny Arts Center and the former Director of Center-based Martial Arts programs at Destiny Arts Center, where he taught an eclectic mix of asian martial arts forms including Japanese Karate, Kung Fu (Wu Chien Pai), and Judo. Born and raised in Oakland, Sifu Anthony co-founded Destiny Arts Center in 1988, with Sifu Kate Hobbs. Sifu Anthony believes that when youth commit to the study of Martial Arts they will learn to prevent violence in their communities and build skills around cooperation and discipline. Sifu Anthony has taught martial arts, youth leadership, self-defense and conflict resolution to youth of all ages since 1980 at Destiny and in many other after-school programs in the Bay Area, including the California School for the Blind, Job Corps, the Chestnut Court Housing Projects, and Parks and Recreation programs. He has also taught youth and adults internationally in Switzerland and Mexico. Sifu Anthony holds a first-degree black belt in Judo and a fifth degree black belt in Wu Chien Pai Kung Fu. Sifu Daniels has taught martial arts at Destiny since 1988. He started studying at age 13 and received his Black Belt in Kung Fu in 1982 and in Judo in 1988. He was a five time state champion with the California Karate League in the 1980s. And a national collegiate medalist in both olympic Tae Kwon Do and judo Sifu Anthony holds an AA in Developmental Disabilities from Chabot College, a BA in Humanities from New College of CA, and an MA in Youth Leadership New College of CA.

Kate Hobbs

Co-Founder

Kate Hobbs a Co-Founder of Destiny Arts Center. In her role as Mentor Teaching Artist, she supported Destiny Teaching Artists to passionately share their art form with young people. Born and raised in San Francisco, Kate co-founded Destiny Arts Center in 1988 with the goal of offering high quality martial arts training for youth. Kate was particularly interested in teaching practical skills for de-escalating violence and promoting peaceful solutions to violence and abuse for young people and their communities. Kate returned to Destiny in 2013 to usher in the next generation of Destiny teaching artists and hone our martial arts curriculum. Kate believes that toughness, skillful expression, and positive experiences of community give young people what they need to creatively navigate their world and develop the capacity to survive and prosper in the face of inequality and injustice. Kate served as Destiny Arts Center’s Executive Director from 1988 to 1998. She then worked for Sports4Kids (now known as Playworks) from 1998-2005, where she wrote curriculum and developed trainings. Kate taught Physical Education with Berkeley Unified School District from 2005-2008 and worked in Early Childhood Education at UC Berkeley Childcare from 2008-2012. In 2006, Kate came full circle, establishing Oakland Kajukenbo Kwoon, an intergenerational martial arts school hosted at Saint Columba Church. Kate holds a seventh-degree black belt in Kajukenbo. She has a BS from UC Berkeley in Conservation and Resource Studies and a Master Teacher Certificate in Early Childhood Education.

Sarah Crowell

Artistic Director Emeritus, Co-Founder, Board Member

Sarah Crowell is the Artistic Director Emeritus at Destiny Arts Center. Sarah has held a variety of leadership roles at Destiny for the past 30 years. She taught modern dance and hip hop dance in onsite programs and in school programs. She co-founded and co-directed the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company for 27 years. She served as the organization’s Executive Director from 2002-2007. She served as the Artistic Director from 2007-2020. Sarah made the transition to her Artistic Director Emeritus role in June 2020. Her new role will be to advise and support the organization’s program team and performing arts leaders, as well as to serve on the board of directors. Sarah believes that the arts are an essential component of the journey to social justice. Her work with the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company, a troupe for teens to co-create original movement/theater productions based on their own experiences, continues to perform for up to 20,000 audience members a year at conferences, festivals and other community events. The company has been the subject of two documentary films and was awarded the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award in 2017, the nation’s highest award of its kind. In addition to her work teaching dance, theater and violence prevention to youth and educators locally and nationally in schools and community centers, Sarah performed and toured nationally with modern, jazz and dance/theater companies in Boston and the Bay Area, including Impulse Jazz Dance Company and the Dance Brigade. She also co-directed and performed with the dance/theater company i am! Productions. Sarah received nine California Arts Council Artist in Residency grants for her work at Destiny and a National Endowment for the Arts grant to author a curriculum guide for artists working with teens called Youth on the Move: a teacher’s guidebook to co-creating original movement/theater performances with teens. Sarah was the recipient of the Purple Moon DreamSpeakers award, the KPFA Peace award, the the KPFA Women’s History Month Local Hero award, the Bay Area Dance Week Dancer’s Choice award, the Alameda County Arts Leadership award, and the National Guild for Community Arts Education Milestone award. In 2016, Sarah was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame and was part of the YBCA 100, a list of visionaries assembled annually by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Sarah has also been a finalist for four Tony Award for Excellence in Theater Education.

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