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| "Little Marissa"(age 3) performs "La Negra" in the Victor Hodge Elementary talent show where my mom worked as an instructional aide. I became an artist this night. |
My work as a choreographer, actor, creative director and teaching artist has taken me far into those National Geographic Magazines: performing on stages across the nation, sharing my pedagogy and collaborating with artists in England and Cuba and taking my students to experience it first hand. Teaching and creating original work with young artists that connect us and tell this story we call the human experience. Thousands of lives, my kids, have changed mine. It's not just the process of "making art," it is the experience of growing and transforming through the process and sharing it that changes lives. I've witnessed the power of transformation and healing through art time and time again. A voice that finds itself, a connection to the world and love for our art, ourselves and each other. Witnessing some of them become college graduates, working artists, teachers and advocates for change in their communities has been incredible. It has also brought me full circle- back to the community, the schools, and the home that provided the foundation for the person I am today. Through the 20 years of my professional career as an artist and educator I have been asked, "When are you bringing your work back to Azusa?"
Full circle....Over the last 9 months I have been immersed in the ACTIVATE Arts Advocacy Leadership Program presented by Arts For LA. Thanks to the recommendation of Mario Davila. A friend, a fellow artist and an angel who has always believed in my gifts and power of the work long before I could see it myself. Representing my hometown, and school district, of Azusa, I was among incredible leaders in the Arts and Education representing 26 cities and 27 school districts where we sharpened our skill sets, and learned new ones, on advocating the value of arts education and creating initiatives for ALL students. Through this process it became more than obvious the time has come to create and lead the vision I have for the youth in my own community to create art, tell their stories and connect them to the world I saw myself as a part of in those National Geographic magazines at their age. The "vision is clear," and 4C Lab has finally come to fruition.
What are the "4 C's?" - to Create, Communicate, Collaborate to build Community.
Mission:
Providing opportunities for young creative visionaries to share their stories through artistic expression.
Vision:
Building a global community of creative visionaries who communicate and collaborate through art to inspire positive social impact.
Our Values: Create art that is authentic to our truths and a pathway to express our stories. To Communicate and open dialogue, verbally and through our art, between professional and emerging young artists to develop mentorships, build on best practices and share stories.
To Collaborate and create work as a collective and "family," across art forms and partner with like-minded organizations and artists.
To build a global Community where creativity and vision are essential tools in sharing our stories and to foster healing. The 4C Foundation will focus on 3 areas of impact: Multi-disciplinary Arts Residencies for Middle and High School students, The Creative Coalition: enabling like-minded organizations and artists to partner, share best practices and connect and the "Creative Visionaries" Youth performance ensemble (ages 16-23).
Now what?!... My initiative was to present the idea to two members of the Azusa Unified School District who I know are passionate and understand the value of a quality arts education in the lives of young people. But then what?! How do we fund it? How do I pay the artists? How do I lead and execute quality programming I have provided schools and community organizations for decades by myself?! I don't do it alone. I have incredibly talented fellow visionaries and community members who believe in the work, believe in our kids in Azusa and are saying, "yes" to being vital roles of actualizing an"idea" into an organization of creativity, hope and love.
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| "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho |
It takes a village... Once I made the commitment, the universe responded- and quickly. Darci Manzo and Zoe Rappaport are anchors, powerhouse leaders, and Visionaries and are the best partners I could ask for. Watts Village Theatre Company, an incredible organization I have been honored to create with, signed on to be our fiscal reciever and a community partner. I completed a letter of intent to apply for the "Canyon City Foundation" grant in hopes of funding the program. We didn't qualify without our own 501c3 status BUT they have agreed to provide us the resources and funding to receive our non-profit status in order to bring our organization and programming to the youth in Azusa! This is HUGE! This all led up to my action item which was the meeting to share my vision with 2 incredibly dedicated school board members- Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez and Helen Jaramillo. Their response- "How do we make this happen for our students?" "What do you need?" and "When can we start?" Yes. I got a, "yes," AND a successful proactive meeting with the Superintendent of the Azusa Unified School District. We are on target to begin a residency program for "Creative Visionaries" into at least one Middle School in Fall of 2016- and it's only the beginning.
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| Creating with young artists at Inner-City Arts, Los Angeles, CA |
Build it, they will come... in arts advocacy there is never an "end." Even in a time of a "creative economy" funding and sustainability are constant challenges. But all of my experiences, my expertise, my leadership and my spirit have led me to this place, back to where it all started- Azusa. We will write the grants, we will have the fundraising campaigns, we will create the partnerships because we must. Our kids in Azusa have stories to tell through art, a local community that is ready to listen and a global artistic community to connect with. These young creative visionaries will have a foundation beyond access to arts education to create and produce original work together because it is essential, not a luxury, to a well rounded quality education. A safe space to create, to love and be loved, to heal, to "be."
I believe in the power of art in the lives of youth. Art creates hope and with hope anything is possible. Let us begin.
Marissa Herrera
Artistic Director, The 4C Foundation
For more information on programming and how to support please visit www.4clab.org
