Artists + Practitioners + Organizations

Via International promotes sustainable development by engaging and supporting leaders in emerging communities. The organization is driven by and centered on including community voices and strengthening (“formation”) community leadership. It is committed to meeting leaders where they are and working together to identify solutions that elevate communities. Via International works through the lens of asset-based community development, which builds off already present strengths and assets. It encourages a participatory process where people identify their needs and act to improve their quality of life, families, and communities.

Asian Culture & Media Alliance, or ACMA, serves to elevate and amplify the voices within our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) diaspora through the transformative power of media arts, specifically film, television, and new media. The organization aims to advocate for positive social change and better equity by increasing the visibility of diverse AANHPI artists, creators, and cultural practitioners. In doing so, ACMA actively works towards dismantling social and cultural barriers.

Best STEP Forward is a nonprofit serving the Imperial Valley area dedicated to providing an inclusive, neurodiverse environment where children with disabilities can learn and thrive. S.T.E.P. stands for Sports, Theatre, Expression, and Perseverance. The organization hosts various events throughout the year that incorporate sports and artistic expression.