![]() Turning Creativity into Cash Heroes of Color, LLC has proudly partnered with the Hart School District to offer the Jr. ARTrepreneurs program, where students learn to turn their artistic talents into a sustainable business. Thanks to the leadership of Carolyn Hoffman and Ira Rounsaville for believing in the program and giving us the opportunity to work alongside them in this amazing partnership. Over the course of eight weeks, students from Canyon High School, Golden Valley High School, Valencia High School, Arroyo Seco Middle School, and Sierra Vista Middle School have been immersed in both art creation and business practices, equipping them with skills to market themselves and secure clients. Led by Industry Professionals What sets this program apart is the caliber of the instructors. These talented professionals, who bring years of industry experience, teach not only the technical aspects of art, but also the critical skills needed to succeed in the business world. By sharing their lived experiences and staying current with the latest trends, marketing techniques, and methods to attract clients, they provide a truly dynamic learning experience for our students. At the heart of this program is the student showcase, which will be the culmination of eight weeks of hard work and dedication. The public can expect to see a variety of artistic styles, from paintings to sculptures and everything in between. Students will also be offering custom orders, allowing attendees to take home a piece of the creativity on display. Celebrating Unity Through Art and Music As we know, art has the power to unite. This event will not only highlight the students’ creative talents but will also feature live jazz performances from multiple Hart School bands, enhancing the atmosphere and adding another layer of celebration to the evening. Augmented Reality Exhibition: Reimagining Santa Clarita
In addition to the traditional showcase, we’re excited to feature an Augmented Reality Exhibition that will transport attendees into a reimagined version of the Santa Clarita Bus design. Students were tasked with designing a bus that represents the diversity of Santa Clarita or their own cultures. To enjoy the AR exhibition, attendees will need to download the free Halo app, available on all platforms. Capturing the Moment: Student Photographers and Videographers The event will also showcase the work of student photographers and videographers, who will document the evening and further highlight the power of collaboration. This creative collaboration shows how when we work together, we can accomplish amazing things, and it demonstrates the true potential of the arts to unite us all. Join Us! We invite you to join us in celebrating the hard work, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of our students. It’s a night you won’t want to miss! Be sure to follow our progress on instagram as well @jrartrepreneurs
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We are incredibly honored to receive the 2024 Social Impact Business of the Year Award for for-profit organizations from the San Diego Cause Conference. This recognition, awarded in October, means so much to our team as we continue to dedicate ourselves to creating enrichment programs that truly transform the lives of students. We believe in the power of creativity, education, and community, and this award validates the positive impact our work has made.
Our programs, including Jr. ARTrepreneurs and Animating for Change have not only garnered national media attention but, more importantly, have touched the lives of countless students and their families. These initiatives have empowered young people to express themselves through art, animation, and storytelling while addressing critical social issues such as climate change, financial literacy, and cultural awareness. By blending creative skill-building with advocacy and career readiness, we are helping students develop confidence, communication skills, and a passion for positive change. This award is a testament to the collective efforts of our dedicated team, students, and community partners. We are deeply grateful for this recognition and even more excited to continue our mission of empowering young voices through the arts, making a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Thank you to the San Diego Cause Conference for this incredible honor! Freelancers often start by serving individual clients (B2C), but moving to a business-to-business (B2B) model can lead to bigger, more consistent contracts. Here are the top 7 reasons to consider making this switch:
As educators, we're always looking for engaging ways to educate the youth. Some schools have the funding to create incredible programs. Title I schools, which receive additional funding to support students from low-income families, often face challenges in providing enrichment programs due to limited resources. However, these schools can bring enrichment programs into their curriculum through a variety of creative strategies. Here are just 8 ways that we found online, that can help schools find creative ways to bring in some new enrichment programs:
1. Partnering with Local Organizations
Scholastic hosted a read-a-long event with four Latin authors during the last week of Hispanic Heritage Month. I was honored to be among one of the four. I had the pleasure of being interviewed by actor, comedian and fellow Lower East Side, Manhattan resident John Leguizamo. One of the best compliments was Leguizamo introducing me as "the master of Latin facts." It was an incredible experience.
July 2023, Santa Clarita - People often ask me what inspired me to create my company. It wasn't just one thing that forced the company into existence, it was a collection of events, moments, frustrations, and experiences that my children had to endure in school. So this answer, sums up the origin of my company perfectly.
August 2023 - The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted the Black Business Month Celebration at a ceremony at California Institute of the Arts on Thursday, August 31st — drawing in elected officials, dignitaries and business leaders alike. Heroes of Color was among one of the local companies to be honored with five awards. The Awards include: Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Recognition from County of Los Angeles, California Legislature Certificate of Recognition, Black Business Council Certificate of Accomplishment, and A Certificate of Recognition from The City of Santa Clarita.
Heroes of Color was recognized for providing enrichment programs for grade-school-aged children as well as workshops on the Business of Freelancing for higher education. These awards would not have been possible without the help and guidance of some key people from the Small Business Development Center: Catherine Grooms, Bandhana Katoch and Jeffrey Forrest. With the recent success of the National School District Animation program, The Signal Newspaper of met up with David Heredia to learn more about the organizations future objectives. The event honored two locally owned Black businesses: Heroes of Color and Omni Wound Physicians. Representing Heroes of Color was David Heredia, founder of the organization. Heroes of Color is an educational company that uses children’s books and animation as a tool to help children of color tell stories of their own experiences, as well as provide enrichment programs for grade-school-aged children as well as for higher education. “I’m extremely proud of it, especially because a lot of my experiences came from what I did not have when I was graduating from school,” said Heredia. “I didn’t have enough business courses as a child, I wasn’t given permission to draw myself — meaning a Black character. All of my characters did not look like me. So this was liberating and it’s liberating for a child to know that they can draw themselves and feel like they belong, even if everybody around them looks completely different.” - David Heredia Click here for full article
After an amazing experience as the first keynote speaker for College of The Canyons first International Animation Festival, I was honored to be interviewed by Canyon News correspondent, Jonathan Garcia. It was a great to be able to speak with the young students.
Work in progress drawing and quote from one of my favorite comedians, Eddie Griffin.
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AboutHeroes of color is an instructional video series honoring the achievements of people of color in and out of the military.
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