Zellerbach Family Foundation Grant

I’m excited to share that I have been awarded a Community Arts grant from the Zellerbach Family Foundation in support of my new multi-disciplinary work, When Dogs Howl. This project, in collaboration with SFJAZZ, brings together jazz big band, Afro-Venezuelan percussion, dance, storytelling, and immersive video to explore the powerful stories of migrants, refugees, and immigrants, with a special focus on Venezuelan refugees.

Inspired by the experiences of Venezuelans who have embarked on a 3,000-mile journey across eight countries in search of a new life, When Dogs Howl will reflect their struggles, resilience, and evolving identities. Through a series of original jazz compositions and boundary-pushing multimedia elements, the work will depict these stories using music and video projections that capture the emotional and physical challenges of displacement.

This grant from the Zellerbach Family Foundation will help bring this vision to life, culminating in one or two live performances at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium during the 2025-26 season. These performances will highlight the fusion of jazz and Afro-Venezuelan rhythms with vibrant storytelling, offering a unique perspective on the immigrant experience and the ways in which these communities contribute to our collective identity.

I’m incredibly grateful to the Zellerbach Family Foundation for their support in making this project a reality. Their generosity enables me to share these important stories and create a platform for dialogue around migration, identity, and belonging.

Thank you all for your continued support. I look forward to sharing more updates on When Dogs Howl as the project unfolds!

Find out more about the Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Arts Grant here.