The purpose of this website is to illustrate the capacity of youth to succeed, excel, inspire, and change their world and the world around them.

Arts and Minds supports the right of every student to the highest educational standards.

Arts and Minds celebrates educators devoted to the art of teaching.

Arts and Minds promotes passionate living, learning, and teaching.

Los Pachucos - Javier Arias, Luis Dueñas, Christian Vergara, Brian Lima

"Pachuco" was performed at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in April and Luis Valdez' Zoot Suit was presented in May, 2009 by over 100 student actors, artists, musicians and technical crew members at West Adams Preparatory High School. Students astonished audiences with their passionate commitment to this project, their high standard of professionalism, and their authentic, moving portrayal of historic events involving racial profiling, gang affiliation, family, love, and loyalty - all of which continue to pervade their lives.

The "Swingers" - Crenshaw HS, Los Angeles, CA

High schools students in the Bronx and in Los Angeles achieve the impossible. Crenshaw "Swingers" danced as if it they would never have a chance to dance again. They stole the show becoming Crenshaw's "Best Kept Secret."

Individual Pathways, Bronx, NY - "Les Maravilles!"

The "marvelous" Individual Pathways students were told that their school was being closed in January, 2008. Students fought for their legal right to an educational program in the Bronx that could provide the kind of teaching and structure that gave them a chance to graduate from high school. They never gave up, finally gaining enough media and political attention to keep the school open one more year. This enabled over 100 students to receive a diploma. Many students had been labeled by other programs as hopeless failures. At Individual Pathways, they excelled. "Save Our School," became the theme song and dance of "Les Maravilles."