People: Alumni

Destiny Arts Center has been enriching the lives of youth in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 20 years. Many of our alumni have gone on to become youth mentors in various roles, continuing the Destiny spirit, and taking it around the globe with them.

Destiny Arts Center Alums talk about their experience over the years:

Princeton Maharam danced, sang, acted and choreographed with the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company from 2007–2008. "I’ve had the best time of my life with Destiny. I never felt so confident until I worked with Destiny. I feel more brave, artistic, stronger (mentally and physically), grateful and happier about life. Thank you so much for my first and last year with you guys. I’ll never forget you."

Rhummanee Hang participated in Destiny programs from 1996–2006. She was introduced to Destiny through the Project DESTINY outreach program at Golden Gate Elementary School when she was 9. She then attended classes at the main site, performed and choreographed for the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company and taught Project DESTINY classes in elementary schools. Rhummanee is now in her third year at University of California, Davis where she is double majoring in Sociology and Asian American Studies. She is also a campus activist who, among other things, acts as the Event Coordinator for the Cambodian Student Association. Rhummanee is the first of her siblings to graduate from high school and the first in her family to attend college. In 2005 Rhummanee talked about Destiny and the Warrior’s Code: "A Peaceful Warrior is someone who cares about improving society and is actually doing something about it. I still remember the Warrior’s Code from my Project DESTINY days, and I’ve learned to appreciate it so much moreover the years. It used to just be something that I had to memorize. Now, it’s something that I live by, and it helped mold me into who I am and who I’m becoming. I tryto be a role model in hopes that it’ll rub offon those younger than me. I want to inspireeveryone to think more about our future. I believe change is possible. But it’s about time all of us Peaceful Warriors step up."

Jelani Prosser started taking martial arts and dance at Destiny in 1996, when he was 8 years old. He performed with the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company, taught martial arts and violence prevention classes in schools, on-site and in Camp Destiny as a youth instructor and now teaches Project DESTINY classes as an adult instructor, while he is finishing a degree in Recording Arts at Diablo Valley College. In 2005 Jelani talked about his DESTINY experience: "I believe that being a Peaceful Warrior means being able to control your thoughts and your actions. Me personally, I have been in so many situations where I had to control my actions because I was ready to hurt or fight somebody, but I kept it to myself and probably let it out on a punching bag, in my music, or just exercised until I got tired. I follow the Warrior’s Code, “never raise a fist in anger.” So being a Peaceful Warrior means that I control myself."

Daudi Manent’o was referred as an “at risk youth” to the first Project DESTINY program at Longfellow Elementary School in Berkeley in 1990. He then participated in Destiny’s main site programs, trained for and received his black belt and taught in Project DESTINY programs himself. In 2002 Daudi spoke about his time at Destiny: "The Project DESTINY classes I attended for “at risk” youth in elementary school were filled with valuable lessons about the acceptance of each person’sindividuality and abilities, the building of friendships and a nurturing space, and of finding courage and leadership skills. Soon after I started participating in Destiny programs, things rapidly started to turn around for me. I got into a lot less trouble at school, as well as at home. In fact my evenings werenow filled with something that I loved. Iwas surrounded by youth of different shapes, sizes, ethnic backgrounds, sexualities and financial backgrounds who cared about each other, accepted each other, weren’t afraid to believe in the good of others, and who were, and still are, “family.”"

Katiana Carey-Simms attended Destiny classes from 1998–2005. She started when she was 10 and stayed active in classes and as a youth instructor in on-site and Project DESTINY programs in schools until she graduated from high school. She attends Sarah Lawrence College and is currently studying in Cuba. In 2004 Katiana talked about her experience at Destiny: "Destiny Arts was possibly the best place for me to become a teenager. When I came to Destiny it was like everyone was happy I was there — no disrespectful, racist, sexist, or homophobic comments. It was like a world of peace within those walls. All the teachers looked you in the eye and listened to what you had to say no matter how old or young you were. I began to grow mentally and physically with the values of Destiny etched in the back of my mind."

Kelly Segal attended martial arts classes at Destiny from 1999-2004 and taught main site, Camp Destiny and Project DESTINY classes from 2003-2007. She just graduated from UCLA this summer, with a major in Sociology and a minor in Education. "As a student, Destiny helped me develop skills that strengthened my body and gave me confidence within myself. As a teacher, Destiny gave me opportunities to share that strength with others and be a role model for other young people. At times those opportunities seemed more than I could handle, but the instructors at Destiny had confidence in me and pushed me to take on the challenge, for which I am grateful. Destiny was a huge part of my teenage life and will always be a part of my family."

Kyla Searle was a dance student and Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company member from 1999–2003. During that time she also participated in the youth leadership program leading violence prevention workshops throughout the Bay Area. Kyla taught in three consecutive Camp Destiny summer programs and managed various Destiny stage productions after graduating from high school. This year Kyla graduated from UCLA with a BA in Metropolitan Studies and is heading to NYU for an MA in Educational Theatre in the spring. “To grow up in an environment where grown- ups were curious about youth and to be celebrated was incredible. At Destiny I came to know myself, express myself and to be emotionally engaged with the rest of the world. Working on shows at Destiny politicized me. I felt a sense of limitless possibility to contribute to my community. Destiny filled me with a passion for performance art and for working with youth, both of which I have continued to pursue. I constantly return to Destiny for guidance with whatever project I am working on; it remains at the heart of my inspiration. ”

We hope to create a directory here of alumni websites (Facebook, MySpace, etc.). If you would like to be listed in this directory, please send an e-mail to info@destinyartscenter.org with “Alumni Directory” in the subject header.