Akili Jamal Haynes (Musician) is a composer, African percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, dancer, production artist, and music educator who began his career at age 15 as a trombonist under the mentorship of Wynton Marsalis. He has served as research assistant and arranger to Nana Kimati Dinizulu, for music performed and recorded for Alvin Ailey Dance Theater under the direction of Judith Jamison. He is currently developing his own multi-media work, a film and live performance called Becoming Chibuzo, a multi-media duet performance and dance film with African Brazilian Master dancer, actress, choreographer Isaura Oliveira called MEDICINE everywhere. He serves as Editor for Bebop Magazine, is A & R advisor for Blue Horn Records, producer for Comedy World Network, and performs and leads workshops with his groups A Slice of PAI (Positive African Images), and CHIBUZO DUNUN.

Alliyah Cuevas (Storyteller)  is a creative who enjoys drawing flowers, dancing, and snapping pictures. She believes that the arts are a powerful tool especially when used to ask meaningful questions and give platforms to under-represented people and their stories.

Alondra Bobadilla (Lead Storyteller and MC) was Boston’s first-ever Youth Poet Laureate. Born and raised in Boston, MA, as the daughter of a first generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Alondra uses her writing to highlight social issues that impact her and her community. Through her own work, she demonstrates how creative expression can be a powerful tool for youth to examine feelings around issues, find their voice, and speak up about the changes they want to see for their future.

Angelica Muñoz (Storyteller) is Colombian and lives in East Boston. She grew up with culture all around her, and she has always been open to learning new things. She is a part of the ZUMIX Teen Council and hosts her own radio program, Bilingual Mess – a show about culture and experiences shared between friends, while having a fun time. She is also an only child with a tiny chihuahua named Lolis.

Buyile Toyvo Narwele (Dancer) came through one of Dance For All’s (DFA) outreach programs in Nyanga, Cape Town, having been offered a dance training scholarship. He joined Ikapa dance theatre as an apprentice and was later promoted to professional dancer. After 7 years of formal training at DFA, he was involved with numerous productions all over South Africa. He has worked with Ikapa Dance Theatre, Cape Town City Ballet, South African Dance Trust, and Bovim Ballet, performing in all major cities in Southern Africa. In 2016, he joined a German cruise liner and has done 3 successful contracts with Tui Cruises. He has since worked in and around Cape Town and broader South Africa with groups as a consulting choreographer and dancer. Buyile still doesfreelance work and explores other forms of movement, teaching AfroFusion and other genres of dance, acting and the arts. Buyile is looking forward to working with JAE and further developing his skills and ability to share his love of the arts and dance.

Fernando Huergo (Musician) is a Boston-based bassist, composer, and educator,originally from Cordoba, Argentina. He has recorded over 160 albums, and toured and taught in North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. On the jazz scene, he currently plays with Guillermo Klein y Los Guachos, Mehmet Sanlikol, El Eco, and more. He has performed with Luciana Souza, Cesar Camargo Mariano Trio, and many others, and at jazz festivals with his quintet in Buenos Aires, Rome and Paris. Fernando has also performed at The Regattabar in Cambridge and Cornelia Street Cafe in NYC, among others. Fernando’s recording “Suite in Blue and White” in Paris was generously funded by Chamber Music of America and French American Cultural Exchange. He’s a professor in the Bass Department at Berklee College of Music and also teaches at Tufts University, Northeastern University and the Prep. School at NEC.

Jean Appolon (Dancer) is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE). He is a successful choreographer and master teacher based in Boston and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His early training and performing were in Port-au-Prince with the Viviane Gauthier Dance Company and the Folkloric Ballet of Haiti. He continued his studies at Harvard, as well as with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Joffrey Ballet, where he graduated with a BA from a joint degree program of the New School.

Cedric Laine (Dancer) is an 8-year-old dancer and the son of Jean Appolon. He has trained with JAE since he was 4 years old and is a lover of movement and music. We are thrilled that Cedric is joining Finding Home once again!

Jeannie Gagné (Musician) M.A., Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music and Berklee Online, is a professional performer and songwriter for over three decades, and an internationally acclaimed author of vocal publications and courses. She performs and teaches in a wide variety of styles including jazz, R&B, blues, pop, rock, singer/songwriter, and classical. A pianist, composer, and guitarist, she’s worked with Philip Glass, Bare Naked Ladies, Cher, Patti Austin, George Duke, and many others; appears on television, radio, movie soundtracks, recordings, and tours in China, Kenya, Mexico, Great Britain, and most of the states in the U.S. Ms. Gagné’s holistic vocal method features healthy technique, mastering contemporary styles, performing skills, and leadership. Recognized as a leading expert in the Belting technique, she’s taught tens of thousands of students through her courses and workshops, her YouTube series TheVocalGenie, JeannieGagne.com, Coursera, and other online learning platforms.

Jose Besednjak (Storyteller) is someone who likes riding his bike and reading books with the sea in front of the sunset; someone who likes to spend a lot of time alone drawing, watching videos or playing video games much more than going to parties. Nowadays, he is starting college with a new passion he found during his hardest times of the pandemic.

Liliana Avendaño (Storyteller) came to the United States nine years ago from Columbia. She is the co-founder, along with Luz Zambrano, of Center for the Cooperative Development and Solidarity  (CCDS). Liliana is thankful for the transforming power that CCDS has had on her personal life, as she and Luz take on the challenge of developing worker cooperatives. Liliana believes it is necessary to give back through leadership, community outreach and cooperative education. Through her work, she can see the multiplying power it has on the lives of people throughout their communities. In addition, Liliana is a part of the beautiful Resplandor Educational Cooperative project, a cooperative that educates children from 0-5 years of age with a vision that aims to impact not only children, but their families and the community in general.

Mcebisi (Bisi) Xotyeni (Dancer) is a CompanyDancer and the Artistic Manager of Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE). Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, he has worked for leading companies in South Africa such as Cape Town City Ballet, Suede Productions, and Sibonelo Dance Project.

Rebecca Cline (Musician) For over two decades, Rebecca Cline has lived in Boston as an educator, presenter, and performer specializing in Latin and jazz piano. As the author of Latin Jazz Piano Improvisation: Clave, Comping, and Soloing on Berklee Press, she has led over twenty workshops in the US, Asia, Europe, South America and the Caribbean on improvising within the context of the clave and on Cuban piano improvisation styles. She has taught ensembles, Cuban piano styles, and jazz studies to undergraduate students for 18 years at Berklee College of Music.

Stan Strickland (Artistic Director and Lead Musician) is a vocalist, saxophonist and flutist, and leader of Stan Strickland & Ascension and the Stan Strickland Trio. Stan is also a member of the Bob Moses-Stan Strickland Duo, the Laszlo Gardony-Stan Strickland Duo, Mama Tongue, and the Phil Argyris Quintet. He has performed extensively with a wide array of notable musicians, including the Boston Pops, Take Six, Herbie Mann, Marlena Shaw, Pharaoh Sanders, Danilo Perez, and Yusef Lateef. Stan has also recorded extensively, including with Bob Moses, Brute Force and Kulu Se Mama.  Stan is an Associate Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music. For the past 26 years he has been co-executive and artistic director of Express Yourself, which uses the arts to support and give an expressive outlet to at-risk youth and young people with mental illness.

Vincent Siders (Stage Manager and Storyteller) is an actor, director, producer, and educator. He is the Lead Instructor and Director of Youth Underground, a resident theatre company at Central Square Theater. Vincent has received two Acting awards and two nominations for Best Direction from the Independent Reviewers of New England, the Elliot Norton Award for Best Actor, and Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston Award for Best Actor. He is the founder and artistic director of TYG Productions, home of the Family Beef Feast Fest.

Yoron Israel (Musician) is a drummer, percussionist, composer, band leader, educator, and author. He is currently Department Chair and Professor of Percussion at Berklee College of Music. Yoron has performed with such varied and notable artists as Otis Clay, Shirley Caesar, Kenny Burrell, Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins. He’s featured as an accompanist on over 300 recordings with a diverse collection of illustrious artists.  As a band leader, Yoron has recorded seven critically acclaimed albums, the most recent being, New Dreams, featuring his ensemble “Trio Plus.” Other critical acclaimed works include Basic Traneing, which reached number 3 on the National Jazz Charts. As co-leader of the Yoron Israel/Frank Walton Sextet, he has produced three recordings, including Live in Chicago. He tours regularly with pianist Laszlo Gardony, The Makanda Project, and more. Yoron’s influences include Jazz, World, Gospel, Contemporary Christian, Funk, R&B, and Orchestral Music. He received his Bachelor’s degree in music from Roosevelt University and a Master’s degree in music from Rutgers University.

Production Team

Co-Producers: Mindy Fried and Marie Ghitman

Marie Ghitman is Co-Director of Hoopla Productions. Along with Mindy, she produces arts events that build community across the divides of race, class, culture and immigrant status. Marie is also a public health nurse, as well as a musician who plays trombone in several local bands including Ghost Town.  She is in the process of becoming an end of life doula and an abortion doula.

Mindy Fried is the Co-Director of Hoopla Productions. Along with Marie, she produces arts events that build community across the divides of race, class, culture and immigrant status. Mindy is a sociologist and Principal of Arbor Consulting Partners. She is also the creator and host of a podcast about caregiving called The Shape of Care.

Ana Colón (Resource Coordinator) was born and raised in Boston, and is a mom of 2. She is Space Manager and Event Production Staff for Ágora Cultural Architect, Rentals Manager at the Eliot School of Fine Arts, and Wedding Ceremony Coordinator at the Arlington Street Church. Ana is an entrepreneur/freelancer who wears many hats in the events world. She is passionate about collaborating, consulting, coordinating events and being part of amazing events like Finding Home, Celebrity Series of Boston, Eliot School Events, Festival Betances, and Music Lineup coordinator for JP Porchfest  stages in 2021 & 2022. In July of 2022 Ana was cast on season 4 The Blox!, a show for entrepreneurs based out of Kansas City.