COMMUNITY

PROGRAMMING

Space. Community. Culture. Education. These are the pillars on which we proudly stand. The foundation for why we serve. You belong here, in this space, to create your art, connect with your community, and celebrate your truth.

Our approach recognizes the need for holistic and sustainable change in the creative industry and within our neighborhoods, which is why we focus on innovative community programs in business and culture.

In collaboration with local arts-based nonprofits, You Belong Here has consistently led successful microenterprise programs, and YBH owner, Nic Roc, has personally been sought after to lead these programs for her expertise and unique curriculum tailored to the creative arts industry. You Belong Here also collaborates with other businesses and community leaders to support marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+IA youth, Trans women of color, refugee youth, survivors of trafficking, and underserved communities. In 2020, Nic was recognized for her hard work and dedication in developing innovative programs, with the Change Agent Award from the RISE San Diego Inclusive Leaders In Action award program.

We recognize that there is a lack of support in business resources and training for the creative arts, which is exactly why You Belong Here continues to support our underserved artist community in San Diego. We understand that an individual's well-being is multifaceted, so we offer programming that considers the whole person to provide artists with the tools to overcome intergenerational traumas, fears, and financial setbacks that impact their confidence and success. Our approach to business development supports our members' creative journeys and focuses on spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and social well-being.

You Belong Here members enjoy programs that cover a wide range of areas, from art showcases telling their story, to one-on-one consulting, financial readiness, trauma-informed yoga, town hall discussions, accessible group therapy, men's circles, and wellness groups. We also offer short-term artist residencies that help local talents expand their reach within their community by providing them with the spotlight they might not have been able to attain through traditional gallery and museum routes. Additionally, our #StartHere business program is designed to provide aspiring creative entrepreneurs with the necessary resources, mentorship, foundations, and access to sponsored space to develop their ideas from ideation to growth.

You Belong Here is proof that a purpose-driven business can positively impact communities and the world. We’ve had the honor of serving over 400 creatives in the San Diego region launch their creative business, passion, and message. We are committed to transforming one creative enterprise at a time to show that business can be a force for good.

EXPLORE OUR PAST PROGRAMMING

Programs and Events that You Belong Here has offered to the community for little to no cost.

• Check, Please! An Open Mic Experiment with Kelsey Daniels

• Elephant Talks: Challenging conversations rooted in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion by Maharani Peace Hall

• Brunch Crunch: An Educational Business Teaching Series curated by Nic Roc

• In Your Corner Mastermind: A monthly meetup for Small Business and Entrepreneur Support

• Drag Queen Story Hour; San Diego Chapter started by Chrome City PR YBH Member Taryn Sutherland

• Trauma Recovery workshop with Dr. Shiva Ghaed

• Open Work Sesh: Open days to the community to come and work at YBH for FREE

• Transformative and Social Justice Book Club: Bi-Monthly meet-ups led by Nic Roc

• Día de Los Muertos Offrenda de Communidad: A community altar in honor of 2020 and those in our lives that have passed. An altar for us to heal and connect within. Designed and installed by Mariah Romero of House of Rarities and 2021 with artist Katie Ruiz.

• Fragments of Memories: By Famo Musa in partnership with the Aja Project’s Civil Liberties Fellowship program. The art installation tackled the parallels of refugee immigration into the United States and how it intertwined with the Japanese concentration camps in which thousands of Japanese Americans were foreced into relocation and incarceration, by our government and president Franklin Roosevelt.

• You Belong Yoga: Trauma-informed yoga led by Brianda Vargas of cOMmunity Yoga + Mindfulness

• Get Out The Vote! Ballot Party

• A Warm Hug, Child Infertility and Loss Group Support

• Pom Pom Project with Artist Katie Ruiz

• Space For Our Stories, A Musical and Conversation-based Showcase featuring local artist Roann Messina, by We The Storytellers

• Mama, I See Your Inner Child - A Poetry Reading & Journaing Workshop with Vianney Harelly

YBH Sponsored Events + Benefit Drives

• House of Resilience Clothing Drive + Pop Up Clothing Boutique for Trans Women of Color

• SD Design Week: We are Sacred Showcase honoring slain Black Womxn in recent U.S. History by Chitra Gopalakrishnan

• Crafted Experience: SPACE: Cultural Exchange and conversations while breaking bread together

• ArtReach: Fundraising Mural Discussion panel

• Bridge of Hope, Holiday Pop-Up Shop Benefit

• San Diego Resistance Revival Chorus benefit for Good Neighbor Gardens

• SoFar Sounds San Diego Chapter

• Pop Up Shop Supporting Survivors of Trafficking from the Shyne San Diego Organization

Community Art Showcases

• The Art of Belonging: YBH Grand Opening Event

• Monsters: An Art Installation and Event honoring Mental Health Awareness Month. Curated by The Holyfield and Art Unities.

• Easing the Line: Stories From Two Nations, A collection of works that considers the point of view of transborder artists who live and work between Mexico and Southern California, depicting the causes and consequences of migration for survival. 

• BEHOLD HER: Portraits of Survivors of Trafficking with Shyne San Diego and Photorapher Amari Dixon

• I SEE YOU: A Sexual Assault Awareness Showcase featuring works by Elizabeth Salaam, Amel Janae and Nic Roc.

• Where The Light Travels: Portraits of San Diego Refugee Students presented by Outside the Lens in collaboration with San Diego Refugee Tutoring and photographer, Jana McBeath.

• Just (Cuz) You Can’t See: Photo Exhibit by The Aja Project in collaboration with San Diego County Office of Education Juvenile Court and Community Schools

• Northern Exposure: A Showcase that highlighted five contemporary artists from the Mexican border states of Baja California Norte and Chihuahua. Exploring themes related to Mexican identity, landscape, sexuality, and the relationship to the United States. In collaboration with Medium Photo.

• We are Sacred: An exterior showcase honoring the lives of Black Womxn most recently slayed in American History. Artwork by Chitra Gopalakrishnan for San Diego Design Week.

• Día de Los Muertos Offrenda de Communidad: A community altar in honor of 2020 and those in our lives that have passed. An altar for us to heal and connect within. Designed and installed by Mariah Romero of House of Rarities.

• Fragments of Memories: By Famo Musa in partnership with the Aja Project’s Civil Liberties Fellowship program. The art installation tackled the parallels of refugee immigration into the United States and how it intertwined with the Japanese concentration camps in which thousands of Japanese Americans were foreced into relocation and incarceration, by our government and president Franklin Roosevelt.

• (What is) Belonging - YBH 5 Year Birthday Anniversary group art showcase, exploring what belonging means in a post COVID era. You can see the artists and work’s here.

Launching a product, an art showcase, a workshop? Need guidance and direction on where to begin? Want to have a thorough understanding of your audience, as well as what a marketing timeline is? Need help creating an installation framework and schedule? Want a creative user experience for your opening?