CENTER FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF FAMILIES INC.
WHAT WE DO
Within a community of mental health professionals and healing informed artists throughout Los Angeles County, we value a whole systems approach to help populations succeed and thrive. Center for the Empowerment of Families Inc provides healing informed mentorship and therapeutic arts to youth, families, and communities serving them.
PROGRAMS
LEAD MENTORS AND INSTRUCTORS
JASON CLARK
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Jason is a Los Angeles based commercial photographer and graphic designer. Jason shoots with the end-result in mind, As a 25-year Graphics professional, he has a unique perspective when it comes to image creation.
Jason has been shooting professionally for over 16 years. He began his photographic journey after realizing that some photographers could not capture the visions he had for the multiple projects that ge was a graphic designer for.
IZELL WATKINS
LEAD MENTOR/CASE MANAGER
Izell is a native of Michigan who resides currently in Glendale, CA. He is pursuing his career in the tech industry as a Project Manager, and he continues to participate in advocacy in healing informed practices for youth. He is a lead facilitator and case manager for boys and girls through his work with Center for the Empowerment of Families, Healing Captured, and other programs throughout LA County.
Still making much progress as a resilient role model for challenged youth, he continues to provide mentorship services for marginalized children including foster youth, special needs children, and youth detained in LA County Juvenile Halls. Izell also integrates his mentorship skills and artistic abilities as one to create programs that will help sustain youth and offer healthy coping habits.
LONDON JAMES
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
London James is a dynamic ceramic artist hailing from Chicago, IL, whose vibrant upbringing in Southern California has deeply influenced her work. Raised by her mother amidst the rich cultural tapestry of Los Angeles, James was immersed in a world shaped by music, sports, art, sneakers & more. In James’ current ceramic practice, sneakers become the object of interest, and the use of slip casting becomes the process par excellence in capturing all the subtle details in these complex forms. James pushes our familiarity with these common objects by altering their surfaces through the use of various firing techniques. Through the merging of James’ love of ceramics and sneakers as a cultural icon, she is able to explore ideas about her own identity, while staying motivated to inspire and nurture creative spirit among young black & brown youth.
James attended Loyola Marymount University (Sociology, '13) and served at-risk families as an LA County eligibility worker. After seven years, she left the field to pursue a career as a full-time ceramic artist. Shortly thereafter, Nike deemed London an "Icon of Los Angeles" highlighting her talent & story their platform. London's brand has since been featured on platforms like Complex, LA Times, Spectrum News & more.
Committed to fostering inclusivity within the ceramic community, James envisions a future where young potters of color feel empowered and embraced. London James’s work transcends conventional boundaries, weaving together elements of culture, identity, and artistic innovation. Through every creation, she beckons viewers to embark on a voyage of exploration and self-discovery, offering a revitalizing perspective within the contemporary art landscape.
DA'SHAUNAE MARISA
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Da’Shaunae specializes in documentary, editorial and commercial photography. Her main objective help her students explore their “FEELINGS" through photography.
"If I can evoke something meaningful from your soul I have fulfilled my purpose.” - CEF Healing Captured Teaching Artist, Da’Shaunae,
Her creative endeavors started in illustration and transitioned to graphic design study for two years before pursuing photography. Her relationship began when her mother would always carry a Kodak disposable camera to photograph her and brother. In 1st grade, her mom gifted her a camera to document her last day of school. This experience later evolved, and today Da’Shaunae’s professional photography can be found in the New York Times, WSJ, Bloomberg, National Geographic, Time Magazine, and other publications. She also enjoys creating public art photographs using wheat pasting methods on buildings to inspire and engage her community.
JORDAN LEWIS
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Jordan Lewis is a 2nd year teaching artist with The Dance for Healing Project. He’s taught at Horace Mann, Salazar Park and virtually with a few others. He specializes in hip-hop and jazz-funk, but integrates various styles of dance education and mentorship alongside classroom curriculum.
BRITTANY DESATNIK
TEACHING ARTIST
Brittany Desatnik is a professional choreographer, dancer, and dance instructor. Throughout her career, she has had the pleasure of working with some of the top artists in the music industry such as Nicki Minaj, Brandy, Ray J, Billy Ray Cyrus and Justin Bieber.
She's been an instructor of Heels & Hip Hop classes for 6 years and currently she instructs a weekly class at Studio216.
GABRIELLA ANGOTTI-JONES
LEAD MENTOR & INSTRUCTOR
Gabriella Angotti-Jones is a photographer based in Los Angeles, CA, and is formerly a staff photographer at the Los Angeles Times. She was previously an intern at The New York Times, following internships at the Tampa Bay Times, Las Vegas Review-Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle. She graduated from San Francisco State University, where she earned a degree in Environmental Studies.
