Our Staff

Ajia Munns has been in the mindfulness space for over eight years. A natural nurturer, she uses her practice to uplift and connect with others. She believes merging arts and mental wellness is the key to improving our communities, and she currently works at High Schools in Los Angeles teaching mindfulness.

Alex Alpharaoh is a nationally recognized, award-winning actor, writer, spoken word poet, solo performer, and teaching artist from Los Angeles. Alex is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle 2018 Solo Performance of the Year award for his work on his autobiographical solo show titled WET: A DACAmented Journey, which was revamped at Greenway Court Theatre in the fall of 2022. Alex is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA, as well as a member of the Dramatist Guild of America. He is a 2022 Disruptors Fellow, a 2023 Theatre Makers Fellow with Musical Theatre Factory, and a 2023 Anteaus Theatre Company’s NEXT Commissions writer. As an arts educator, Alex teaches a FunDaMentals of Spoken Word and Performance Poetry class where he fuses writing techniques with experiential acting, creating a powerful toolset for self-expression and healing. Alpharaoh has been acting professionally for over 15 years and has been a lyricist for over 25 years. He has performed, taught, and facilitated workshops at colleges and universities throughout the country, including USC, UCLA, Occidental College, Yale University, and Princeton University among others. His first poetry book titled Chimeras Dream On Barren Lands will be published in December 2023 under El Martillo Press.

Matias Ponce is a Mexican American actor, he has played in various T.V. roles, films, and plays. Most recently he appeared in ABC’s General Hospital and in Cartel Pictures’ Sci-Fi film “Echo Base” now streaming on Tubi. In 2017, Matias Ponce had the honor of portraying Henry Reyna from Luis Valdez’s “Zoot Suit” with Oscar nominated actor Demián Bichir; It was revived for its 40th Anniversary at The Mark Taper Forum in Downtown Los Angeles and directed by Luis Valdez. In 2011, he made his first Los Angeles stage debut in “Short Eyes” by Miguel Piñero at The Los Angeles Theatre Center. Matias Ponce was born and raised in The Old South End of Toledo, Ohio. He is an only child to his father Domingo G. Ponce, who was originally from Querétaro, México, and his mother, Anna Maria Ponce, who is a first generation Mexican American from Toledo, Ohio. He cites his mother for getting him into acting. He started in local commercials for Buckeye Cablesystem, the company where his mother worked. He also performed at the Toledo Repertoire Theatre and worked as a model and actor with Starbound Models and Talent Agency. He graduated from Libbey High School in 2007 and moved to Los Angeles, CA in September 2009. Matias Ponce is a teaching artist and has worked with many non-profit theater organizations teaching theater education within LAUSD. He also teaches creative writing to incarcerated adults within the California state prison system through InsideOUT Writers. He continues to work with theatre director José Luis Valenzuela and the members of the Latino Theater Company.

Camila Grases is a Venezuelan writer and teacher based in Los Angeles. She graduated from USC with a degree in Creative Writing and Archaeology, her special interests included oral storytelling traditions and intangible cultural heritage. Her work as a writer is infused with magical realism, fantasy, and speculative fiction to tell stories about the power of kindness and mercy. She also enjoys delving into the subconscious, particularly in her poetry. She has been a teacher for many years and has taught poetry residencies in schools as well as adult writing workshops. Camila hopes to pass on what she has learned herself: that being given the space and tools to tell stories is essential.