Rafael Navarro Jr. is the proud founder of Beats and Bars. He is a Mexican-American first generation college graduate, as well as a Hip-Hop artist from Chicago, IL. With background experience in both behavioral therapy with children in a group setting, as well as one-on-one with teens at Chicago Public Schools, in combination with his years of experience as an artist, he has created a program he strongly believe in.

He was born and raised in Chicago's West side to immigrant parents. He was introduced to Hip-Hop at an early age and soon after found writing to be the perfect escape for a young man trying to outgrow his environment. Music kept him busy and away from many of the pitfalls my peers were falling victim to in his community. Living in mostly Latino and African-American neighborhoods, it was at my first Hip-Hop show as a teen where I witnessed diversity in such an amazing way. It was beautiful, we all connected over music. Fast forward many years, he graduated with a Bachelor's and specialized in working with children with Autism, as well as teens with behavioral health issues.

His passion for music and working with youth were always two separate worlds, It wasn't until one of the students came across his music online at the school he was working with at the time. This then led to a group of students suggesting he start an after-school music program, which is where Beats & Bars originated. He finally found the place to have my separate worlds come together. He came to realize the value there is in a skill set he taught to himself as a teen and he want nothing more than for the youth in our city to realize how valuable they are to themselves and their community. He want to give our youth options. “There isn't one correct path to take, but it's our responsibility to help them find the path that works best for them.” He looked forward to the day where Beats and Bars spaces exists throughout our communities and it provides the necessary resources for our teens to realize the options that exist.

Jessica Johana Juarez Garcia is an experienced professional with a passion for helping youth, schools, and communities through her work as a counselor, artist, and community leader. She has been working in direct service roles since 2001 and is committed to using transformative and healing practices to support individuals and groups.

In 2004, Jessica founded The Venus Collective, a Chicago-based womyn's collective that continues the efforts of feminist foremothers by honoring womyn's cultural and creative contributions around the world. Venus fosters leadership, builds community collaborations, and provides an inclusive space for womyn to reflect on their multiple identities. The collective ran until 2010, but its impact on the community continues to be felt today, as it created a space for womyn to come together and empower each other.

Jessica holds a M.A specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University, and an M.Ed. specializing in Educational Psychology- Youth Development from UIC. She is certified in Community Justice for Youth and Balanced and Restorative Justice peace circles and holds a Mediation Skills Certificate from the Center for Conflict Resolution. With her education and certifications, she is able to provide a holistic and culturally responsive approach to support and healing.

In addition to her work with The Venus Collective, Jessica is also the founder of Kindred, LLC, and Co-founder of The Praxis Institute. In her current role as a part-time private practice counselor with F.L.Y Radical Therapy,  a Field Supervisor, and coach, she continues to facilitate various workshops that align with an eclectic approach. She draws from multiple modalities such as holistic practices, arts, identity and culture, social-emotional learning, transformative rituals, and liberation psychology, to create a truly holistic and empowering experience for her clients.

Through her work, Jessica has always been committed to multicultural collaborations and providing culturally responsive support. Her approach is grounded in honoring and celebrating multiple identities, cultural values, and beliefs through the integration of arts and healing. She believes that healing is a collective process and that everyone can play a role in it.

Born in 1997 in Chicago Illinois. His parents decided to move to Cuernavaca Morelos in Mexico when He was five years old, where a year later, his mother registered him in Tae Kwon Do classes. After three years he won his first competition and it made him realize that martial arts were what he wanted to dedicate himself to. When he was 14 years old he decided to give martial arts another chance and started Kick Boxing with professor Juan Guzman may he Rest In Peace at the Kamehameha School. After his first tournament, his passion for martial arts kept growing so he started practicing boxing in a small hometown gym called “lobox”. He moved back to Chicago to follow his dream of becoming a professional UFC fighter. He was lucky to find a gym that was close to where he was living. The gym “Intercept MMA” where he started his amateur MMA career. On August 14, 2022 he had his professional debut and won by TKO in the first round. This was a very important fight to him because it was a big step closer to fulfilling his dream.

Born in Montreal, Canada but grew up between the suburbs and Chicago.  Jessie Santiago is a media content creator promoting the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) on his Youtube Channel FMA Pulse.  He achieved his Guro title in 2 different FMA systems, Defensor Method of Filipino Martial Arts and Taboada Balintawak.  Jessie continues to be an avid practitioner as well, traveling and learning different systems.  His goal is to promote and bring awareness to the Filipino martial arts on a global scale through the lens of a documentarian approach.  Jessie teaches in Chicago and seminars outside of Chicago.  Outside of martial arts he's a freelance video content producer and foodie.  Prior to becoming a media creator and martial artist, Jessie used to work in the education and non-profit sector teaching media and video to teens and youth.

Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, surrounded by urban art and public murals, Rahmaan Statik became inspired to be involved with the subculture of Street Art.

A consequent arrest for “vandalism” put him on a mission to legitimize the production of aerosol murals. This became the main focus of my work: public murals that fuse the graffiti aesthetic with a classical training received from the American Academy of Art.

As co-founder of R.K Design, a graphic arts and mural collective, Statik has produced over 600 murals, received mural commissions for corporate clients such as Coca Cola, Toyota, the village of Rosemont, Red Bull and a solo gallery show at the South Side Community Art Center.

Statik has also produced illustrations, brand identity, print projects for Frank151 magazine, Argus brewery, and the Chicago Jazz Fair . Through the Chicago Public Art Group, as well as After School Matters.

From 2004 to 2016 Statik had instructed children in mural painting techniques, as well as mentored young artists in their craft.

Statik is currently works out of his studio in the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, where in addition to his mural and teaching career Statik also create art for gallery exhibitions using oil, acrylic, graphite, pen & ink, pastels, mosaic tile, found objects, spray paint and digital media.

Rahmaan Statik is currently creating street art in cities across the world, creating art works for museum and gallery exhibitions.

Founder of ESSO Afrojam Funkbeat and  Sound Events Chicago, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and producer Armando Pérez began his journey of live music performance in his hometown of Chicago IL. Blending his cultural roots with personal life experiences from growing up in the Windy City, his fusion of genres and energy can be interpreted by all ages and backgrounds. With a long history of national and international touring, he continues to perform for open minded audiences everywhere.