FOKUS

Our Story
FOKUS increases the awareness of and access to art disciplines by providing unique ways for people of all ages to access the arts. Our primary goal is not to create the next famous artists but simply to allow individuals to understand what their creative talents are and apply this knowledge to their educational, professional and personal life.

We expose under-resourced communities to the arts through arts education, community art events and an online magazine. This helps people understand their innate creativity and develop their talents so that they can maximize their potential for future success. The arts teach you how to create something from nothing and this innovative trait is what leads to success. Please read our Brochure for more information on FOKUS as well as ways you can support and get involved with FOKUS.

Our Mission
To educate, empower and unite communities by using traditional and non-traditional forms of art.

• Ayodele Ali

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is musical expression through Hip-Hop and poetry.
• Anna Barsan

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is visual storytelling.
• Suhaly Bautista

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is the earth warrior.
• Senesi Blake

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is cinematography and DJing.
• Atiba T. Edwards

  Co-Founder
  My Art is dreaming while awake.
• Nkosi Edwards

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is passion.
• Giovanna Fischer

  New York Ctiy Chapter
  My Art is curating spaces within which folks feel loved and inspired to give love away to others. Reciprocity.
• Malik Jones-Robinson

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is showing students how to experience the world through literature.
• Tayo Ladeinde

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is discovery.
• Allison Maritza Lasky

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is a neon recipe full of creativity, health advocacy, musicology & paying attention to people with all 6 of my senses.
• Kaz McNellie

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is is appreciation of non-standard art forms such as games and comics.
• Yazzy Troche

  New York City Chapter
  My Art is interacting with individuals and making them smile!

• Evalyn Carter

  Co-President, Ann Arbor
  My Art is Allyhood.
• Courtney Cox

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is always evolving.
• Alma Davila-Toro

  Co-Founder
  My Art is life.
• Tarah Douglas

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is unconditional.
• Ashlee Arder

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is making it happen.
• Jordan Harris

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is my voice.
• Kendra Hentschel

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is my freedom.
• Tatiana Hofmans

  Co-President, Ann Arbor
  My Art is movement.
• Claire Jaffe

  Ann Arbor
  My Art is in the details.
• Jordan Kifer

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is in my words.
• Mark Knapp

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is the manifestation of my mind's musings.
• Wade Phillips

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is songwriting.
• Mallika Roy

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is layering.
• Claire Schorin

  Vice-President, Ann Arbor
  My Art is wordplay!
• Veniece Session

  Ann Arbor Chapter
  My Art is music.
• Megan White

  Vice-President, Ann Arbor
  My Art is daydreaming.

• Janelle Monae
• John Legend
• Jeff Chang
• Justin Bua
• Keys N Krates
• Kidz in the Hall
• Kool DJ Red Alert
• Lupe Fiasco
• Marc Bamuthi Joseph
• Saul Williams
• Slum Village
• The Hot 8
• Astronomical Kid
• Belikos
• Buff1
• Che Grand
• Circa '95
• Darren Criss
• DJ GrandWizzard Theodore
• DJ Jazzy Jay
• DJ Smoke L.E.S.
• GIST aka the Essence
• Invincible
• Matthew Santos
• OneBeLo
• Pattern Is Movement
• ScienZe
• Si*Se
• Sophia Urista & The Sauce

• Crazy Legs
• PopMaster Fabel
• dream hampton
• Jeff Chang
• Va$htie Kola
• Paola Mendoza
• Gene Pendon
• Issa Rae
• Michael Skolnik
• Popmaster Fabel
• Oscar Torres
• Alice Mizrachi
• Bishop203
• Crane TMT
• Destroy & Rebuild
• Free5
• Ink 76 Bad inc
• John Tebeau
• Michael Sorgatz
• Priz TSF
• Ree 2 MTA
• Rick Midler
• Sonic 002 Bad inc
• Stan-One TSF

• Arts at Michigan
• Brooklyn Academy of Music
• Brooklyn Bodega
• Citizen Schools
• Five Myles Gallery
• StoryCorps
• The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
• Matrix Theatre Company
• MESA/Trotter at The University of Michigan
• NYU's Kanbar Institute of Film & Television
• OAMI at The Unversity of Michigan
• RBSCC Career Pathways & Homebase
• Scratch DJ Academy
• Solefood NYC
• Trotter House
• VSA Arts