Express Yourself immerses young people into the creative world of music, dance and visual arts and empowers these youth with life changing results. Express Yourself celebrates cultural diversity and collaboration with isolated youth from 17 Department of Mental Health residential and inpatient facilities who form their own large community. Since 1989, over 1400 youth in newly created communities have worked collaboratively with artists and celebrities such as Blue Man Group, STOMP, Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops, and Broadway dancers in a culminating performance at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts in Boston. Youth and artists become inspired during a full year program creating set designs, visual art, and performance pieces for their grand celebration followed by exhibition. Additionally, Express Yourself Directors teach courses at local colleges, provide professional development to teachers focusing on integrated arts in education and develop residencies for schools.

Stan Strickland , Co Executive Director

Singer, saxophonist, flutist, actor, Stan Strickland has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, New Zealand and the former Soviet Union. In addition to numerous radio and television appearances, Stan has performed in many clubs and concert halls, including Jordan and Symphony Halls in Boston, Carnegie Recital Hall and Town Hall in New York, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He also has performed with the Boston Pops Touring Ensemble. His acting experience includes the leading role in the Boston Art Group’s production of “Harlem Renaissance”, and a solo performance “Coming Up For Air: An Autojazzography. Stan has a MA from Lesley University in Expressive Arts. He currently teaches at Berklee, Longy School of Music, Lesley University and Endicott College. Stan received the Martin Luther King Music Achievement Award from the city of Boston, and in 1994 the Cambridge Favorite Musician Award.

Paula Conrad , Co Executive Director

Paula is the founder and creator of Express Yourself. She has performed flamenco and Latin Dance in the United States and Canada. She has also worked as a choreographer and has taught dance and creative movement and served as an artist in residence in several public, private schools and human service agencies. Paula has presented workshops on arts integration and the creative process in conferences and workshops throughout the United States. She has a masters degree from Lesley University in Creative Arts in Learning, five teaching certifications, and currently teaches in the masters program at Endicott College.

Express Yourself Artists Core Group

Barbara Keiter, Head Visual Artist BFA
Everardo J. Garcia, Visual Arts, BFA
Kristi Jeffers, Program Coordinator, BFA
Miles Herter, BA Visual/Environmental ,Theater Director
Neil Wilkins, Visual Artist BFA
Malena del Mar , Ethnic Dance