EXECUTIVE TEAM
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Experience. Passion. Creativity.
Rosalinda Sanchez
Executive Director
Rosalinda Sanchez, Executive Director of Audacity, has spent nearly a decade as a culture bearer and arts educator across Silicon Valley, serving communities from East Sunnyvale and East San Jose to East Gilroy and Hollister. Under her leadership, Audacity has entered a new era where culture is capital, art becomes the student's own narrative, and technology is accessible to everyone, especially in vulnerable neighborhoods.
With a bachelor's in Business and Management from Baker University and experience living across the United States, Mexico, and the Middle East, Rosalinda discovered a universal truth: the fundamental needs for community cohesion, cultural celebration, and self-actualization transcend boundaries.
Returning to her San Jose roots, Rosalinda created the magical space she dreamed of in childhood – a "nucleo" where students' diverse upbringings and languages become superpowers.
Louis Stone-Collonge
Artistic Director for Theatrical Productions
In sixth grade (the late 1970s), Louis began working with his father building sets at local theater companies, Montalvo Players and Theater West. After dropping out of high school in 1985, he returned to college in 1987 and continued working in theater at San Jose City College. He earned his B.A. in Religious Studies from San Jose State University in 1991. Louis also studied Media & Cultural Studies at CSU, Sacramento, and Middlesex University, London, United Kingdom (1992-1995).
After a long break from theatre, he returned to youth theater in 2006 serving as Technical Director at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School in Saratoga for seven years. Louis founded The Audacity Performing Arts Project, Inc. in 2012. Louis has also served as Technical Director for Performing Arts at Notre Dame High School (San Jose) between 2012 and 2018 where he grew the school’s technical theatre program from 20 +/- students to over 100. In addition to his work with Audacity, Louis currently serves as Technical Director at Silicon Valley Shakespeare & The Pear Theatre, he designs lighting for Los Altos Stage Company, builds sets for other local theatre companies such as Sunnyvale Community Players and occasionally writes grants for other arts organizations.
Paul Contreras
Arts Education Program Manager
Paul Contreras was born in San Jose and lived the majority of his life on the East side. His mother always signed him up to art programs growing up and because of programs like those he grew a passion for creativity and the arts. Programs like the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza began his journey into leading the arts programs.
After the pandemic, Paul Joined Audacity in 2021 and grew in the ranks as an assistant, to a Teaching Artist, to now the Program Manager. Through Audacity, Paul now manages and cultivates the same programs he enjoyed for the new youth. The students he sees every day inspire him to continue the essential work Audacity provides.
Sasha Hernandez-Martinez
Social Media Manager
Sasha Hernandez-Martinez has lived in both Mexico and the United States. She began studying piano at the age of three in Missouri and plays five instruments. Sasha has performed musical underscoring for productions with Teatro Vision in San Jose and Artists Ink in Salinas. She was a member of the choir through C.A.N.T.A. of Hollister, performing in Macario with Teatro Vision, and has written a play exploring the challenging issue of youth gun violence. Sasha also studied at the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, where she served as a junior counselor. She is currently a Music major at University of California, Santa Cruz, specializing in compositional practices.
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