Natalie Pohley Zapata is a community organizer, youth advocate, educator, and co-founder of Auburn Hip Hop Congress. For more than 20 years, she has developed programs and opportunities that bring people together and give youth and artists a voice. Her work centers on youth arts, leadership, healing, creativity, and helping young people recognize their power to shape their lives and communities. She has worked extensively with young people, artists, educators, and community organizations to create accessible spaces for learning, expression, and connection.

Rocky Zapata is a community organizer who specializes in media arts and youth advocacy. Drawing from his experience as a system-impacted youth, he connects well with young people and helps them foster a deeper connection with themselves, others and the world they’e growing up in. Rocky motivates people to use their voice, develop new talents, and tell their own story. He believes everyone has something important to contribute in life and champions the power of Lived-Experience, working in the same systems that he grew up in.

Christian “CoU’RaGe” Couto is a founding member of Auburn Hip Hop Congress, an emcee, producer, artist, and one half of the hip hop duo The Difference. With a passion for using music as a tool for connection, healing, and positive change, he brings together more than two decades of experience in hip hop arts with his work in the community. He is a dedicated mental health and suicide prevention advocate, using both his professional work and his platform as an artist to encourage honest conversations, build community, and remind people that their voices and stories matter.

D.J.J is a former youth participant now turned leader in Auburn Hip Hop Congress, using the power of hip-hop to empower minds and inspire positive change. Through storytelling, music, and authentic expression, he creates messages that encourage growth, resilience, and community connection. As an artist, D.J.J believes hip-hop is more than entertainment, it is a platform for education, healing, and transformation. He is also one half of the dynamic duo The Difference, alongside CoU’RaGe.

Raza is an independent hip-hop artist, music producer, and motivational speaker from Auburn, California. With over a decade of experience in production and a Bachelor’s degree in Audio Engineering, he has built a career around helping others find their voice through music and creativity.. Having collaborated with major producers and a range of artists from local to international, Raza blends his professional experience with a passion for mentoring young people — showing them that their stories and sounds have power.

Yaqui artist, educator and social activist, Stan Padilla, honors his ancestors by bringing to life ancient stories, myths, and legends. Stan is a publisher and writer of Native American stories for children and has also authored books on spirituality and folklore. As an educator, he has been a longtime consultant in Native American education programs and as an art instructor at Sierra College. Stan is a mixed-media artist and a member of the highly regarded Royal Chicano Airforce, an artists’ collective honoring social justice and the civil rights movement.

Rebecca “Maggie” Magdalena Escobedo-Steele is the founder of 7th Generation Warriors For Peace, an organization dedicated to working with communities, families, individuals, children and youth to prevent cycles of family violence, gang conflict, addiction and suicide by promoting cultural healing, positive activism and empowerment.   Known as “Aunt Maggie” she has a unique ability to captivate people of all ages with stories and teachings, often through drummaking and singing.

Community-oriented certified practitioner and teacher dedicated to making holistic medicine affordable and accessible to all who seek it. Nicole’s goal is to support each person in an individualized way as they heal and grow on their personal journey, creating empowerment and transformation in daily life. She accomplishes this through ancient energy practices known as the Usui method of natural healing. This, with years of experience holding space with compassion and non-judgment, they consider it an honor to be part of each person's healing experience.

Knowledgeable administrator with a demonstrated history of leadership, non-profit management, and public/private sector consulting for arts, heritage, ag, and municipal agencies. Skilled in arts education, public art planning, and sustainability program development, event management, group facilitation, coalition building, cultural tourism, philanthropy, and sustainability.

With a degree in Human Resources and Organizational Behavior and her experiences in nonprofit work and managing an after-school program, she has developed a strong foundation in understanding people and organizations.
As a young woman of color from a predominantly conservative community, she is committed to creating inclusive environments where every individual feels valued and empowered. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys playing board games, going to the beach, watching cartoons, and spending time with her family.

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A serial entrepreneur, mother of four, and lifelong movement artist, she brings 25+ years of movement experience and 14+ years of Kung Fu and martial arts training. Her philosophy is rooted in developing the holistic athlete and artist while promoting health, longevity, environmental awareness, community, and humanity, with strong influence from Bruce Lee’s teachings.

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Conscious hip-hop artist, songwriter, and content creator based in Sacramento, California. He is the founder of the platform Rebuilding the Culture. He creates uplifting, positive, and "conscious" hip-hop. His music is heavily focused on themes of family, personal accountability, mental elevation, and spiritual alignment Rebuilding the Culture: Through his music and brand, he advocates for high-vibrational living, community empowerment, and self-sufficiency. He frequently speaks about practical self-reliance, like growing your own food, living off the land, and prioritizing health.

I’m McKenna! I’ve been apart of AHHC since the beginning, but as I’ve grown, I’ve grown into my role. I am a youth fellow and an active part all the projects and events we host. I have lived experience in mental health and I’m extremely passionate about making a change in the mental health system. From being Emcee Sugar Shot, and always asking our team for a dollar when I was younger , I’ve turned the hustle into apart of who I am today. You can find me at the events volunteering and making a change, or in the office behind the scenes planning. I love my AHHC fam. I LOVE the work we do and I’m happy to say this is the space I grew up.

Bella has been with Auburn Hip Hop Congress for 10 years as a youth, and officially a youth fellow for upwards of 2 years. From participating in writing classes, event organization, photography, project planning, and Growing Peace Camp, Bella has worked in various sectors of AHHC throughout her time in the organization. Working with AHHC has allowed her to serve the community in an enjoyable way, and gain both skills and knowledge that serves her life in other areas.

Coming from a Palestinian, Egyptian, Lebanese and Armenian background, Lilliana Seoud is a leader, multidisciplinary healer, creator, artist, flow arts performer and public speaker. Her philosophy is birthed in ancient and ancestral holistic wisdom rooted in her culture, bringing positive activism, cultural awareness, empowerment, and education to every room she touches.

I am a Cultural Prescribed Burn Practitioner and knowledge bearer! I practice my traditions and ceremonies, I’ve grown up in my culture my whole life, my grandma, April Wallace-Moore, taught me almost everything I know, she’s an elder and a heavy influence in my life at an early age. I make beadwork/ modern indigenous jewelry, I’m an artist and beginner weaver, I help inspire the youth to continue their traditions as well and when I can I do public speaking about cultural fire, traditions, and sovereignty rights.

Taia Solaru is a communications student at Sierra College with experience as a community and special events coordinator for an LLC nonprofit. In that role, they planned and produced events that brought people together and strengthened community connection. They are passionate about creating welcoming, healing, well-organized spaces where everyone feels included. As Taia pursues a communications degree, their studies continue to shape how they approach outreach, collaboration, and event planning with care.

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Desirae Harp, a member of the Mishewal Wappo tribe, is a singer/songwriter, community organizer, and educator. She co-facilitates a Mishewal language class, gives cultural demonstrations, educates youth about native plants, animals, and waterways, and helps advocate for the protection of sacred sites.

Mignon Geli was born in San Francisco, California, of Filipino and Spanish ancestry, and currently living in the California Sierra Foothills by Coloma, in Nisenan-Maidu country, for the past 16 years. Twelve years ago, her son gifted her with a native wood flute. She is self-taught, plays by ear, and a couple years later added native drums to her repertoire. She can flute along in many genres of music from traditional native to contemporary native, to folk, rock, jazz, funk, soul, etc. She is a member of the Neena McNair Family Singers, a multi-cultural women’s native traditional Drum group. When not playing solo flute or women’s Drum, she often joins Goodshield Aguilar or his 7th Generation Rise band, www.GoodshieldMusic.com at many festivals and events and is a member of Walan Amana, a Nisenan rock band.

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Comprised of longtime AHHC Members/Artists, Joseph Torres and Cou, formed The Difference. Together, they blend meaningful lyrics, powerful storytelling, and creative energy to challenge perspectives and remind listeners of the difference they can make in their communities and beyond. Their music dives deep into themes of mental health, addiction recovery, and social activism.

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