Our mission is to create pathways to college, employment, and entrepreneurship for Compton youth through engagement with education & the arts.
HIGHLIGHTS
2008
The dream started at Willard Elementary in Compton, where Sara Bomani volunteered in her friend’s classroom to teach arts education to 3rd graders.
2010
Community Arts: Re-Imagining Education (C.A.R.E.) was born after Bomani and Jennifer Alvarado met while working on their Master of Art Education degrees at California State University, Long Beach.
2011
Bomani led over 400 hours of community service, including the painting of 70 community murals at 10 public schools in the Compton Unified School District and provided free art classes at local elementary and middle schools.
2012
Community conversations took place at City Church of Compton, regarding the needs of the community. After researching the statistics and witnessing the challenges surrounding education, crime, poverty and unemployment, an expanded vision seemed necessary.
2013
Unearth and Empower Communities was born.
1st UEC Summer Art Camp serving over 80 students
2014
Each One. Teach One. After School Program started with 15 families
1st Ladies of Integrity Retreat
1st Men of Integrity Retreat
1st Trip to Mexico to volunteer at orphanage
1st EntreArts Summer Internship Program learning about entrepreneurship
2015
1st High School Graduate & College Scholarship awarded
2016
Increased the number of families served to 30 at our after school program
2017
Awarded over $8,000 in college scholarships to graduating seniors and college students
2018
Students learn how to play the ukulele at our Each One. Teach One. after school program
2019
UEC college student teaches at Summer Art Camp
Featured in VoyageLA magazine (click to read)
2020
Created Houses of STEAM for Compton families to experience building projects that are related to science, technology, engineering, art and math.
Hired 1st Intern
Featured in New York Times op-ed article by David Brooks (click to read)
​
2021
Created the Little Creators program to provide FREE activities and art supplies for a fun, interactive sensory play experience for our littlest students (0-4 years) in their own home!
​
2022
Awarded $10,000 in college scholarships to graduating seniors and college students
​
2023
1st STEAM Tech Camp & Compton Mural Project Cohorts completed
​
2024
Started 2 new programs, DiscoverU After School Enrichment Center & Compton Youth Career Pathways with funding from JCOD's CFCI grant
Download Our
Registered Charity: 46-3566978
UEC staff tabling at a local resource fair:
Brisa, Adriana, Ivette, Karla & Valerie
UEC IN THE MEDIA
Our Values: FAMILY + FUN + LEARNING + GENEROSITY + RESPONSIBILITY
BOARD of DIRECTORS
De'Jon Jackson is the Director of Operations and the OSH Officer for The ACLU Foundation of Southern California. De'Jon has found success as a small business owner and entrepreneur in the fields of engineering and nonprofit management. He consults on multi-million dollar projects for community based non-profits and develops operations plans and budgets. He has a passion for health, wellness, and investing in other people.
De'Jon Jackson
Non-Profit Management
UEC President
Amber Kim has over 20 years of experience in managing HR strategies for non-profit organizations in Southern California, with the ACLU, KHEIR Center, Goodwill Industries, and currently with Planned Parenthood as the Vice President of Human Resources. She is founder and Chief Human Resources Consultant for People Compass LLC, an HR and management consulting firm. Amber is deeply committed to improving the communities she serves through her work in providing opportunities for people, and partnering with organizations in creating an equitable and diverse workplace culture, championing change, and investing in employees’ well-being, growth, and success.
Amber Kim
Human Resources Management
UEC Vice President
Bruna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been working as a children’s mental health therapist for the past five years. She has a husband and two beautiful kids. One of the treasures we appreciate about Bruna, in addition to her generous spirit, is that she is multi-lingual and is raising her children to learn Portuguese, Spanish and English.
Bruna Soares-Thompson
Family Therapy & Social Work
UEC Secretary
Victor currently works for SCS Engineers and is enjoying 17 years as an Environmental Design Engineer in the areas of Landfills, Litigation, Remediation, Evaluations and Geology. He was elected a deacon at his church, has been married for 12 years and is a father of five.
Victor Chew
Environmental Engineer
UEC Treasurer
"My kids create things daily. It gives them life and I believe that Unearth and Empower's programs will equip them to think deeper and bigger and spark new ideas for them to run with."
~Charrise, parent
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Barak Bomani
Executive Director
& Co-Creator
​
Barak is the Executive Director & Co-Creator of Unearth and Empower Communities. He and his partner Sara create pathways to college, employment and entrepreneurship for Compton youth through engagement with STEM education and the arts. Barak, a revolutionary educator who disrupts broken educational systems, was handpicked to be the founding principal of a charter school in Oakland, CA where 100% of African American and Latino students, earned at least one acceptance letter to a four-year college. A huge advocate of social emotional learning and what he calls heart, mind & soul work, Bomani curates safe and healthy spaces for communities to heal from trauma and to re-imagine a culture of living free in a diverse world. Bomani is a business owner, community activist, published author & songwriter, chef, worship leader and lover of tennis. Barak earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from Dartmouth College and his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership & Supervision from San Jose State University, where he graduated with highest honors. He is married and has two sons.
Sara Bomani
Co-Creator &
Director of Programming
​
Sara Bomani is the Co-Creator & Director of Programming for Unearth and Empower Communities. This UEC vision started in 2008 when she first volunteered to teach art in her friend’s classroom in the Compton Unified School District. With a bachelors in Graphic Design and a masters in Arts Education from Cal State Long Beach, Sara loves to share her artistry that she learned from her mother while growing up. Sara has created art camps and workshops that have served over 1,500 youth in Paramount, Long Beach and Compton over the past 20 years. Sara created and coordinated the painting of over 100+ murals on school campuses throughout Compton Unified School District, Washington Unified School District, and all around California working with small businesses and nonprofits to beautify their spaces. As a business owner of Color Your World Design Studios, she has created art and gardening classes for homeschooled youth as well as providing graphic design services for over 20 years. One of the treasures we appreciate about Sara is how she always finds a way to include all kids regardless of their abilities to create art.
“My daughter joined the program last year, and she learned so much. Most importantly, she was able to step out of her comfort zone to participate and speak at the in-person events. She looked forward to it every Monday and Sunday Fun Day.” ~Marta, Houses of STEAM parent
PROGRAM & SUPPORT STAFF
ART
Kora
Program Director - Little Creators & Art Camp
Kora is currently the Director of UEC’s Summer Art Camp and Little Creators programs. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Studies with a concentration in Development and a Minor in Studio Art. She has been with UEC since elementary school, starting off as a student, then going through the organization as a volunteer, intern, Art teacher, Scholarship Recipient and employee. She is a mother to a son who is now old enough to attend some of the programs UEC has to offer.
Karla
Artist-in-Residence / Site Director - DiscoverU
Karla is a Mexican-born, Los Angeles-based oil painter whose work blends the vibrant spirit of her heritage with the diverse influences of her surroundings. Raised in the Napa Valley and a DACA recipient, her art explores themes of identity, family, and culture, creating a nostalgic connection to her past while celebrating the richness of her experiences. Known for her lifelike, visually rich paintings, Karla's work has been featured in small exhibitions across Los Angeles and has garnered attention from collectors and admirers throughout California. Through commissions and charity auctions, she uses her art as a platform for advocacy and community connection.
EDUCATION
Ivette
Program Director - DiscoverU & Program Assistant - Art Camp
Ivette is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at National University while raising two school-aged children as a single mother. With over ten years of experience in the Early Childhood Education field, she has been deeply involved in UEC programs, including Summer Art Camp, Little Creators, and Houses of STEAM. As a proud Compton resident, Ivette is passionate about giving back to her community and supporting its growth, which aligns with her love for the programs UEC offers and her dedication to making a positive impact.
Adriana
Assistant Program Director - DiscoverU
Adriana is the Assistant Director of UEC’s DiscoverU Enrichment Center, bringing a unique perspective to the role as both a professional and a long-time parent participant. Her children have been involved in UEC programs for 10 years, giving Adriana firsthand experience of the positive impact and innovative activities it provides. This deep familiarity drives her dedication to enhancing and expanding the program’s offerings. Grateful for the opportunity to contribute in this capacity, Adriana is excited to see what the new school year will bring.
PATHWAYS
Joshua
Senior Program Manager - CYCP
Joshua is currently the CYCP Senior Program Manager. A graduate of California State University, Dominguez Hills, Joshua brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his role. He assists in managing the Compton Youth Career Pathways program, where he is instrumental in coordinating initiatives that impact the community. Known for his leadership skills and commitment to program excellence, Joshua is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for participants and ensuring the success of UEC’s mission.
.jpeg)
Vanessa
Program Assistant - CYCP
Vanessa is currently the program assistant for CYCP. Born and raised in South Central LA to immigrant parents, she grew up witnessing the unique challenges urban ethnic communities endure. After graduating with her Bachelors degree in Sociology from UC Davis, she has been committed to empowering urban youth to overcome financial poverty and pursue higher education. With eight years of experience working with youth and six of them being in Compton, Vanessa has loved working with hundreds of youth and has witnessed them achieve masters degrees, become financially independent, and have holistic health.
SUPPORT STAFF
Judith
Executive Assistant
Judith is a devoted mother of two young children and a loving wife, balancing family life with her passion for service. With eight years of experience as a florist, she has a deep appreciation for creativity and beauty. Recently, she joined Unearth and Empower Communities, allowing her to work from home while making a meaningful impact. Her dedication to her family and community drives everything she does, as she strives to create a nurturing home and contribute to the well-being of those around her.
Brisa
Digital Content Coordinator & Program Assistant
Brisa serves as a UEC Program Assistant and Social Media Coordinator while pursuing her studies at Long Beach Community College with the goal of joining the aerospace engineering field. As a UEC Pathways Scholarship recipient, she is driven by the inspiration she gained from participating in UEC programs starting at the age of eight. Motivated by the impact these programs had on her, Brisa is passionate about giving back to her community in the same way she was supported. Her goals include gaining further experience in community service and building connections with others through her ongoing work with UEC. Notably, she is also the co-creator of UEC’s Girls Support program and oversees the social media department.