The transformative journey of Edna Garcia-Dipini, originally from Brooklyn, NY, moved with her family to Reading, Pennsylvania, in 2005. Almost immediately, she noticed the stigma surrounding the youth in Reading and discovered that arts programs were being cut in schools. Driven by a passion for helping, Edna found a way to make a difference through the power of the arts: “As cliché as it may sound, and I say this over and over again, the arts saved my life.” Growing up in Brooklyn, Edna was surrounded by violence and could have easily fallen into the streets, but she resisted. She wanted to be the change she wished to see.
Edna’s love for the arts began early. Singing with her mother before she could even speak, she joined the Glee Club in first grade and participated in school plays, photography, and other programs. She was accepted into the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art & Performing Arts, where she was exposed to opera and other art forms. It was there that she began making music videos, which led to an internship and eventual job at Video Music Box, where she developed her career in media and entertainment.
In Reading, Edna focused on creating opportunities for youth. She met with community leaders at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts and proposed a program to teach kids how to create videos. With her experience in film production, she launched RIZE, a youth arts non-profit aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle through the arts. RIZE serves youth from African American, Latinx, and Hispanic communities, providing free hip hop dance classes and other arts programming to empower young people.
Through RIZE, Edna works tirelessly to bridge gaps in her community, offering a safe space for families to come together and fostering an environment of mutual support. In addition to arts programs, RIZE also addresses mental health with its Parent Circles, which provide parents with valuable resources and tools. As a mentor and advocate, Edna has expanded RIZE’s influence, organizing events like the Berks Youth Violence Prevention Roundtable and the Berks4Peace campaign. These initiatives provide local youth with opportunities for community service and violence prevention while cultivating leadership skills.
Edna is also an advocate for the arts as a tool for social change. She has been recognized for her work in youth violence prevention, arts advocacy, and community building. Edna has received numerous awards, including the Youth Advocate Award from the Berks Latino Chamber and the Light & Love Honoree award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Through her company, FoxGlove Group LLC, she continues to inspire social change and urban development through creative programming, arts initiatives, and public relations.
Edna’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and deep love for her community. Her work continues to inspire the youth to dream, create, and rise above the challenges they face, proving that art can be a powerful tool for personal transformation and collective change.
