Arts Leadership Award Program

Representing Alameda County Supervisorial District Five —

Sarah Crowell of Oakland, is currently the artistic director for Destiny Arts Center, a nonprofit organization focused on providing dance, theater and martial arts programs with the mission to end isolation, prejudice and violence in the lives of young people. She has worked at the organization for 25 years as a dancer teacher, workshop facilitator, program director and lead staff trainer. She served as the organization’s executive director from 2002-2007. Additionally, Ms. Crowell co-founded the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company in 1993. The Company’s group of teens perform original dance and theater productions for up to 20,000 audience members each year and have been the subject of two documentary films. During the last 25 years, Ms. Crowell has taught dance, theater and violence prevention to youth and educators locally and nationally in schools and community centers. And, during the last 10 years, she has led professional development courses for classroom teachers, school administrators and arts educators.