Rock the School Bells is a completely volunteer-Based Leadership model. all educators, artists, professionals, and community members invest their own time, resources, and love. RTSB LeadErship team invest their heart & Soul into running intentional, fun, and culturally relevant conferences every year for our youth and community members to experience.
it takes a collective to spark a change. here we highlight this year’s Bay Area leadership squad.
Nate Nevado
founder & Executive Director
Nate Nevado is a college counselor at Skyline College. He is also the CIPHER Hip Hop Learning Community Coordinator since 2014. He founded Rock The School Bells (RTSB) in 2007 to provide youth and students with experiences that integrate Hip Hop and higher education. For the last decade, RTSB has proven to be the most educational and socially responsible Hip Hop conference nationwide.
Hip Hop has always been marginalized in the field of education, deliberately silencing the voices and lived experiences of communities of color. RTSB amplifies youth voices, encourages creativity and innovation, and highlighting the importance of cultural preservation and healing through the arts.
Our vision is to inspire the next generation of leaders, educators, and practitioners who can take Hip Hop education to the next level. From Live at the Barbecue with Main Source, to Illmatic and It Was Written, Nas' rhyme schemes and visually authentic street poetry makes him one of my favorite storytellers in Hip Hop.
Bing Lozano-Lim
Producer, Leads, Youth Workshops
AKAs: HumanBING, Mentos the Freshmaker
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: Rock The School Bells, Go Bing Go, Impact Sounds
Bio: I am relentless. I am sensitive. I can take things way too seriously. I am an appreciator of Super Carnitas Burritos, the MCU, Fantasy Basketball and the current K-Pop Scene. I am the conqueror of Escape Rooms, Board Games, and Salted Caramel. I am a Husband, a Father of two, and an extremely loyal Family Member and Friend.
What are you doing to create a "Space of Infinite Possibilities"? I am part of Rock The School Bells so we can create limitless opportunities for the youth that we serve. In my own personal life, my partner and I allow our kids to believe that anything and everything is possible and we will do everything in our power to help them pursue these possibilities.
What is your favorite thing in this universe? The smiles and laughter of my two kids.
Mandy Lau Manluco
Twitch / PAUSE LEAD
AKAs: Mandybobandy, Mama Lau
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: Rock The School Bells, NYU Hip Hop Think Tank, Wild 94.9
Bio: I am many things as a 408 native ranging from Mama Lau the counselor to a fierce fighter. My purpose is to spread hope, humanity, and knowledge, and while I acknowledge I cannot do the work alone, I am proud to be a part of a multitude of networks with fierce and intelligent educators. As such, my tribe is strong and my love runs deep.
What are you doing to create a "Space of Infinite Possibilities"? In the worldwide space of the interwebs and beyond, I am a collaborator and a mirror of all possibilities. With my tribe, I try to be a reflection offering those I love with a lens to see themselves, as I try to create my own meaning within the space of infinite possibilities. In sum, like every Star Trek episode, anything, in any universe, is possible.
What is your favorite thing in this universe? Long walks on the beach, the whirring of my bo (staff), sharing the love of music with my son; one airpod in my ear, the other in his.
Kim Davalos
Twitch LEAD
AKAs: kd, Kim Dizzle, BK's Fur Mom
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: Skyline College Promise Scholars Program
Bio: Kim Davalos (kd) is a third generation Pinay (Filipina-American) born and raised in Stockton, CA. For the last decade, Kim has resided in the Bay Area as an educator, artist and creative. She first started in the spoken word community and has traveled to perform in local and national competitions to hone in on her voice and narrative she wanted to tell. Kim has a primary passion for staying connected to her surrounding community and values using art, entrepreneurship, creativity, and critical performance art pedagogy in the classroom and specifically within her counseling practices as an educator.
What are you doing to create a "Space of Infinite Possibilities"? It's important to imagine not only a different world, but a different way of existence, different realities, different universes. Every day I try to both ground myself and astroproject myself into all the ways we can transform and travel in our work as educators, artists, community organizers. And ultimately, to create infinite possibilities means to have and hold onto our hope.
What is your favorite thing in this universe? The audacity of an authentic woman.
David “D4” Nguyen
marketing / DESIGN TEAM LEAD
AKAs: D4
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: D4 Music Marketing
Bio: David "D-4" Nguyen is an online marketing manager for music artists such as Butterscotch, Eligh (Living Legends, G&E) and Rocky Rivera. He is also a content creator (photographer / videographer / blogger) that goes by the “Swiss Army Knife for Independent Artists." In addition to music marketing, David is working towards becoming a systems health coach for music artists. He believes artists serve an important role in social change and enriching the human experience so he recently started Biohack the Artist, an experimental health project that focuses on “keeping our music artists alive.”
What are you doing to create a "Space of Infinite Possibilities"? I serve the independent artist community by publishing monthly blogs around music marketing and business to educate them about how to create a sustainable career in music.
What is your favorite thing in this universe? Mexican food
Alexandra "Alex" Urbina
TikTok Lead
AKAs: Alex
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: My makeup IG page @ayeeyoudope
Bio: I am currently pursuing my Masters degree in College Counseling. I am a part-time educator and part-time makeup artist. I love to bring new ideas alive in both of those areas. My community is important to me...415 yeeeee! My goal is to share the knowledge I've gained to my village.
What are you doing to create a "Space of Infinite Possibilities"? I am a creative educator. I love to design new ways to engage students. I encourage everyone to dream out loud. The world is your canvas.
What is your favorite thing in this universe? I enjoy trying new restaurants with my family. Laughing, eating, and creating memories.