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I’m Leon Willis — a professional artist, educator, and advocate for equity in the arts. My mission is to provide access and opportunity to at-risk youth, using creativity as a catalyst for healing, growth, and transformation.

Growing up mixed-race in a divided household, I carried anger, confusion, and a deep sense of disconnection. Raised by a white mother with no relationship to my father or African ancestry, I struggled to find my identity as a Black man in America. I often felt isolated, misunderstood, and invisible in a world that lacked color and connection.

Hip hop culture became my refuge — a space where I could safely express myself. Graffiti gave me a voice, but it also led me down a path of incarceration. With my record now expunged, I use those experiences to educate, empower, and uplift others through the same culture that once saved me.

Through deep self-reflection and a commitment to personal growth, I’ve transformed my life. I’m now a leader, entrepreneur, and mentor — someone who not only creates art, but creates pathways for others. With a past that includes a felony conviction, I built my own business as a way to reclaim my narrative and shape my own future.