The Cipher - Austin’s Hip Hop Project
Gidon (fka Christopher Ockletree and “Gator”)
Co-Founder and former Artistic Director (2007-2009)
Gidon is a hip hop and spoken word artist, community activist and leader. He uses his art to speak out about social and personal issues at school assemblies, press conferences and in national competitions. At the age of 19, Gidon became involved in local non-profit collaborations. He has worked with SafePlace, Southwest Key's juvenile justice programs, Austin Voices for Youth and Education and many other youth programs. Together with his hip hop group, Gidon has performed, presented and taught at Texas Association Against Sexual Assault's (TAASA) teen leadership conference (2007) and the national conference for "A CALL TO MEN" (2008) working with men on issues related to violence against women. Gidon currently teaches performance poetry at Texas Empowerment Academy.
Zell Miller, III
Artistic Director
Zell Miller, III is an interdisciplinary theater artist and youth counselor. Zell is the parent of two Zell, IV and Blaise Marley. He is the winner of the David Mark Cohen award for best original script in 2007 and the B. Iden Payne award for best original script in 2008. Zell is a featured artist in the Theater Communications Group anthology of hip-hop theater. He was awarded as “staff member of the year” by the Central Texas After-school Network for his after-school poetry classes (2009). Zell is the Co-Artistic Director of Uprise! Productions. Zell works with youth affected by violence by leading support groups through SafePlace. Zell has worked with Austin youth for over 15 years.
Shannon Sandrea, MS, LPC
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Shannon is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 15 years of experience working with teens and families in New York City, Boston, Houston and her hometown - Austin. She has focused on issues related to poverty, court-involved youth, substance abuse and domestic violence prevention and intervention. She also is very effective in developing youth leaders and motivating them to become involved in our community. Previously, Shannon worked for SafePlace as a School-based Counselor, a family therapist for Boston Children’s Services and a program manager for I Have A Dream- Houston. She has collaborated with each of The Cipher’s advisory board members and group leaders for more than five years on various Austin community projects. She established relationships with The Hip Hop Project in New York City and consults with them on a regular basis. Shannon holds a Master's degree in Psychology with specialization in family and school counseling and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Shannon is the mother of one child, Sofia.
© The Cipher 2009
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