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Cultivating safe social spaces. Self-esteem. Awareness. Community stewardship!
Fortify Our Rebel Youth is a youth component under the umbrella of No Easy Props, originally founded in 1997. No Easy Props, Inc. is committed to preserving Hip-Hop culture by providing quality education, and entertainment primarily for Black/Latinx/Indigenous/API young people and multigenerational communities from low socioeconomic areas in Los Angeles, through engaging programs, workshops, performances, and cultural events primarily throughout the communities of Los Angeles and Denver. The goal is to provide a platform to educate and cultivate skills in dance, art, and music amongst multiple generations taught by actual practitioners of Hip-Hop with lived and applied knowledge of Hip-Hop culture, to primarily engage Black and Latinx youth and co-partner with BIPOC communities on their terms, to work for equity, help cultivate safe social spaces, self-esteem, awareness, and community stewardship, plus appreciation for diversity, all the while having fun!
About Us
Our Story
Our story solely began from the need to address issues affecting youth who have been impacted by colonization, slavery, oppression, and systemic racist institutions of white-centered learning and injustice. We designed the Fortify Our Rebel Youth (FOR Youth) program to take back our youth and help guide them toward a more prosperous future.
Meet The Team
Tierra Strikes
Los Angeles- Program Manager,
Tierra Strike, also known as Coach T, is a professional dancer and actress from Inglewood, California.
She got her first professional stage opportunity in Mark E. Swinton's musicals "What's Going On" and "Dottie's Holiday". Tierra further developed her acting skills under the guidance of legendary acting coach Dustin Felder (DFAS). She later auditioned and was cast in Motivating Excellence Dance Program's seventh season where she worked with Creative Director Rhapsody James (All American) and (P-Valley's) Nicco Annan. She also choreographed Tammi Mac's one-woman play Bag Lady which won three NAACP Awards.
Tierra is passionate about her work both on and off-stage. She dedicates her time, energy, and love to coaching and mentoring the youth in Los Angeles County through the art of dance, theatre, and production. Currently, she is sharing her experience as a Teaching Artist at No Easy Props and Program Manager- F.O.R Youth Program.
Selene Almeida
Los Angeles- Program Coordinator,
Selene Almeida, also known as B-Girl Sel, is an artist, dancer, and mentor. She began breaking at age 7 in Los Angeles, and by 11, her passion for street dance led her to Culture Shock LA’s after-school program, where she deepened her connection to Hip Hop culture. As a teen, Selene trained with Future Shock LA and Boogiezone Offspring, mastering multiple street dance styles and excelling in performances at venues like The Ford Theatre and competitions such as World of Dance.
Today, Selene has come full circle as the director of Future Shock LA, the youth team she once danced with, and performs professionally with Culture Shock LA.
Selene remains deeply engaged in the Hip Hop community, competing with her breaking crew, Soul Control, and earning recognition at prestigious events like Red Bull BC One.
She has collaborated with brands like Sony and Nike and promotes Hip Hop globally through education, cultural exchange, and arts envoy programs, including projects with the U.S. Consulate in France and the U.S. Embassy in Vienna.
As a mentor, Selene is dedicated to empowering individuals through Hip Hop dance and culture, teaching with organizations such as No Easy Props, Culture Shock LA, and UniverSOUL.
Gil Brace-wessel
Los Angeles- Engagement Coordinator,
Gilyon Brace-Wessel has been teaching and mentoring youth for over 16 years. As a specialized arts instructor, he has taught at schools all over California, as well as several other states in the US. He has also served the US Department of State as a cultural ambassador in Guatemala and Ecuador. As a professional Bboy (breakdancer) and Graffiti Artist, he maintains his professionalism and career development while also staying embedded within the local hip-hop community. Mentoring younger community members has been a long time passion of his, and he’s very proud of the young people that he works with. He can also be seen as a principal actor/dancer in the 2012 film, Battle of the Year.