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.
RTSB LEADS
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
RTSB17 Lead Coordinator
AKA: humanBING, Go Bing Go, Mentos the Freshmaker
IG handle: @gobinggo.info
Short Bio: Event Coordinator. Community Organizer. Basketball Aficionado. MCU Fanboy. New K-Pop Stan. Hip Hop Practitioner. Competitive By Nature. Father of Two Crazy, Fun and Amazing Kids. RTSB Vet.
He loves putting together events and mastering / memorizing every nuance of those events he produces. He loves the pre-production, the setting of timelines, and the rollercoaster ride of helming an event. He loves it even more being a part of an event like Rock The School Bells that has the power to change lives for the betterment of the students attending the conference and even those who are part of it mentoring the youth to take that next positive step towards the future.
One trait I possess that helps us unite those around us? My relentlessness and never ending energy. For any event that I'm a part of, I am always willing to be there first and leave last. I am willing to do countless hours of work for the betterment of the event because I know people will leave it with wonderful memories, inspiration, and even the connections made from countless meetings, back and forth text messages, and the frenziness of a youth conference.
How can Hip Hop help bring us together as a people? As someone that has traveled to different countries across the world, Hip Hop has touched every part of the globe. Even though we all speak different languages, come from different upbringings, and have different experiences, we can all connect with the Graff Artist creating mind blowing art, the DJ controlling the party, the breakdancer that amazes us with their physical feats, and the Hip Hop Music that brings us all together at a show, at a club, or even for a purpose.
Alexandra "Alex" Urbina
Marketing / Social Media Co-Lead
AKAs: AYEEYOUDOPE
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: College of San Mateo, Promise Scholars Program. TikTok/IG: Ayeeyoudope
Bio: I am a first generation Latina from San Francisco. I am a Promise Scholars Counselor at College of San Mateo and an advisor at SF State's Metro College Success Program. I am passionate about supporting students and creating beautiful experiences for my community. Besides being an educator, I like curating my expressive ideas through makeup and photoshoots.
Joseph Jaballa
Marketing/Social Media Co-Lead & Volunteer Coordination Lead
AKAs: JAYBALLA, Jaballa
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: IG/TikTok @jaaayballa
Bio: Joseph Jaballa was born and raised in the Bay Area and currently serves in higher education as the lead coordinator for Counseling @ Skyline College. Aside from work, he is also a social media creative who rocks with everything fitness & fashion-related.
- One trait we possess that helps us unite those around us? One trait that I possess that unites those around me is my energy. Good energy brings in positive relationships into everything I do. Creating a welcoming environment allows me to uplift my team and lead them in our impactful work as educators.
- How can Hip Hop help bring us together as a people? Hip Hop brings us together because music is the universal language. You can be vibing to a song surrounded by strangers at a concert, in the company of friends or alone in your car. Hip-hop consistently serves as a bridge, connecting you with others regardless of the setting.
Marisa Thigpen
Skyline College Resource Fair Coordinator
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: Skyline College
Bio: Marisa is a San Francisco Bay Area native, having lived in SF, Concord and SSF throughout her life. Marisa spent three years in her 20s living in Germany and Austria learning German and teaching English and worked for many years within the CSU system at SFSU, CSU Channel Islands and Sonoma State. She’s been a part of the Skyline College Learning Communities program, supporting the CIPHER Hip Hop Learning Community and others since 2015.
David “D4” Nguyen
Website / DESIGN TEAM LEAD
AKAs: D4
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: D4 Music Marketing
Bio: Based in Sacramento, David "D-4" Nguyen is a project and marketing manager for music artists such as Lyrics Born, 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.
RTSB SQUAD
Mandy Lucas
Conference Logistics and Workshop Support
AKA: Mandizzle
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: Skyline College Promise Scholars Program
What's one Hip Hop song you feel could help unite us as a people? If I Ruled the World - Nas ft Lauryn Hill
Bio: I identify as Chicana and Pinay, and as a first-generation college graduate and professional. I am a Promise Scholar Program Counselor at Skyline College. I am an advocate and educator focused on creating equitable and social-justice programs that predominantly serve first-generation, low-income, students of color. In my off time, you can catch me playing volleyball or softball, traveling, hiking, camping, eating, dancing, or chillin’ with friends and family.
Jayde Tijero
Marketing/Social Media Committee Member
AKA: JB by my Grandmother Olivia :)
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: Mills High School
What's one Hip Hop song you feel could help unite us as a people? "Empire State of Mind" Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
Bio: I'm a first generation Chilipina (Chicana + Filipina) from the Central Valley of California. Currently, a school counselor at Mills High, trying to make school fun for everyone! I love to do all activities at the beach: run, read, hike!
Brianna Clay-Fuller
Volunteer Committee Member
Group Affiliations, Businesses, etc: Skyline College
Bio: I am a Full-Time Counselor for the TRiO, Promise and Project Change special populations, along with being the co-advisor for Black Student Union. During my "off" time, I am an assistant basketball coach for an AAU travel team; along with being a mother of 2 beautiful children.
Andy Casas
Social Media Marketing and Volunteer
AKA: Andy
What's one Hip Hop song you feel could help unite us as a people? For my people - Joey Badass
Kim Davalos
Registration and Vendors Coordinator
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.