Janis Matero Arts Scholarship
The Janis Matero Arts Scholarship Fund is a YouthBuild Charter School of California arts scholarship, which aims to celebrate the life of our founder Phil Matero’s sister and is awarded to students pursuing a higher education in the arts. Any donation is gratefully accepted.
Scholarship Recipient Highlight: Kenny Altamirano
Kenny Altamirano is an educator, creative leader, and nonprofit founder dedicated to expanding access to arts, media, and technology education. He is also a proud Janis Matero Arts Scholar, an experience that helped shape his creative journey and deepened his belief in the power of art to transform lives and communities.
A proud graduate of YouthBuild Lennox (Class of 2011), Kenny’s journey reflects his deep commitment to community empowerment, second-chance opportunities, and youth development. He holds Career Technical Education (CTE) credentials in Manufacturing and Animation, combining hands-on technical training with creative innovation.
His leadership is deeply rooted in mentorship and lived experience. Alex Lima, Director of Bridge, serves as one of Kenny’s mentors, alongside Mr. Aaron, his math teacher since 2011 who continues to mentor and guide him to this day, and Ms. Valencia, his mentor in Career Technical Education. Each has played a pivotal role in shaping his growth as an educator and community leader.
As the founder of Ctrl+Create Studio, Kenny creates pathways into the creative economy for young people and underserved communities through digital arts, film, mural arts, graphic design, and digital literacy. His work bridges creativity and career readiness, equipping students with real-world technical skills, creative confidence, and entrepreneurial thinking.
In addition to leading Ctrl+Create Studio, Kenny co-directs a small pilot program alongside his mentor Alex Lima, focused on expanding access to creative education and community-based programming. He also serves as a Board Member of Education Forever, further advancing equitable educational opportunities and long-term student success.
Through mentorship, strategic partnerships, and innovative curriculum design, Kenny continues to build sustainable, community-centered spaces where art, technology, and opportunity intersect , because he believes that when young people are given the tools to create, they build more than art; they build futures.