Guillermo “Yiyo'' Ornelas | They/them/he/him
Guillermo “Yiyo'' Ornelas is a theater creator, teaching artist, and arts education advocate. As a first-generation Mexican-American, they understand the impact that an arts education can have, especially in vulnerable communities. Yiyo has worked with local communities to encourage youth and their families to foster creative modes of expression, through the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, the Teatro Project, and JumpStart. They have served as Vice-Chair of the Arts Education Alliance of the Bay Area (AEABA) ensuring that arts education be equitable and accessible to all in the community. Prior to coming to the Bay Area they led a weekly theater workshop for runaway and homeless youth in Redlands, California. As an actor, Yiyo has worked with Campo Santo, Fuse, and foolsFury. They have also performed throughout the Bay Area as a dancer with Afro-Peruvian performance company Jaranon y Bochinche. Yiyo holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley, double majoring in Sociology and Theatre & Performance Studies, where they received the Mark Goodson award for ‘Distinguished Artistic Talent.’
Connect with Yiyo: FB/IG @yiyonelas