Opposing Injustice Through Lyrical Arts

Silicon Valley Community Foundation has awarded $2.7 million to 139 organizations, including Lyrical Opposition, through its Community Action Grants program, which provides funding to small local nonprofits working with communities that have historically faced discrimination and lack of access to resources.

“The organizations we're funding through our Community Action Grants do some of the most important work in Silicon Valley, often with the fewest resources,” said Nicole Taylor, President and CEO of SVCF. “They're rooted in the communities they serve, and they know what their neighbors need because they live it. When we back their solutions, we're investing in the people closest to the problems and closest to the answers, creating lasting change that benefits all Silicon Valley residents.”

On June 17, Lyrical Opposition was honored to participate in the release celebration of Manifestation, the inaugural issue of Not Like the Rest, a literary magazine created by and featuring incarcerated Bay Area artists.

Hosted at Medicine for Nightmares in San Francisco, the event brought together artists, writers, advocates, and community members for an evening centered on storytelling, creativity, and collective connection. The gathering provided an opportunity to celebrate the voices of incarcerated creators while fostering meaningful dialogue between artists inside and outside prison walls.

Lyrical Opposition's Fego Navarro joined the evening's program alongside members of the Forced N2 Greatness Collective—Jus' B, Pharaoh Elisha, and Trey Xavier—sharing poetry, reflections, and stories that highlighted the transformative power of art and self-expression. Fego also performed live music, helping to create an atmosphere of healing, inspiration, and community throughout the evening.

Lyrical Opposition was proud to sponsor Voices of the Future: Youth-Led District 10 Supervisor Candidate Forum, an event that empowered young people to lead conversations with candidates for San Francisco's District 10 Supervisor.

As part of our involvement, we helped curate the event's music and were excited to have DJ Hella Good provide the soundtrack for the evening, helping create an engaging and welcoming atmosphere.

We also prepared a voter education segment led by Ashley Budelli of Lyrical Opposition to provide attendees with resources on civic participation. Although the presentation was ultimately cut due to time constraints, we're grateful for the opportunity to contribute and remain committed to expanding voter education through future community events.

Thank you to the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, The HUB, and all of the community partners who made this event possible. It was inspiring to see young leaders ask thoughtful questions, engage directly with candidates, and demonstrate the power of youth-led civic engagement.

We're honored to have played a role in an event that reminded us that when young people lead, our communities grow stronger.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for We Are America at Atelier Show Room in San Bruno. Together, we celebrated an inspiring evening of visual art, poetry, live music, and storytelling that highlighted the diverse voices and experiences that make up our communities.

We are grateful to all the artists, performers, partners, and attendees who helped make this exhibition opening a meaningful and memorable experience. Thank you for showing up, sharing space, and celebrating the power of art to bring people together.

Presented by Atelier for Healing & Lyrical Opposition.

Lyrical Opposition was proud to co-organize with Bridges Bay Area Association and assist in curating the creative experience for MyBLVD: The Journey of an Urban Missionary, an evening centered on purpose, community, and everyday impact.

Working alongside MyBLVD, BaySeed Collective, and Bridges Network, Lyrical Opposition helped shape both the flow and artistic direction of the event—intentionally curating live performances that complemented the message of the night. Bridges Bay Area Association and Lyrical Opposition both featured artists like Son the Gifted and Phresh Air, the performances created moments of reflection, inspiration, and connection that reinforced the call to live on mission.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Spoken Word for Healing & Rejuvenation in celebration of Black History Month at Atelier for Healing.

The evening was filled with powerful stories, heartfelt poetry, meaningful conversations, and moments of reflection that reminded us of the strength, resilience, and creativity within our communities. We are grateful to Pharoah Brooks, Trey Xavier, Jus' B, Antonio López, and Jenny Bonham for sharing their voices and inspiring us all.

Lyrical Opposition was honored to provide audio and sound production for this special gathering, helping create a space where every message could be heard and every story could resonate. Supporting events that promote healing, empowerment, and community connection is at the heart of what we do.

Deville officially screened at the 28th San Francisco Independent Film Festival, and the experience was nothing short of incredible.

From our Friday night showing to Saturday afternoon’s screening, sharing this film with a live audience at the iconic Roxie Theater was a full-circle moment. The energy in the room, the conversations afterward, and the support we felt reminded us why we do this work.

We’re deeply grateful to the festival for creating space for independent voices, and to everyone who showed up, watched, and engaged with Deville. This journey doesn’t stop here—thank you for being part of it.

Lyrical Opposition, which last year celebrated 10 years as a non-profit working to oppose injustice through lyrical arts, announced during Saturday's Artists' Evening of Sharing that their film, Deville, which was 100% edited in their Brisbane studio at 132 Visitacion Ave., has been accepted into the 28th San Francisco Independent Film Festival and will be screening at the iconic Roxie Theater this Friday, February 6th, and Saturday, February 7th!

Brisbane-based filmmaker and musician Fēgo Navarro used similar means to fund and promote his IndieFest short, “Deville” (Feb. 6, 8:30 p.m. and Feb. 7, 1 p.m.). The throwback comedy-drama about SF gang life is based on Navarro’s youth in The Mission.

Navarro turned to his social-media following for funding and to procure music rights. (He personally sought out RBL Posse’s Black C for the use of their classic, “Don’t Give Me No Bammer Weed.”) 

For Navarro, the message is both personal and political.

“Understanding my history and where I come from is really important, it shapes how I see life here,” explains the Salvadoran-American director. “In ‘Deville,’ for a small portion of the film, I reflect on my dad fighting in a civil war and on my own experience trying to survive my environment.

“Like Nina Simone said, ‘An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.’ I want to shine a light on the struggles young people face in the inner city, and I hope the film reaches the people it’s meant to and sparks conversation.” 

What an incredible evening celebrating art, music, and community at Fresh Horizons / Restored to Flourish.

We were honored to be a featured live performance and proud to be part of one of the first public events showcasing the growing partnership between Lyrical Opposition and Atelier for Healing. Together, we're building spaces where creativity, healing, and community can thrive.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Lyrical Opposition Open House in San Bruno.

What started as an afternoon gathering turned into a powerful celebration of art, music, culture, and community. We were honored to welcome friends, artists, organizers, and community members into our creative space to connect, share stories, and experience the vision behind Lyrical Opposition.

From the gallery experience and Re-Entrification Exhibition to the conversations, networking, and live music by Drasmatic, the energy throughout the afternoon reflected the creativity and resilience that lives within our community. Every interaction, every perspective shared, and every new connection made reinforced why spaces like these matter.

On December 13th, Lyrical Assembly hosted its first-ever Blue Christmas Service at 298 San Bruno Ave in Brisbane, CA—a space that had been vacant for most of the year. The night marked not only the first service and event held there in a long time, but also Lyrical Assembly’s first gathering in the space. What was once empty came alive again—with prayer, music, and the presence of a community seeking hope in the midst of hardship.

Lyrical Opposition brought together the Bay Area’s vibrant creative community for a night celebrating vision, storytelling, and connection. This Visual Arts & Film-focused Gallery & Networking event showcased local artists and filmmakers who see the world through unique lenses — and invited attendees to see it with them.

The evening spotlighted a diverse lineup of visionary filmmakers, photographers, and makers — including Aaron Garrette, Ethan Ugalde, Angela Ho, April Crawford, Elfworld, and more — each bringing their own unique lens and storytelling style to the gallery. From cinematic short films to immersive photography and handcrafted works, these local creatives transformed the space into a living conversation about art, perspective, and purpose. Their contributions reflected the event’s theme: that everything we see in the world is the creative work of someone who saw it differently.

This past Sunday, October 26, our very own Ashley Budelli had the honor of being a guest speaker at Oak Life Church, sharing a powerful message titled “Rest as Resistance.”

Ashley invited the community to reimagine rest as a sacred act of resistance—an intentional choice to step away from the noise, the grind, and the pressure to constantly produce. Through her heartfelt words and biblical insight, she reminded us that rest is not idleness but a declaration of faith—trusting that God continues to move even when we pause.

We’re grateful to Oak Life Church for welcoming Ashley and for creating space for such meaningful dialogue around spiritual health, justice, and wholeness.

If you missed it, you can watch her full message here: Rest as Resistance — Ashley Budelli at Oak Life Church

So grateful for everyone who pulled up to our screening of @devillemovie at the iconic @thechabottheater🎬✨
It was amazing to see family, friends, and the community come together to support Bay Area artists and filmmakers.

Big shoutout to @vibelandproductions for sharing Mr. and Ms. Bip, and to @allmothug @elisasoleimusic, @lunajenn.a, and @grando1k for their fire music videos 🔥

Highlighted @thebayareabaddies founded by @gabbyyfrancowho not only acted in our film but also runs our social media 🙌🏽

What a memorable night here’s to many more! 🥂

🎥 @dosa.films

Bay Area creative arts nonprofit Lyrical Opposition was recently featured on Live in the Bay on KRON4, spotlighting its mission to amplify underrepresented voices through music, poetry, film, and other creative forms.

Last week’s Salvadoran Soul Encuentro at Excelsior Sunday Streets came alive with the powerful presence of Fego Navarro, who captivated the crowd through a dynamic fusion of rhythm, poetry, and soul. Blending heartfelt lyrics with cultural storytelling, Fego’s performance celebrated Salvadoran heritage and creative resilience. Audience members cheered and danced as his words resonated with themes of identity, migration, and hope — a fitting close to an afternoon honoring Salvadoran voices and artistry.

On October 11, 2025, Re-Entrification was proudly highlighted and screened at the 4th Annual Flores Film Festival in Sacramento, held at Sheldon High School’s Paula D. Duncan Performing Arts Center. The documentary delivered a powerful and deeply moving exploration of housing displacement in the Bay Area, sharing the stories of families who found refuge in tiny home communities as they reclaimed their right to housing. Through the artistry of spoken word, Re-Entrification illuminated both the challenges and resilience of those most affected by the housing crisis. The evening concluded with a heartfelt Q&A hosted by @intellectuallyhyphy, offering audiences an opportunity to reflect on the film’s urgent message and impact.

What an honor to host an unforgettable evening of poetry, spoken word, and storytelling with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Antonio López, b.anthony.shepperd, and Trey Xavier Watkins.

Grateful to share space with these powerful, system-impacted Bay Area voices and celebrate the art of storytelling through spoken word and dialogue.

On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Lyrical Opposition had the joy of partnering with our local artist friends at Lyrical Vinyl in Brisbane, CA for an unforgettable day of performance and collaboration. We were honored to welcome Janky Band, a powerhouse three-piece punk group rooted right here in Brisbane. Their energy, passion, and community-driven spirit aligned beautifully with our mission—and they absolutely lit up the space.

There was cause for celebration this past Saturday at Mission Blue, as Lyrical Opposition, based in town at 132 Visitacion, marked 10 years as a local non-profit organization. They put on quite a show with "Lyrical Legacy", which was free to the public and included poetry, spoken word, hip-hop, and trailers for their independent short films. Like any non-profit, their work relies on the generous donations of those who support their work. If that's you, you can donate here.

Big thanks to Nixta, Chef Gabriel, and the legendary Jorge Argueta for sharing stories, food, and culture at Radio Habana Social Club in the heart of the Mission.

Representing Lyrical Opposition, Salvadoran artists Luna Jenn and Fego Navarro brought powerful performances that celebrated their roots and uplifted the community through poetry and music.

From the story of The Fiesta of the Pupusas to lyrical verses that moved the crowd, it was a Sunday full of sabor, storytelling, and solidarity.

On June 1, Lyrical Opposition had the honor of closing out a powerful afternoon of poetry at the San Mateo County Fair Poetry Event! This inspiring event brought together past and present County Poet Laureates, youth poets, city representatives, and community voices in a vibrant showcase of spoken word, rhythm, and reflection.

Lyrical Opposition was proud to collaborate with our neighbors in Visitacion Valley and Mission Blue Coffee to present a night of community expression at the Visitacion Valley Open Mic & Community Showcase. Led by Kayla Nachtsheim from Visitacion Valley and held at 99 Leland, the event overflowed with intergenerational creativity, energy, and neighborly love.

Lyrical Opposition had the honor of joining the 2nd Annual Community Day Fest at Downtown High School on Thursday, April 17. From live screen printing to BBQ and outdoor games, the event created a vibrant space for students, families, staff, and community partners to connect, celebrate, and strengthen school spirit. It was a joyful afternoon of belonging, resources, and community-powered fun in the heart of San Francisco.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for 7 Last Poems: The 7 Days of Holy Week at the historic Ruth Williams Opera House! In collaboration with Kairos of San Francisco, New College Berkeley, and Lyrical Opposition, this special Lenten event offered a powerful blend of poetry, music, and spiritual reflection. We’re grateful to the incredible artists—The 7 Last Poets, Bay Worship Collective, and Hope Briggs—for sharing their gifts so bravely and beautifully. Your presence and support made this a memorable gathering. Stay connected, support the artists, and look out for the next 7 Last Poems experience!

On Saturday, April 12th, an afternoon at San Francisco Christian Center, community members gathered for Fight Like Jesus: Waging Peace in the Face of Empire, an New College Berkeley Workshop Retreat co-sponsored by Lyrical Opposition and Kairos San Francisco.