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.”

This Juneteenth, Lyrical Opposition was honored to be a part of and co-curate River of Life Ministries and New Community Leadership Foundation’s Christian Hip-Hop Showcase as part of the Sunnydale Juneteenth Block Party in San Francisco.

Juneteenth is a celebration of liberation, resilience, and community, and we were grateful for the opportunity to help shape a program that reflected those values through music, faith, and culture.

Working alongside the organizers, we helped curate a lineup that highlighted both established and emerging voices in Christian hip-hop, creating space for artists to share messages of hope, purpose, and transformation. The showcase featured performances from members of the Lyrical Opposition artist roster alongside fellow artists Dez Mac, Fego Navarro, Bxcause, I Am_Rahda, Phresh Air, and King Lexodus.

Our artists brought powerful performances that celebrated faith while speaking to the realities, joys, and possibilities within our communities. Throughout the afternoon, music became a vehicle for connection, reminding everyone in attendance that art has the power to inspire, heal, and unite.

We're thankful to River of Life Ministries and New Community Leadership Foundation for trusting Lyrical Opposition to help co-curate this year's showcase and for investing in artists who use their voices to uplift their communities.

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.

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 was proud to be part of Jingle & Mingle, a holiday celebration that brought together Sunnydale neighbors, volunteers, families, and future local businesses for an evening centered on community, connection, and joy.

Our team helped create an interactive space by bringing vinyl records, community games, and Lyrical Opposition merchandise, giving attendees opportunities to connect, play, and enjoy music throughout the evening. Alongside live jazz, hot chocolate from Bold City Coffee Co., sweet treats from Noonies, beautiful floral arrangements by Rosita de Colombia, and holiday family portraits, the event captured the warmth of the season and the excitement surrounding the continued growth of Sunnydale.

It was especially inspiring to celebrate alongside the youth from Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, dedicated Mercy Housing staff, and Wells Fargo volunteers, whose energy and support helped make the evening possible.

We're grateful to have contributed to an event that reflected our mission of building joyful, creative spaces where community can gather, connect, and thrive. We look forward to continuing to support Sunnydale as it grows.

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