The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) employed Bobby Sanabria and Oxil Febles as staff members. Through the collaboration, the artists pursued and developed their own artistic aspirations, and built key staff capacity in pivotal years for the Bronx Music Heritage Center as they expanded into their new venue, the Bronx Music Hall (BMH). Bobby and Oxil put their formidable expertise, energy, and endurance behind WHEDco, helping drive forward efforts to represent the Bronx Music Heritage Center internally and externally, forge and strengthen partnerships with NYC cultural and community organizations, present diverse and engaging cultural programming, and build momentum behind ramping up operations at the Bronx Music Hall. Bobby created a new clave class partnership program with the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, set the foundation for a youth ensemble, and performed with his big band at the inaugural event in the Bronx Music Hall lobby. Oxil connected with building residents, WHEDco’s family support and youth programs, and community members to engage them in holistic artistic and wellness programming, leveraging and creating new programmatic synergies.

The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco)’s mission is to create and bridge access in the South Bronx to resources that support thriving neighborhoods—from sustainable, affordable homes, high-quality early education and after-school programs, to fresh, healthy food, cultural programming, and economic opportunity. They emphasize the arts through all of their programs and through the Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC) at the BMHC Lab cultural space, as well as the Bronx Music Hall performance venue and community arts center.