Gianna Rodriguez is a Baltimore-based educator and artist. She is the founding director of Baltimore Youth Arts (BYA), a creative training program focused on youth in the justice system. For the past eight years, BYA has worked with over 1,400 young people and employed more than 160 apprentices. Over the last 14 years, Gianna has focused on developing creative programming strategies that promote economic empowerment, youth development, and awareness of mass incarceration. Gianna received a B.A. from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, and an M.A.Ed from Goddard College in Plainfield, VT. For her work with BYA, she has received fellowships from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation and Open Society Institute - Baltimore. Her work has been featured in the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Magazine, City Paper, Baltimore Beat, Baltimore Fishbowl, TasteMade, Bmore Art Magazine, and Woman's Day. She was named a Baltimore Visionary by Baltimore Magazine and named a 40 under 40 by the Baltimore Business Journal. Gianna is a Salzburg Global Fellow.