The Artistry Incentive Mission was launched by Dwayne Miller in early 2016 prompted by the struggles he once faced as a teenager through young adulthood. Coming up in an environment where his parents had split at an early age, he was not provided with the emotional and financial support needed to pursue his own goals and aspirations. This personal experience triggered the strong desire of giving b
ack and providing teenagers with incentives, directions and guidance towards their passion. Dwayne's interest in Performing Arts started early; in his elementary school's orchestra learning to play the viola, violin, cello, and bass. He then moved on to the school band in middle school with the percussion group and finally, the marching band and other performing arts activities while in high school. Even though he had a burning passion for music and dance, due to the lack of mentorship and encouragement he did not find the courage to pursue a career in this field. Instead, he was being told to find his calling in "a typical 9-5" in Corporate America. To this day, the aspiration is still there. Through extensive research, including focus group surveys and discussions with professionals in the education industry, Dwayne was able to determine that his story is a common scenario. The widespread need to help underrepresented high school students change their perception of themselves and reach success in order to inspire future generations is key driver of The Artistry Incentive Mission!
