PASHON (Performing Arts School Honoring One Nation) is inclusive, diverse, and professional in providing quality arts education and productions to urban, at-risk, and developmentally challenged youth in our local communities.

Diversity – We celebrate our differences and provide a learning environment that is free of discrimination and that is responsive, understanding, open and fair.   
Community – We are dedicated to enriching the lives of local youth by instilling teamwork and responsibility through working together as an ensemble.
Quality – We use proven California VPA standards based curriculum to develop acting and theatre skills, promote literacy, and increase overall academic achievement.  All PASHON Teaching Artists are committed to teaching with integrity and professionalism.
Fun – We are committed to nurturing and encouraging imagination and creativity in a safe and welcoming atmosphere.

PASHON promotes a nation unified in diversity through arts education and performance programs. We believe arts education stimulates the imagination, develops self-esteem, advances academic achievement, and encourages openness towards self, others, and the environment through various creative experiences.  Such awareness allows for healthier alternatives to life’s daily choices and develops responsible citizens. We believe that given the opportunity, each student can create, learn and achieve excellence.

The summer of 2000 marked the inception of PASHON (Performing Arts School Honoring One Nation) when two multi-cultural artists realized the need for life changing arts education programming in similar communities from which they came.  Sanseria Murrayand Leo Vargas, with vast industry credits individually throughout the US and abroad, joined forces in Los Angeles to create an organization that would ignite creativity through the performing and creative arts. This pair has collectively created and taught arts education curriculum and/or performed educational theatre in the following schools and communities:

High Schools: Belmont High School and Fairfax High School (LAUSD)
Intermediate/Middle Schools: Bella Vista, La Merced, Macy, and SUVA (Montebello USD)
Elementary Schools:  Cheremoya, Loren Miller, Odyssey Charter and Westport Heights (LAUSD), Lawndale (Lawndale Elementary SD),
Pasadena Christian School (Pasadena Unified SD), Tracy (Baldwin Park USD)
Universities: Loyola Marymount Univ. (LMU) and Univ. of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
Faith based organizations: City of Refuge (San Pedro), Miracle Theatre (Inglewood), Marina Christian Fellowship (Marina Del Rey),
Hermon Community Church (North East LA), Light and Life Goleta (Santa Barbara County)
Community organizations:  Westchester Senior Center, David Gonzalez Probation Camp (Calabasas)

PASHON has served hundreds of ethnically and socio-economically diverse students and families in and around the Los Angeles area to include behaviorally challenged youth.

2010:  Summer Drama Camp launched at Hermon Community Church in North East Los Angeles
2001: 2007:  Annual “Walk With Me” production at UCLA’s Academic Advancement Program for incoming freshman and transfer students
2005:  PASHON Founders wrote and produced original Gospel Musical “Grace Ave.” at Marina Christian Fellowship in West Los Angeles 
2004: PASHON partners with the Free Methodist Church of Southern California as guest speakers, instructors of drama workshops and directors of culminating performance at Oak Glen Christian Conference Center in Yucaipa
2003: PASHON partners with PeaceQuest Theatre Group for the Annual PeaceDay event at Santa Monica High School
2002: PASHON partners with Capitol records for the re-recording of Freda Payne’s 1971 hit song “Bring The Boys Home” in honor of the lost lives of 9/11 and the families left behind. 
2001: PASHON partners with PeaceQuest Theatre Group for the Annual PeaceDay event at the 32nd St. USC Magnet School
2001:  PASHON creates and launches its first arts education curriculum for youth and adults at the City of Refuge, formerly Greater Bethany Community Church, in South Central Los Angeles