Dr. Ifunanya Nweke, Ed.D, M.N.L.M
Founder & Executive Director - Jazz Hands For Autism
Nonprofit - Education, Workforce Development, Disability Advocacy, Entertainment
N.Nweke@jazzhandsforautism.org
Bio:
Dr. Ifunanya Nweke, Ed.D. is an award nominated Empowerment Engineer and the foremost advocate at the intersection of Entertainment, Education, Workforce Development and Disability Advocacy. Dr. Nweke is the Founder and Executive Director of an innovative and award winning 501c3 nonprofit organization called Jazz Hands For Autism that provides tech-enabled avenues for success for neurodivergent musicians. Ifunanya holds a Bachelors in Anthropology from UCLA, a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership & Management from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (with a concentration in Educational Psychology) from the USC Rossier School of Education. She has been recognized by former California Congresswoman Karen Bass, former California Senator Holly Mitchell, California State Assemblyman Mike Gatto, 43rd District and was honored as one of 40 Emerging Civic leaders in Los Angeles County by the Empowerment Congress
Through her widely highlighted work at Jazz Hands For Autism, Dr. Nweke and her team have served hundreds of individuals on the autism spectrum around the United States, helped create hundreds of employment opportunities and over $50,000 in earnings for neurodivergent creatives.
Dr. Nweke serves as a mentor in various capacities, as a key member of the Foundations Committee of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Recording Academy, as co-chair of the curriculum subcommittee within the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force at USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and also as Member-At-Large (Seat 1) within the Culver City Equity & Human Relations Advisory Committee.
Dr. Nweke has been called to lend her expertise at various conferences and institutions including the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the Art Directors Guild, AFRICON, Trojans For Applied Behavior Analysis, A Supported Life Institute, the College Planning and Transition Conference for Learners who Are Neurodiverse, the GRAMMY Museum, the USC Marshall School of Business, the USC Price School Public of Policy, the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the UC Womxn’s Leadership Conference.
Dr. Nweke is also a singer-songwriter, a published author of a self-help book, “20+ Lessons From My 20s” and was talent orchestrator for the historical Hollywood Bowl show headlined by GRAMMY award winning artist Burna Boy in October 2021.
