City Hearts team member since 2025

Anna Spyrou is a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, and educator with a diverse background in visual storytelling and design. Originally from Athens, Greece and now based in Los Angeles, Anna brings over a decade of experience in fine arts, graphic design, and film into the classroom. She is passionate about inspiring young people to discover their own creative voice while connecting them to the history of art and contemporary practices.

Her teaching approach blends hands-on practice with art history and contemporary movements, encouraging students to both create and contextualize their work. Beyond her educational work, Anna has written and directed award-winning films screened internationally.

Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design & Visual Communication from the University of West Attiki in Athens, a Diploma in Film Directing (with Distinction) from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a Certificate in Digital Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, and has completed screenwriting courses at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

City Hearts team member since 2023

Ayda Gragossian is an Iranian-American Painter, Photographer, and Author. Her work explores the notions of displacement and impermanence in relation to the urban landscape. In addition to her art practice (which has been exhibited internationally) she has worked as an Art educator at LACMA and the Hammer Museum, mentoring art teachers and young students across underserved communities in Los Angeles.

Most recently, Ayda published her first book, North North South, a photographic exploration of Los Angeles as a constantly shifting, fragmented city shaped by car culture. Through this work, she documents the overlooked spaces, objects, and textures that fade into the background of life in constant motion. Ayda received her B.A. from California State University, Northridge, and her M.F.A. from the University of Oxford.

City Hearts team member since 2024

Caitlin Arndt is a multifaceted theatre artist with a passion for Arts Education. A theatre educator since 2013, her focus is on empowering youth to use their voices, embrace creativity, and take pride in their work. An Actor, Director, and Improvisor who grew up in the Greater Los Angeles area, Caitlin believes in the power of theatre. Her pedagogy is rooted in access to the Arts for all, equity, community, and joy. She has a BA in Performing Arts from Saint Mary's College of California and an MFA in International Theatre Practice and Performance from Rose Bruford College, London UK.

City Hearts team member since 2013

Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and Producer, Calvin Banks has collaborated, performed, and recorded with notable Artists such as Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers, and Big Mountain. In addition to his Artistic endeavors, Calvin is a passionate Teaching Artist sharing his knowledge and inspiring the next generation of musicians by connecting rich grassroots and traditional musical history with powerful social and literary context.

Calvin has established himself as a universal and dynamic performer within the industry. Calvin has released several albums that showcase his unique style and musical prowess, captivating audiences with his soulful melodies and intricate guitar work. Not limited to the music scene, Calvin has also ventured into film, lending his musical expertise to movie credits. His compositions and performances have added depth and emotion to cinematic experiences, further highlighting his Artistic versatility.

City Hearts team member since 2025

An Oakland, California native, Kente has earned a stellar reputation in the Stand-Up Comedy world, performing alongside legends such as Jay Leno, Cedric the Entertainer, Tiffany Haddish, and Earthquake. His career has taken him from the iconic Comedy Store in Hollywood to headlining tours at U.S. military bases in Japan. He's also a regular guest comic on Quake’s House on SiriusXM, part of Kevin Hart’s LOL Network.

As an actor, Kente has appeared in Denzel Washington’s directorial debut Antwone Fisher and starred in Showtime’s critically acclaimed They Call Me Sirr, opposite Oscar nominee Michael Clarke Duncan. His television credits include The Unit, ER, The Parkers, In the Cut, and Half & Half.

Beyond the stage and screen, Kente has brought his dynamic energy to live audiences as a studio warm-up comic for shows like Taraji P. Henson’s White Hot Christmas Special and CBS’ Lip Sync to the Rescue. He has also hosted numerous fundraisers and awards ceremonies for organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Langston Bar Association, and served as keynote speaker for events including the ASOPA/NAOT Convention and Southern California Edison Conference. Kente also holds a B.A. in History from the University of California, Los Angeles.

City Hearts team member since 2022

Lester Purry is one of the country's most highly respected stage Actors. He has performed in regional theatres across the country, including a national tour as Othello in Othello at the world-famous Guthrie Theatre. He is a company member of Penumbra Theatre and has performed all across the country with other prestigious Theatre companies such as Baltimore Center Stage, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Arizona Theatre Company, Portland Playhouse, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Los Angeles Performing Arts Center, and the South Coast Repertory Theatre.

Lester also has taught Acting and Theatre for nearly four decades at Pierce College, the Penumbra Theatre Company, Illusion Theatre, and the Freedom Theatre. His wide range of subjects taught include Voice, Improv, Character Analysis, Monologue, and Scene Study. He was recently seen in a riveting one-man show as Thurgood Marshall in the play, Thurgood, at the Portland Playhouse

City Hearts team member since 2025

A multi-hyphenate, Lydia Robinson is an acclaimed stand-up comedian, coach, writer, and producer. Her first stand-up performance was at the renowned Flappers Comedy Club with the all-women comedy troupe Pretty Funny Women, performing alongside comics Lisa Sundstedt and Felicia Michaels. As a result, she was invited to perform at the Improv, which helped propel her career, leading to an appearance on BET’s Comic View and earning her one of ten slots in the inaugural American Black Film Festival Comedy Wings Competition (where she competed for a talent holding deal with HBO). Her stand-up has also been featured on Netflix Is a Joke Radio on SiriusXM.

Also a creative behind the camera, Lydia has worked in TV and film business affairs at major studios including NBCUniversal, BET, Fox Searchlight, and currently Netflix.

City Hearts team member since 2025

A 2026 Lin-Manuel Miranda Family Fellow, Nate B. Smith is a Los Angeles–based multi-hyphenate artist and a proud South Bay native. He grew up near many of the communities City Hearts serves and is excited to return to the region to inspire and mentor young artists. 

He has originated roles in multiple world premieres, including Motherloss at Potiker Theatre (La Jolla Playhouse), Half Sibling Play at Shank Theatre (La Jolla Playhouse), Open Your Eyes at Forum Theatre (La Jolla Playhouse), and If I Awaken in Los Angeles at The Ford Theater. Other credits include N (West Coast Premiere) at Point Loma Playhouse, as well as Amélie and Spring Awakening at El Camino Community College.

Nate has trained with notable figures such as Forrest McClendon and Kara Mack, and collaborated with renowned artists including rapper Snoop Dogg, actress/director Gina Belafonte, musician Derrick Hodge, and the LA Philharmonic. He holds a BA in Theatre from UC San Diego, where he also completed extensive coursework in dance.

City Hearts team member since 2025

A standout in the L.A. comedy scene and nationally recognized performer, Ron brings exceptional talent, heart, and experience to City Hearts as our first-ever Resident Teaching Artist (a milestone in our 40-year history).

A “Paid Regular” at The Comedy Store and host of Chocolate Sundaes at the Laugh Factory, Ron is a fixture at two of the most iconic comedy stages in the world. His credits include Insecure, Key & Peele, Kevin Hart Presents: The Next Level, and series regular roles on Nickelodeon’s Cousins for Life and ALLBLK’s Partners in Rhyme. He also earned an Emmy for his work on Season 2 of CNN’s United Shades of America.

Beginning this 25-26 school year, Ron will lead limited-time workshops and Masterclasses mainly through our Wilson ’n William Theatre Program, including City Hearts’ first-ever Stand-Up Comedy training, plus comedic acting and multi-cam performance.

City Hearts team member since 2023

Roy is an accomplished Actor, Writer, and Director whose career spans film, television, and theatre. He has appeared in more than 35 projects across major platforms such as NBC, ABC, CBS, Netflix, Hulu, and BET, and notably starred as the lead in The Lord of All Future Space & Time, which had its World Premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. A passionate storyteller and collaborator, Roy has produced his own short films and frequently supports emerging talent through independent projects.

He studied acting at Truthful Acting Studios, Orlando’s premier conservatory for film and theatre, where he earned a certificate in the Meisner Acting Technique, and he also pursued studies at Full Sail University in Orlando, FL.