Meet Pierre Ivan Arreola of The GR818ERS and AWOKE in San Fernando Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pierre Ivan Arreola.

Pierre Ivan (a.k.a. Pierre Boogie) is a Hip-Hop artist and community advocate from Pacoima, CA with 7+ years of organizing locally and globally. As a youth, Pierre came together with his friends to form “The GR818ERS” (pronounced ‘great-one-eighters’), a positive community movement utilizing Hip Hop culture to uplift and empower their community. While studying Sociology at Brown University, he was awarded the Royce Sport and Society Fellowship and the C.V. Starr Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship to build the capacity of The GR818ERS as a force in social development through the arts and athletics. Since then, The GR818ERS have continued to build relationships with community leaders to create programming opportunities in Los Angeles County and around the world. He was awarded the Impact Maker to Watch in 2016 Award for his dedication to community development efforts in the City of Los Angeles and beyond.

Currently, he is an ACTIVATE Fellow with Arts for LA and is working with the network he has fostered through The GR818ERS to establish “AWOKE”, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and supporting similar community development efforts globally. All the while, he continues his journey spreading hope, justice, and understanding as a Hip Hop educator, legal aid advocate and socially conscious artist.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Growing up in a low income household in an underprivileged community, I knew that I would have to work that much harder to build a social network capable of sustaining my community efforts. However, as a son of Latino immigrants I recognized at an early age that I had lots of cultural equity of which I can draw from to create, inspire and empower. Since my senior year in high school, I have leveraged my experience as a first generation Mexican-Salvadorean American to create opportunities for my peers to engage in socially-conscious dialogue and cultural exchange. These platforms have afforded me the ability to assemble like-minded change makers that are dedicated to continuing the collective movement developed through our efforts known as The GR818ERS. As a grassroots community organizer transitioning into the nonprofit world, the constant challenge is making and maintaining relationships. However, by staying true to my roots I continue to be blessed in meeting impactful partners that help support my work.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
AWOKE was founded in 2017 by Eric “Roxswift” Chapman, Lorenzo “Devious” Chapman, and Pierre “Pierre Boogie” Arreola. The trio initially came together in 2010 during their senior year in high school as “The GR818ERS” (pronounced ‘great-one-eighters’), a grassroots organization dedicated to improving racial and cultural tensions in the San Fernando Valley, CA and beyond. They organized themselves in an effort to combat the negative stereotypes they fell victim to as natives of Pacoima, a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles riddled with gangs, drugs and violence. Harnessing their raw talent, creative genius and passion for Hip Hop and urban culture, the trio rallied their peers to provide positive outlets for youth, adults and families alike to grow and interact with their community. As a positive community movement, The GR818ERS encourages civic engagement through public and private partnerships to implement culturally relevant programming and community development projects. AWOKE was born from the work of The GR818ERS and supports the work of similar organizations locally and globally.

From its inception, The GR818ERS began organizing with citywide efforts to bring families together, such as the City of Los Angeles’ Summer Night Lights program. The mission remained the same while more dancers, artists, and musicians from around the world became interested in the grassroots organization that was making a big name for itself in California and on stages across the globe. The founding members of The GR818ERS have become synonymous with the foundations of modern Hip Hop culture and are regarded as neighborhood heroes. Members of The GR818ERS perform and compete internationally, teach various audiences in different capacities, organize and manage cultural events, and have been featured in television, movies and music videos. The City Council of Los Angeles, California State Assembly and United States Congress recognize The GR818ERS as a driving force in youth development across Los Angeles County and beyond. The amalgamation of seven years of experience studying and exploring Hip Hop and urban culture in various contexts has given way to AWOKE.

AWOKE organizes and implements community development projects, arts and athletics programming, and cultural events to empower youth and young adults to become leaders in their community. AWOKE offers a multidimensional platform for community development, which fuses culture, creativity, and service. AWOKE engages scholars, artists, athletes, and community members as educators, mentors and change makers by connecting them to meaningful service opportunities in their community. Through culturally relevant programming, AWOKE aims to improve access to the arts and athletics, increase civic engagement, and foster positive youth development. To that effect, AWOKE intends to develop cross-sector partnerships across the globe to address social justice issues by embracing the creative spirit. Through intergenerational and intercultural exchange, AWOKE envisions a world anchored in the principles of collaboration and cultural equity.

What were you like growing up?
Interestingly enough, although my work currently is closely associated with Hip Hop culture, I grew up listening to Rock and Metal. I was an extremely curious kid and enjoyed the outdoors. My father would take me hiking from time to time and I would take the time to examine every flower and insect I came across. I didn’t have many friends, but had my fair share of acquaintances. I usually kept to myself in school because I didn’t have a way of expressing how I felt inside. When I joined the school band in middle school and began playing music I felt I had found my voice. I was a smart kid and wasn’t shy about speaking in class, but I was never able to connect with others on an emotional level until music liberated me. I went on to play keyboard, tuba, bass, and guitar throughout my middle school years. In high school, I didn’t join the school band because I had a lot going on at home. Luckily, however, I took a risk my sophomore year by accepting a dare from a friend and joined the wrestling team. Wrestling taught me lessons of discipline, perseverance, and resilience that have stuck with me throughout my journey, and will continue to bear fruits through my legacy. While the arts liberated me and helped me find my voice, wrestling unlocked a belief in myself and in human potential that continues to guide my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thegr818ers.com
• Phone: 818-421-7299
• Email: the.gr818ers@gmail.com

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