YOUTH SESSIONS

Youth Sessions was founded by Destinee Manriques, a Mexican American, second-generation creative raised by a single mother after her father was deported.

Growing up, Destinee’s mother worked multiple jobs to provide for her children. Like many families navigating survival, there was little time or money for extracurricular programs especially structured dance spaces. Although Destinee and her siblings were deeply rooted in hip-hop culture, access to formal creative spaces was out of reach. Before even entering high school, Destinee was already working to help support her family.

Hip-hop became her education.

Through music, dance, and community, she learned discipline, expression, and resilience without ever having a space that was built for her to grow. That absence stayed with her.

Youth Sessions was created for the kids who grew up like she did.

What began as weekly dance sessions in public parks and shared spaces became a commitment to show up consistently for youth who lacked access to creative programs. Floors and mats were carried in by hand. Music was powered by borrowed equipment. Families returned week after week not because it was easy, but because it mattered.

As a dancer, artist, and DJ raised within hip-hop culture, Destinee built Youth Sessions to pass that culture forward to offer young people what she never had: a safe, affordable, and intentional space to grow through movement.

Paid In Full Creative Studio is the physical home of that mission.

This studio was built first for Youth Sessions families, and now expands outward to support more youth, families, and creatives across San Diego ensuring that culture, access, and opportunity are no longer temporary or borrowed, but rooted and sustainable for the next generation.

Through music, dance, and community, she learned discipline, expression, and resilience without ever having a space that was built for her to grow. That absence stayed with her.

Youth Sessions was created for the kids who grew up like she did.

What began as weekly dance sessions in public parks and shared spaces became a commitment to show up consistently for youth who lacked access to creative programs. Floors and mats were carried in by hand. Music was powered by borrowed equipment. Families returned week after week not because it was easy, but because it mattered.

As a dancer, artist, and DJ raised within hip-hop culture, Destinee built Youth Sessions to pass that culture forward to offer young people what she never had: a safe, affordable, and intentional space to grow through movement.

Paid In Full Creative Studio is the physical home of that mission.

This studio was built first for Youth Sessions families, and now expands outward to support more youth, families, and creatives across San Diego ensuring that culture, access, and opportunity are no longer temporary or borrowed, but rooted and sustainable for the next generation.

Empowering Youth to Shape Tomorrow