Jennie Velez

Jennie Velez is a born-and-raised Stockton native. Her love for the arts began at a young age through art classes downtown, and gradually shifted to performing in high school. With encouragement, Jennie has appeared in local productions including Rocky Horror Picture Show with the former theatre company ShowBiz and RENT with Stockton Civic Theatre, and has also performed with the local nonprofit dance troupe Anapa Nui.
 

In 2015, Jennie spent a year working with a nonprofit then called New York City Relief (now City Relief). During that time, Jennie served in neighborhoods including the Bronx, Harlem, and Midtown Manhattan: serving soup, providing resources, and, most importantly, building relationships with friends on the street. This experience deepened Jennie’s commitment to supporting people experiencing poverty and houselessness, and she hopes to bring that same sense of community and humanitarianism back home to Stockton.
 

Jennie discovered a passion for fashion and makeup during the 2020 lockdown. After sharing her looks on social media, Jennie honed her skills and formed partnerships with companies and local businesses like Fashion Ave and Dermalogica. They served as Assistant Makeup Designer for Stockton Civic Theatre’s production of Beauty and The Beast and as Costume and Makeup Designer for The Shared Light Collective’s production of Rocky Horror Picture Show.
 

With The Shared Light Collective, Jennie hopes to help cultivate a culture of inclusivity, acceptance, and kindness.