President
Brandon Santiago is a San Francisco-raised Puerto Rican artist, cultural strategist, filmmaker, and producer with a global presence as an educator, performer, and speaker. After overcoming the challenge of dropping out of high school, he went on to attend the University of San Francisco, where he discovered a deep passion for education through the performing arts—including theater, film, and spoken word.
Brandon has served as an executive leader in multiple internationally recognized organizations, where he has developed innovative programs and creative partnerships at the intersection of storytelling, media, and culture. His leadership includes executive producing award-winning international short films in Iceland as well as projects featured on HBO, Hulu, the Criterion Collection, and in major international festivals.
As a Program and Executive Director, Brandon has designed and led dynamic programs that bridge education, performance, and media. He executive-produced the world’s largest international youth poetry festival, Brave New Voices (HBO), and played a pivotal role in launching award-winning, issue-based campaigns across the U.S. on topics ranging from public health to school reform and environmental sustainability. With a deep background in critical pedagogy and creative production, he has built immersive learning models, multi-city residencies, national media labs, and high-impact cultural convenings that center storytelling as a tool for connection and transformation. His programs have empowered artists, educators, and emerging creatives across the U.S. and in communities around the world.
Brandon also directed and produced a PBS documentary that follows high school students using spoken word to explore identity, community, and the power of storytelling.
As a performer and speaker, he has appeared on stages including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, TEDx, and Univision’s Despierta América. Whether performing poems, facilitating workshops, or leading public conversations, Brandon’s work centers on connection, critical imagination, and cultural impact.
He currently serves as President of The Peace Studio, where he leads efforts to support storytellers, artists, and journalists in using their craft to build a more compassionate and connected world.