Misael Martinez

Misael Martinez has over 26 years of experience in the youth development field. His dual-pronged insight and approach to business and artist development combined with a deep commitment to education have earned him recognition and awards by the Lawrence History Center, which selected Martinez as the recipient of the Eartha Dengler Award for his contributions to development, opportunity, and prosperity in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Most recently, Martinez's awards and recognitions include serving as the NAACP Merrimack Valley Chapter 2021 keynote speaker and the 2023 Berklee College of Music Brass Day Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect Award recipient. Martinez's years of contributions to marginalized communities have made him a much sought-after collaborator, and includes work on a global scale. His creative approach, sense of humor, and the deep joy he finds in his work have combined to make Martinez a seasoned visionary and skilled strategist. His experience working in public schools led him to work strictly in nonprofit, grass-roots, and music education programs. He dedicated himself full-time to directing the Hope Street Youth Center, a dynamic, grassroots, performing-arts based nonprofit he founded in 1998, which he renamed Movement City.

Martinez grew the program to serve hundreds of youth annually with an array of music, art, design, and technology-based programs. It is through this program that Berklee City Music established a partnership and Martinez prepared many students from Lawrence, Massachusetts, who later became Berklee City Music full-tuition college scholars. 

He currently serves on the President’s Council at Berklee College of Music, in addition to his role as assistant vice president of social entrepreneurship and creative youth development. As AVP, Martinez is responsible for the development and success of Berklee City Music’s creative youth development, including programming across performing arts, entrepreneurship, and technology production, City Music’s ambassador program, summer scholarships, and initiatives supporting the holistic development of youth and pathways to college. In addition to youth development work, Martinez supports the City Music Advisory Board, Office of the President, and Berklee’s strategies via operations, coupled with overseeing 46 program sites in 39 cities globally. His personal creative entrepreneurial pursuits include serving as the founder and owner of Missobrown, where he also oversees all aspects of the firm’s strategic and creative campaigns. 

In addition to his accolades in the education and entertainment spheres, Martinez is a published author of a spiritual memoir, Beyond: Pain, Love, Purpose, released in May 2024.

Martinez is a bilingual and bicultural Dominican American, and is the proud father of Gilome, Nia, Michac, and Alina. He holds a bachelor's degree in human services management from Lesley University and a master's degree in counseling psychology from Cambridge College.