About Cindy

Art has always been a part of Cindy Young’s life. In earlier days, Cindy could be found performing on stages at Rutgers University, Boston College, University of Connecticut, North Carolina A&T, and the world renowned Cotton Club in New York City. Today, she empowers individuals and organizations to use art to define and work towards their mission, vision, and philosophy.

For over 20 years, Cindy served as the Assistant Director for Special Art Initiatives in Vanderbilt
University’s Office of the Dean of Students where she connected student performing arts organizations with art and service opportunities throughout Nashville and the surrounding communities. In addition to her role as liaison and consultant for student groups, Cindy served as the Artistic and Founding Director for Rhythm & Roots Performance Company, an organization that invites participants and audiences on a journey of self-exploration and community awareness through drama, song, poetry, and dance.

As a testament to her ability to weave performing arts and community action into engaged community leadership, Cindy’s work has extended into the classroom as she serves as consultant and guest lecturer for Narrative Medicine: Stories of Illness and the Doctor-Patient Relationship in the department of Arts and Science and Black Im/migration in the university’s department of African American Studies. In both courses Cindy helps faculty and students incorporate the art of journaling and storytelling to enhance creative engagement and facilitate transformative education. She has presented at the Women in Higher Education of Tennessee Conference and others. She served as the story developer for Tedx Vanderbilt.

An artist as well as educator, Cindy has been featured at the annual Jazz & Blues Festival in Nashville, Tennessee where she and Rhythm & Roots were the opening act for world renowned
saxophone players, Kirk Whalum and David Sanborn. Her piece, "Magic Bird” was featured in Courage Unmasked Tennessee 2014, an art exhibit that showcased radiation masks that were transformed into works of art. The piece was also featured in the September 2014 edition of Nashville Arts Magazine as well as the Lanset Journal of Oncology 2015.

Cindy lives in LaVergne, with her husband and children. Her daughter is her creative partner. The success of the bird masks could not have happened without her.

Cindy Young
Rhythm & Roots
Cindy Young 3
Cindy at IEC 2016