URGEWORKS, based in Houston, TX, formed in 2004 when ensemble leader, Chris Gamez, linked up with dance partner Mario Jaramillo, and rapper / entrepreneur Bobby Herring. After seeing they shared a common vision to impact youth in a positive way and realizing this was an “urgent work” that was desperately needed, they created URGEWORKS. Individually, their performance experience dates back to the mid 1990’s. They have performed in schools, churches, theaters, competition events, nightclubs, prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, drug/rehab treatment centers, and other venues all across the United States. In 2005, they partnered with the U.S. Embassy and performed in foreign countries as U.S. diplomats representing the American culture. URGEWORKS Outreach operates under the umbrella of Houston ARTreach, a subsidiary of Katy ARTreach, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission to serve the underprivileged. URGEWORKS Outreach focuses primarily on youth at-risk, offering positive messages via urban performance arts. They believe that because of their first hand experience in dealing with life’s tough challenges and difficult choices, they can positively affect the lives of troubled youth through sharing their testimonies and talents.