Honor U!
Honor U's Story
Honor U's Story
Honor U was born from both vision and lived experience. In 2017, LaTrice Amanda Strong, founder of Honor U, developed the foundation for what would become a transformative movement while completing her thesis in the Master’s in Educational Leadership program. During her studies, she explored Finland’s education system and was deeply inspired by its student-centered approach and high levels of academic success, achieved without reliance on standardized frameworks like those commonly used in the United States. This experience affirmed what she already knew: no two individuals learn the same way. From that realization, Honor U was created to challenge traditional models of education by embracing multiple intelligences and integrating the performing arts as a powerful tool for learning, identity, and self-expression.
Today, Honor U Performance Arts Academy stands as a non-traditional learning space serving youth and young adults, equipping them with the tools to connect to their highest, most authentic selves. Through dynamic courses, workshops, and seminars, Honor U addresses real-life issues impacting young people, including healthy relationships, intimate partner violence, youth advocacy, teen parenting, prevention, reproductive health, sexual exploitation, life skills, and goal setting. The work is intentional, designed to awaken the mind, body, and spirit while using the arts as a bridge to engagement, healing, and transformation.
As the vision continues to expand, Honor U is proud to introduce Honor U Life Studio, launching in 2026, a natural evolution of its mission. Life Studio extends this transformative approach to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a community-based Day Program focused on independence, life skills, work readiness, and personal development. Rooted in the same core philosophy, Life Studio integrates the arts and real-world experiences to create meaningful pathways for growth, confidence, and community inclusion. This expansion reflects Honor U’s unwavering commitment to serving diverse populations and ensuring that every individual regardless of ability has access to spaces that nurture purpose, dignity, and possibility.
At its core, Honor U has always been and will continue to be a youth-driven and community-centered organization. It was created as a safe haven where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. By fostering authentic dialogue, encouraging self-expression, and building strong connections, Honor U not only supports academic and personal development but also cultivates leadership, civic engagement, and lifelong empowerment.
"What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds."
- Wayne Dyer
Our Mission
Honor U Performance Arts Academy exists to affirm self-worth and empower youth, young adults, and individuals of all abilities to become confident leaders, creators, and contributors to their communities. Rooted in Hip-Hop culture and the performing arts, our work integrates personal development and work readiness to create transformative, real-world learning experiences.
Through acting, music, dance, creative writing, screenwriting, and film, we cultivate creativity while building essential life and professional skills such as communication, self-advocacy, discipline, and teamwork. Our programs are designed to meet individuals where they are, while preparing them for where they are going.
Through Honor U Life Studio, we extend this mission by providing inclusive, community-based programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a focus on independence, life skills, and meaningful engagement. Across all programs, we are committed to awakening the artist, strengthening identity, and equipping every participant with the tools to thrive in life, career, and community.
Our Vision
Our vision is to inspire transformation by guiding individuals to discover, connect to, and fully embody their highest selves, living with purpose, confidence, and intention.