Creative Identity

Executive Director

George J. Gilliam who is a Registered Music Therapist and jazz guitar recording artist, is the founder and Executive Director of Creative Identity and serves as the Musical Director of Creative Identity. Mr. Gilliam received his Bachelor's of Liberal Arts from Xavier University in New Orleans in 1981, and in 1992 earned his Certification in Music Therapy from California State University, Long Beach. He has served adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southern California as a music therapist since 1992 and was the program director of Hope University, the first creative-arts therapy facility in Orange County for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He founded Creative Identity in 1996 with the vision of assisting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve a higher degree of independence and reach their creative potentials as productive and contributing members of society.

Program Director

Dr. Cynthia Smith has been with Creative Identity since 2000, and currently serves as the Program Director. Dr. Smith received her Bachelor's in Music with an emphasis in Music Therapy from Chapman University. In 2011, she received her PhD from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Depth Psychology. She is a Board Certified Music Therapist and an internationally renowned fretted dulcimer recording artist, singer, songwriter, and arranger of traditional British Isles music. She is a much sought after clinician, performing and teaching the fretted dulcimer at universities and events across the nation, including the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In 1994, she co-founded the Southern California Dulcimer Heritage and that same year co-founded The Harvest Festival of Dulcimers in Southern California, where she served as the Artistic Director for 12 years. Her doctoral dissertation entitled Music, Myth, and Soul Tending, brought Music Therapy into the discussion of Depth Psychology as a modality for tending soul and psychological harmonization.

Transportation Manager

Mike Grimes has been with Creative Identity since 2011. He transports participants Monday-Friday to the program, the Pride Singers and the Pride Band to their performances, and leads classes for our participants in exercise and fitness.

Art Instructor

Dillen Le received a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in a Fine Art / Illustration hybrid major from the Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, in 2013. He has instructed expressive arts at Creative Identity since January 2016. Dillen has previously worked as a children's art teacher and a professional framer.

Music Instructor

Victor Vedoy joined Creative Identity’s music department in 2019. Victor is a Board Certified Autism Technician (BCAT) and received a Bachelors in Music, emphasis in Saxophone and Jazz Studies, from California State University at Long Beach in 2017. He previously worked with children on the autism spectrum and is also a private music instructor and performing musician.

Administrative Assistant

Ann Chieng has been working at Creative Identity as an Administrative Assistance since January 2020. She previously worked with the City of Anaheim.

Secretary

Taylor Gomez has been working at Creative Identity as an Administrative Assistant since September 2024. She has previous experience working as a student advisor. She received her bachelor's in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University, Fullerton.

Art Instructor

Rhea Patel is a 2020 graduate of Laguna College of Art and Design where she received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Character Animation. She has previously worked as a children's art instructor and brings a diverse art instruction background. Rhea has instructed expressive arts at Creative Identity since February 2020.