About Miguel – Founder of the Street of Dreams Project for the Arts

For more information on Miguel Braganza’s portfolio, please click here.

In 2006, after a successful 20-year career as a musical theater actor, Miguel began volunteering for the City of New York through Wyndham and the Coalition, dedicating his time to helping at-risk children and youth in Harlem, the Bronx, and across New York City.

By 2010, Miguel had redirected his passion toward a more personal mission: connecting second- and third-generation Filipino-Americans in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) to their cultural roots. Through music, dance, and theater, he envisioned creating a bridge between young Fil-Ams and their ancestral homeland, encouraging a deeper appreciation for Filipino heritage and identity.

Sharing Musical Theater Across Borders

In the same year, Miguel began traveling regularly to the Philippines to share the craft and discipline of American musical theater with children and young people across the country. His workshops quickly grew beyond performance technique, integrating lessons on youth empowerment, character formation, good manners and right conduct (GMRC), education, respect, discipline, and talent development.

Though the initiative was not yet formalized, Miguel operated under what he would soon call the Street of Dreams—a vision of using the arts as a tool for transformation.

Establishing the Street of Dreams Project for the Arts

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miguel focused on formally organizing the project. In 2021, Street of Dreams Project for the Arts – Philippines was officially incorporated and later obtained its status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

While based in New York, Miguel continued conducting workshops and directing stage productions with strong Filipino cultural themes. He split his time between the U.S. and the Philippines, funding most of the outreach himself, supported occasionally by small donations from friends and allies.

Despite limited resources, Miguel pressed on with programs like:

  • “How to Be Better Filipinos” – Outreach in the Philippines focused on character development, national pride, and values formation.
  • “The Making of a Triple-Threat Performer” – Training young talents in singing, dancing, and acting with professional discipline.
  • “Finding the Roots” – A cultural education initiative in the U.S. targeting second- and third-generation Filipino-Americans, helping them connect with their identity through the arts.

Inclusive Outreach and Cultural Collaboration

Miguel’s mission extends across social, cultural, and economic divides. In the Philippines, he works with children and youth from all backgrounds—including Muslim Filipinos and indigenous communities. He has built partnerships with schools, organizations, and local government units (LGUs), advocating for initiatives such as:

  • “Library in the Park” – A youth-focused public reading and learning space.
  • Centers for the Arts – Creative hubs in local communities.
  • Community Theaters – Accessible venues to showcase and nurture local talent.

Through it all, Miguel holds fast to one belief:

“Every child deserves their own spotlight.”

With the Street of Dreams Project for the Arts, that spotlight becomes not just a stage—but a path to empowerment, pride, and possibility.