From creative practice to transferable skills and future pathways.
Who We Are
THAX is a Richmond-based youth arts education and creative workforce-development organization. Through theatre, storytelling and other creative practices, THAX helps young people recognize, articulate and apply transferable career-readiness skills.
About the Founder
Mbali Mana Guliwe is the Founder and CEO of THAX. An artist, educator and program builder with more than a decade of youth-centered leadership experience, he connects creative learning with communication, leadership and future pathways. In 2026, Mbali co-presented at the African Theatre Association Conference at Tshwane University of Technology and participated in the conference’s Indaba on Places.
What We Do
The Challenge
Young people build communication, collaboration, adaptability and disciplined practice through creative experiences, but those capabilities are not always recognized or translated into language schools, employers and communities understand.
The
Gap
Creative learning develops capabilities that matter far beyond performance: communication, collaboration, confidence, adaptability, disciplined practice, problem-solving and the ability to present ideas.
THAX
Solution
THAX designs arts-based learning experiences around a partner’s identified youth-development or career-readiness need. We help young people connect creative practice to transferable skills and broader educational, civic and workplace opportunities.
What Makes Us Unique
• Workforce readiness is the outcome, not an add-on.
• Youth agency is embedded in program design.
• Programs are built for schools, community partners,
and justice-aligned settings.
• Artistic excellence is treated as a leadership discipline.
• Our model is designed to scale with standards
and clear evaluation.
Evidence and Learning
THAX measures what a specific engagement can credibly influence. Depending on the program, evidence may include participation and completion information, facilitator observations, participant reflections, self-assessments, work samples and partner feedback. After a pilot, THAX and the partner make an explicit decision to continue, revise, expand, repeat or close the engagement.
Our Programs and Partner Pathways
Future Stars
A developing creative leadership and career-readiness pathway for young adults ages 18–24, combining applied theatre, reflection, showcase work and portfolio artifacts.
Free Writers
A writing, voice and reflection pathway that strengthens self-expression, communication and the ability to articulate transferable skills.
Step-Up
A school- or site-based applied theatre pathway supporting communication, collaboration, confidence and leadership through structured practice.
Little Voices
An early-childhood and caregiver StoryLab pathway supporting language, connection and joyful creative routines.
Current Momentum
THAX is preparing one or more manageable Richmond-area pilot engagements for 2027. Each will be co-designed around a verified partner need, defined participant group, feasible delivery conditions, appropriate safeguards and a practical evidence plan. Our 2026 participation at AfTA in South Africa also continues to inform THAX’s cross-border learning around collaborative creation, place and creative education.
Partner with
THAX
THAX works with institutional partners through a clear progression: discovery, workshop or pilot, evidence review, short series or residency, and longer-term engagement when the results and operating conditions support it.
Support
THAX
THAX grows through both partnerships and investment. If you are a donor, sponsor, employer, or community champion who wants to help fund youth opportunity, scholarships, cohort access, or organization-building infrastructure, visit our fundraising and sponsorship page.
