We recently connected with Michael Dergar and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
One of the biggest risks I have ever taken was leaving my home in Mazatlán, Mexico, more than 28 years ago to pursue a better future in the United States. It was not simply a move to another country—it meant leaving behind my family, my friends, my culture, and everything that was familiar to me.
At the time, I had no guarantees of success. I arrived with dreams, determination, and the hope that hard work would create opportunities that were not available to me back home. Like many immigrants, I faced uncertainty, financial challenges, language barriers, and the emotional pain of being separated from the people I loved most.
I never questioned whether I had made the right decision or not. I had wonderful people that helped me on the way and I am eternally grateful! To all of them thank you! Building a new life from the ground up required resilience, patience, and faith. Every step forward came with sacrifices, but I remained focused on creating a better future for myself and my family at the same time making a positive impact in my community.
Looking back, that risk changed the entire course of my life. It allowed me to build a career in education, serve individuals with disabilities, and eventually found The Academy of Special Dreams Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting inclusion and recognizing the talents of artists with disabilities around the world. Through this journey, I have had the privilege of helping hundreds of artists gain visibility, confidence, and opportunities they may not have otherwise received.
The risk of leaving Mexico was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made, but it also became one of the most rewarding. It taught me that growth often begins outside our comfort zone and that taking a leap of faith can open doors to possibilities we never imagined. Today, I am grateful for the sacrifices, lessons, and opportunities that came from that decision, and I carry those experiences with me in everything I do.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
My name is Michael Dergar, and I am an international artist, educator, entrepreneur, a proud Rotarian and the Founder and CEO of The Academy of Special Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting inclusion and recognizing the creative talents of artists with disabilities around the world and LA Art LLC.
My journey began in Mazatlán, Mexico, where I developed a passion for art at an early age according to my Mother Virginia RIP. More than 28 years ago, I made the difficult decision to leave my family and immigrate to the United States in search of greater opportunities. That decision became one of the defining moments of my life and ultimately shaped both my personal and professional mission.
For more than two decades, I worked in Special Education with the Alhambra Unified School District, supporting students with disabilities and witnessing firsthand the challenges they often face in gaining recognition, confidence, and opportunities and as a Youth Program Manager for a nonprofit organization based in Pasadena California. Throughout those years, I also continued developing my own artistic career, exhibiting my work internationally and using art as a vehicle for communication, healing, and cultural connection.
In 2010, Jerry J Ruiz, Liz Woo and I founded The Academy of Special Dreams Foundation after recognizing a significant gap in opportunities for artists with disabilities. While there are many talented individuals creating extraordinary work, many continue to face barriers to visibility, professional development, and inclusion in the arts. I wanted to help change that.
Today, our foundation creates opportunities through inclusive art exhibitions, scholarships, micro-business grants, mentorship programs, art therapy initiatives, and international collaborations. Our mission is to increase public awareness, appreciation, and recognition of the creative talents of people with disabilities while promoting a more inclusive society through the arts.
What sets my work apart is that it combines artistic excellence with social impact. Whether I am creating my own artwork, curating exhibitions, mentoring emerging artists, or building partnerships across borders, my focus is always on empowering people and creating meaningful opportunities for those whose voices are often overlooked.
One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is helping hundreds of artists with disabilities gain visibility and recognition through exhibitions, educational programs, and community partnerships. Seeing an artist And their parents discover confidence, sell their first piece of artwork, receive public recognition, or launch a small creative business is incredibly rewarding. Those moments remind me why this work matters.
I am also proud of building international collaborations that connect artists, organizations, and communities across the United States and Latin America. Through these partnerships, we continue to demonstrate that art has the power to transcend language, culture, disability, and geography.
For those who are learning about me for the first time, I want them to know that my work is driven by a simple belief: every person deserves the opportunity to be seen, valued, and celebrated for their talents. Art is more than creativity it is a tool for inclusion, empowerment, healing, and social change.
Whether through my artwork, my foundation, or my community initiatives, my goal is to help create a world where diversity is embraced, abilities are recognized, and everyone has the opportunity to contribute their unique gifts. That vision of inclusion in the arts continues to inspire everything I do.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One story that best illustrates my resilience is the journey of building both my personal brand as an international artist and my company, LA Art LLC, while simultaneously leading a nonprofit organization dedicated to inclusion in the arts.
Like many entrepreneurs, my path was far from easy. As an immigrant from Mexico, I arrived in the United States with limited resources but a strong belief that art could create opportunities, inspire change, and bring people together. For years, I balanced multiple responsibilities—working full-time in Special Education, supporting nonprofit programs, developing my artistic career, and building a business from the ground up.
There were many moments when giving up would have been easier. Funding was often limited, opportunities did not always materialize as planned, and there were times when people questioned whether art could be a sustainable business or a tool for social impact. Yet every challenge became a lesson in perseverance.
One of the greatest tests of resilience came during periods of personal loss, health challenges, and economic uncertainty. Instead of allowing those obstacles to define me, I chose to use them as motivation to grow stronger. I continued creating artwork, building partnerships, organizing exhibitions, and advocating for artists whose talents deserved recognition.
Through resilience, LA Art LLC evolved beyond a business. It became a platform that allows me to share my artwork internationally, collaborate with communities, and create opportunities for others. At the same time, my work through The Academy of Special Dreams Foundation has helped hundreds of artists with disabilities gain visibility, confidence, and opportunities to showcase their talents.
What I learned is that resilience is not about never failing; it is about continuing to move forward despite setbacks. Every obstacle taught me patience, every challenge strengthened my determination, and every success reinforced the importance of staying true to my purpose.
Today, when people see the exhibitions, community projects, partnerships, and artistic achievements, they often see the results. What they do not always see are the years of persistence, sacrifice, and faith behind them. Those experiences have shaped me as both an artist and entrepreneur and continue to inspire my commitment to using art as a force for inclusion, empowerment, and positive change.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Yes. One of the greatest lessons in resilience came when I realized that success means very little if you sacrifice your health in the process.
A few years ago, my body was literally screaming for help, but I refused to slow down. I was working full-time in Special Education, building my career as an international artist, caring for my mother during her illness, leading The Academy of Special Dreams Foundation, and managing LA Art LLC. I was constantly giving to others while neglecting my own well-being.
Eventually, the physical and emotional demands caught up with me. I developed chronic fatigue that severely impacted both my physical and mental health. What I thought was dedication had become burnout. For the first time in my life, I was forced to stop and confront the reality that I could not continue living at that pace.
The recovery journey has now been nearly three years, and it has required some of the biggest changes I have ever made. One of the most difficult decisions was stepping away from my career in education after 22 years of service. It was a profession I loved and one that helped shape who I am today, but I knew I had to prioritize my health and future.
Through this experience, I learned the importance of rest, balance, and listening to my body. I discovered that self-care is not selfish—it is necessary. Resilience is not always about pushing harder; sometimes it is about having the courage to slow down, heal, and rebuild.
Today, I am on the right path. I continue to create art, serve my community, and pursue my mission with a healthier perspective. I take things one day at a time and view each day as an opportunity to grow, learn, and appreciate life. This experience taught me that true resilience is not measured by how much you can endure, but by your willingness to adapt, recover, and move forward with purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michaeldergar.com
- Instagram: Michaeldergar
- Facebook: Michael Dergar
- Linkedin: Michael dergar
- Other: https://www.specialacademy.org
Image Credits
Michael Dergar, Jerry J Ruiz