About
Own Your Own Universe (OYOU) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in San Marcos and Martindale, Texas. Our mission is to make the arts accessible and empower and transform lives by connecting the mind, body, and spirit through music and the creative arts. We achieve this by offering a variety of low-cost or free online and in-person events, workshops, youth activities, song circles, and women’s retreats alongside specialized programs for individuals with special needs.
The OYOU engages skilled artists and musicians to conduct workshops and perform at our community concerts and festivals. Additionally, we create avenues for artists and writers to present their original creations. We are committed to investing in the arts by compensating our performers, workshop facilitators, and resident artists. Our dedication lies in supporting and fostering the artistic community.
Many of our workshop leaders have navigated personal challenges, such as neurological conditions, cancer, depression, and other health issues. They have embraced the opportunity to mentor individuals facing similar experiences, inspiring them to overcome obstacles and enhance their quality of life.
In addition, OYOU provides scholarships for all of our programs, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent anyone from participating and learning. Our scholarships are awarded based on financial need or other circumstances and are available to teachers, veterans, individuals with special needs, those on fixed incomes, and patients with medical conditions. We also offer multiple scholarships for our children's programs, allowing underprivileged children to attend at no cost.
At OYOU, we foster a welcoming and non-judgmental environment that celebrates diversity through the creative arts. Our events aim to bridge the gap in arts education that has become increasingly scarce in underfunded public schools while providing lifelong learning opportunities for adults and seniors.
To fully realize our mission, OYOU has continued to expand programming at Wilory Farm and throughout Caldwell, Hays, and Guadalupe Counties.
We run an ongoing state-wide outreach initiative called "Playing for Good," which offers free and low-cost music and writing programs at nursing homes, libraries, schools, and community centers. Additionally, we provide free concerts and music lessons for children and individuals with special needs, striving to impact as many lives as possible across Texas.
The story of OYOU began when founder and executive director singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of twenty-one. Music, writing, and the creative arts became her lifelines, enabling her to thrive personally and professionally despite her health challenges. Through her experiences, she discovered her passion for introducing others to a wide spectrum of the arts, providing them with the tools to live their best lives, regardless of difficult circumstances. Her vision was to create an inclusive space where everyone—regardless of financial means, social or mobility challenges, age, or gender—could embrace and enjoy the creative arts without fear of bias or discrimination. This vision became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit on December 12, 2012.
Your support and donations have brought this dream to life, and we are deeply grateful for your continued commitment to OYOU.