In the corridors of San Jose’s arts district, PowerHouse has emerged as an unassuming sanctuary—a restored space that seeks to bolster the ambition of women reshaping their own narratives and reclaiming agency.
Launched by filmmakers Tricia Creason-Valencia and Farran Tabrizi, this co-working hub and media production studio is a deliberate counterpoint to Silicon Valley’s relentless digital turnstile and tech dominance, prioritizing creative sustenance for women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs.
When Women’s History Month unfolds this March, PowerHouse will host an important evening of poetry and music, headlined by writer and musician Esther Young. This event seeks to reflect the broader movement these founders embody: one where personal stories fuel collective ascent. Esther explains: “This is a fully curated show in which the songs, poems and dances all tell a cohesive story to the theme of ‘shedding. burning. arriving.’”
Creason-Valencia, an Emmy-nominated documentarian and educator who was appointed as one of San Jose’s newest creative ambassadors, approaches her work with enormous sincerity, as seen in her film, Stable Life, winner of “Best Documentary” at Cinequest, centered on the grueling work and resilience of women through the lens of healing and empowerment.
Says Creason-Valencia: “San José has incredible artists, but not always enough accessible places for us to gather and make work.” For her, PowerHouse represents a pivot from individual projects to shared spaces, where vulnerability can be a springboard for strength.
Tabrizi, meanwhile, brings a pragmatic edge through her eighteen years at Tabrizi Productions, where she produced corporate and educational videos on stories that aligned technical know-how with emotive storytelling. She’s known for her accessible approach and mentorship in helping women navigate the Bay Area’s competitive terrain.
“Between the studio, events, workshops and Power Hour work sessions, we’ve seen members grow their businesses, spark new ideas and transform personally simply by being immersed in the space,” said Tabrizi.
The duo met amid the post-pandemic flux, bonding over a shared frustration with the isolation of freelance life.
Creason-Valencia explains: “We nudged each other to pitch bigger budget projects to our respective clients. We collaborated on video and graphic design projects. We hosted social gatherings and facilitated professional development workshops for women crammed in the small front room. We dreamed about expanding the space to include other women creatives. PowerHouse San Jose was born!”
A vision for a women-led ecosystem emerged, one that amplifies the typically marginalized. The space now occupies a sunlit Victorian with flexible desks, high-speed connectivity and a warm, collaborative energy felt in true safe spaces.
An important component of the operation is Unmuted Studio, a modern podcast and production center for storytellers. The studio is equipped for multi-camera shoots and professional audio, and can be rented by the hour or day, giving creators flexibility to plug and play without the barriers of exclusionary networks or hidden fees.
“Farran and I both went to film school, so we’re well-trained in how to use professional equipment. As a film production teacher, I noticed many of my female students were intimidated by equipment. We never want ‘fear of gear’ to be a barrier to access for women,” said Creason-Valencia.
In a region where innovation often equates to venture-backed apps, PowerHouse asserts a different metric: that the ascent of women creatives deserve fair pay and then some. Amid the studio’s exposed beams and communal tables, the upcoming musical gathering exemplifies this philosophy.
Esther’s headlining set on March 21 hopes to draw the community in closer during Women’s History Month. PowerHouse’s calendar brims with such intentional nods, from art exhibitions to an array of live music shows that provide a much-needed stage for local voices.
“When Esther attended one of our monthly clothing exchanges at PowerHouse, we hit upon the idea for a house show featuring her work. In her brilliant way, she developed the simple concept, in her words: “an artful examination of personal liberation…a collective and cohesive story told through music and poetry,” said Creason-Valencia.
The real story will linger beyond the evening’s close, especially in how Creason-Valencia and Tabrizi are forging a new model in the South Bay’s nascent movement, where entrepreneurial women reclaim space from the tech sprawl, and standout creatives like Esther can thrive. In San Jose’s evolving tapestry, PowerHouse hopes to not only host events but also be a supportive catalyst of creation for a community in obvious need.
* Esther Young will perform at PowerHouse on Saturday, March 21, at 7pm. Her set will include songs from her 2022 EP Small Hands, Heavy Heart, as well as choice covers from women-fronted bands with her band Eve’s Heaven (with Alonzo Maldonado + Christian Hutton). She will be joined by three poets (Kristina Robertson, Marissa Martinez, Kim Johnson) and interpretive dancer Paulina Huynh Nhu.
