About Chino Gonzales
(Bonnet Black)
Keni Chino Gonzales (he/they) AKA Bonnet Black, is a Seattle based educator, artist, and dreamer.
As a teaching artist Chino is a musician, writer, graphic designer, music producer, performer, director, producer, and arts consultant.
Summer of 2022, Chino and Merri Ann Osborne, Executive Director of Mahogany Project partnered on a summer musical intensive. Together he and Merri Ann wrote, produced, casted, directed, and performed alongside the cast in their musical; Magic in You. The musical was performed at Shunpike’s Artist of Color Expo and Symposium, the We Out Hear Festival, and as part of the Seattle Center’s Artist in the Parks program. Magic in You consisted of a multigenerational cast and spotlighted three circus youth of color from the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts Seattle. All soundscapes and musical numbers were composed by Chino with all songs written by Merri Ann.
In 2023 Merri Ann and Chino reunited to create Play Time, the interactive game show where communities create art together. Play Time is a series that pays homage to the vast contributions made by artists and creatives from the African diaspora. Participants dive into hilarious improv games, answer brain-teasing trivia questions, and contribute to vibrant community art while competing for points and prizes. Play Time partners with a variety of organizations from schools, museums, restaurants, and arts organizations. During the school year Play Time partners with Seattle Public Schools through Creative Advantage. Currently, Play Time is having episodes every 2nd Friday in April, May and June at Inspiration Labs from 7-8:30 PM.
In education Chino is a student, mentee, mentor, community organizer, program developer, instructor, committee chair, and leadership advisor.
At Highline College in 2020, Chino and his close colleague Amy were approved for a Teaching and Learning Enhancement grant to produce a campus video documentary that aimed to answer if Highline needed an LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Between 2021 and 2022, after completing the video and receiving much positive feedback, Chino and Amy committed to providing monthly workshops during the school year that would offer social, educational, and creative programming addressing student’s needs. As a result the Q Center Group was created. In 2023, with growing support from students, staff, faculty, Executive Cabinet and Highline Foundation, a physical space was approved for the Q Center along with funding for programming and to hire a student worker. In 2024 funds were allocated to fund a full-time Q Center position. Chino was hired as Highline’s first Q Center Leadership Advisor and the Q Center became a permanent part of Highline’s Center for Cultural & Inclusive Excellence in 2025.
