In a world filled with the challenges and cacophony faced by marginalized youth, Little Legato founder Elizabeth stepped up to make a difference. Her mission is clear and resonant. Bringing joy, creativity, and equitable access to arts education to our communities, with a special focus on youth development. A musician with eight years of experience, Elizabeth understands the transformative power of music and is determined to share her blessings with those who need it most.
Elizabeth's journey began with a deep appreciation for the arts, developed by her own experiences in a school system that offered music education as a compulsory subject throughout elementary school. Her passion for music continued to grow during her high school years and was cultivated through her eight years of dedicated study. She is aware of the privilege she enjoys, and she notices the stark contrast between her access to an arts education and its absence in the lives of many young people around her. I couldn't help it.
“Music has given me a creative outlet, a way to express myself, and the joy that all children deserve,” Elizabeth said. This realization inspired her to found Little Her Legato, a youth organization aimed at bridging the gap and making arts education accessible to all.
Initially, Elizabeth created Little Legato as a way to extend music lessons to more children, involve student teachers of her own age, and expand her own educational impact. During the coronavirus pandemic, she began reaching out to her families and children, teaching violin and viola to those interested via FaceTime and Zoom. But the organization's mission changed when she met some of her foster youth at a Crest caregiver event a few years ago.
Elizabeth recalls: “I immediately knew I wanted to specifically help develop youth. So I turned to what I knew best: music.”
Foster youth are a particularly vulnerable and marginalized group who often face challenges that most people do not fully understand. Recognizing the tremendous need within this community, Elizabeth decided to adapt the organization's mission to provide arts education opportunities to these youth. Despite encountering challenges and obstacles due to her age and legal constraints, she forged ahead with her determination and optimism. Elizabeth's love of teaching and heart for serving youth through education, as well as her talent for music and the viola, have not been nurtured by youth organizations as a whole.
Elizabeth has taken every opportunity to help Little Legato's mission blossom into a tangible reality, recruiting fellow musicians and artists to offer lessons in seven different instruments and various art forms. Speaking at her OC Social Services forum, she said she began to see the fruits of her labor when her foster children began signing up for Little Legato lessons.
As Little Legato continues to grow, he is making a huge impact on foster youth across California.Currently partnering with Higher Ground OC is an Anaheim afterschool program that takes in foster children to reduce youth violence and crime, and Elizabeth and her team have made a wholehearted effort to provide a safe space and creative outlet.
Through small acts of service like teaching a few chords on the ukulele or building a spin drum out of paper and string, Elizabeth's unwavering dedication to her mission not only enriched the lives of countless young people. , created ripples of change in society. Foster care system.
She said: “I want to support even more youth into foster care through my program because I understand that the foster care community is sorely needed among such vulnerable and marginalized populations. I am more and more motivated and enthusiastic and am very excited about the future of Little Legato.”
The organization's dedication to youth development has attracted many supporters, volunteers, and fellow musicians who share Elizabeth's passion for using the arts as a tool for healing, growth, and self-expression.Recently I have been participating in the Playdate project hosted by Little LeTogether with gato advisor Laura Izumikawa, they organized a music station that impacted over 100 parents and children and raised a total of nearly $8,000 for Olive Crest, a nonprofit, licensed foster care and adoption agency. Ta. Little Legato is more than just a youth organization. It is a movement and a melody of hope that resonates with those who understand the transformative power of music.
Elizabeth's vision for Little Legato extends beyond her youth, as she is determined to make a lasting impact on children's homes and the foster care system. “My heart is in service to the foster care community and I plan to continue pursuing that for as long as I can,” she asserts. Her commitment to creating positive change for foster youth will continue to be a source of inspiration and strength for all who support Little Legato.
In conclusion, Elizabeth's journey and the founding of Little Legato is what individuals can bring when driven by the joy, creativity, and true passion to bring equitable access to arts education to develop youth. It exemplifies extraordinary influence. As this inspiring organization continues to grow, it stands as a testament to the profound impact that music and the arts can have on the lives of those who need it most. Little Legato is more than just a youth organization. It is a ray of hope and a harmonious testament to the power of compassion and dedication.
