LEARNThe Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of Los Angeles models the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of SF. LJYE.com
The Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of Los Angeles replicates the 17 yr success of Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of SF by providing FREE education from 2 time Grammy winner, Oscar Hernandez. Spanish Harlem Orch
Please describe the activation your organization seeks to launch.
The Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of Los Angeles (LJYE LA) will be led by 2 time Grammy winner, Oscar Hernandez, of Spanish Harlem Orchestra and free for musicians 10-17. First time in 17 years, the LJYE.com is partnering with a 501c3 to expand service to LA. Grass roots program 100% bootstrapped by performances and CD sales and free for 17 years. With a non-profit fiscal agent we can expand our program to Los Angeles with world-class musical director to replicate a proven model of success.
Which of the LEARN metrics will your activation impact?
District-wide graduation rates
Suspension and expulsion rates
Truancy rates in elementary and middle schools
Will your proposal impact any other LA2050 goal categories?
LA is the best place to CREATE
In what areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
County of Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles
How will your activation mobilize Angelenos?
Trainings and/or in-person engagements
Create new tools or technologies for greater civic/political engagement
Influence individual behavior
Illustrate young people of color in a positive light.
Describe in greater detail how your activation will make LA the best place to LEARN?
Young people of color deserve a right to free access to the arts as a social justice issue. For 17 years our program has proven that a diverse band with at-risk youth can also be world-class and record with Jazz masters. We do not cream the best musical talent, exactly the opposite. Our band acts as a social incubator in which the entire community is represented and they bond over the love of Jazz and love of performing. We are free and not believe in competitive auditions. Over 17 years 95% of our graduates have gone on to college, many focusing on music school. Young Jazz lions such as Natalie Cressman, Zamora Pinderhughes and Elena Pinderhughes are graduates of our group. For the first time, we are partnering with a non-profit to act as fiscal agent and allow us to launch the band as a performance ensemble for all of Los Angeles, representing the diversity and musical talent of LA.
How will your activation engage Angelenos to make LA the best place to LEARN
We have already identified community partners such as Plaza de la Raza which already works with at-risk youth with music classes and the city of West Covina which wants a site. Use social media to outreach to LA unified students as well as programs Plaza's. Identify 25-30 musicians. Rehearse once a week with a goal of one performance a month during the school year and 4-6 performances a month during summer. Our youth become role models within the community and develop a positive self-view from mastery of their instrument, performance and soloing. Our target for musicians is 10-17 and we recruit from the young people in our audiences and who hear our recordings. You can't fake the quality of the music. https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/LatinJazzYouthEnsembleofSanFra
Please explain how you will define and measure success for your activation.
Our goal is to launch a performance ensemble that us ready for a first performance within 10 weeks after launch. Our goal is to achieve 50% of year one budget to launch the program, rehearse and begin performances. We have secured a New Year 2018 performance at Gran Park through the Gran Park Foundation as our target for our first launch concert.
Where do you hope this activation or your organization will be in five years?
A world-class performance ensemble performing at the major events and festivals of LA county free to its members and representing the diversity of Los Angeles.