Mission & Vision

Race & Gender Equity

Santa Barbara County’s population is 47% white, 43.7% Latinx, 5% Asian, and 2% Black. Our region faces unacceptable racial disparities: only ~12% of local Latinx high school seniors went on to 4-year colleges in 2017–18. In comparison, that year their white counterparts attended 4-year institutions at a 41% rate. North Santa Barbara County furthermore has a greater proportion of Latinx communities, but almost no access to arts education. New Cuyama, for instance, is home to 517 residents, 122 of which are youth. They have no music classes in school, nor does the town have a music teacher.

We are dedicated to hiring staff from diverse backgrounds. Our staff training includes training in racial equity, and we actively work with communities of color in order to best adapt our programs to their specific suggestions and guidance.

We believe in the POWER OF MUSIC to transform lives, and we witness the results as our program participants evolve from timid and unsure to bold and confident in a matter of days. Girls and womxn receive the freedom and encouragement to create art WITHOUT PERMISSION, WITHOUT PERFECTION, and WITHOUT PEER PRESSURE.