I work with the Rio District Boys and Girls Club After School Programs, and we have put together 300 students together who show an interest in the music arts! Every student was accepted and they could choose Choir, Orchestra, or both. The students after school programs involved academic and enrichment programs and receive the arts all at no cost to the parents. This program is especially important to me because there are so many underprivileged children in my community. We help these low income families with not only after school care, but the opportunity to help their children find passions and create goals. We've already helped so many parents that wish they could give, give, give to their children, but are unable to. Since the beginning of our afterschool programs, the gang crime rate has gone down substantially. Unfortunately, in my community, it's not uncommon for young people to join gangs. I feel that with our programs, we have helped kids find something they are good at and find a family and sense of belonging elsewhere- other than gangs. After living in Los Angeles for a music academy, it was great to move back home and use my strengthened talents to help my community kids. It's a great feeling seeing my students at the local grocery store or the mall and seeing their face light up as they yell, "Hi, Miss Ixchel!" At a young age, I was introduced to the arts and at times that I was down, times I was with the wrong crowd and making dumb decisions, I knew that I always had my love for the arts to push me. I feel that the best thing anyone can do for kids is to help them find what they are passionate about early on, whether it be music, sports, community service, design, building, or something in the medical field. I had many wonderful mentors growing up, and I want to be that to a child. We practiced with the Choir, ranging from Grades k-8 for about a month traveling to different school sites to have rehearsals. They were in rehearsals with three different instructors, including myself, the other two being Maestro Dino Zonic and his wife, Julija Zonic, of Croatia. Both are highly trained in teaching and music and have given the kids so much to look forward to after school. On November 17th, 2007, our choir, Voices of Hope, performed at the Residence Inn Hotel in Oxnard for our entire community- including the Mayor, Board Members, Superintendent, and various other members of the community. We provided dinner and transportation for the kids that evening. It was a Black and White Charity Fundraiser and although many of the kids were very, very nervous (!), we performed and raised money for the Music Program- money for instruments for the Orchestra and more music for the Choir. We depend solely on donations because we never want to charge a family any money for this opportunity. We have another performance on Thursday, the 8th, and are starting a four week long series of Donation Drives called "Play It Forward!" I look forward to seeing where this group goes and seeing the children each grow through music.