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Council commends Sweet Strings youth program and Youth Empowerment Center for Creative Achievement
Summary
Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas and others commended Sweet Strings and the Youth Empowerment Center for Creative Achievement (YECM) for providing tuition-free music instruction and seeking expansion into other districts.
Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas introduced Sweet Strings, a youth string-instruction program run by the Youth Empowerment Center for Creative Achievement (YECM). The council commended the students and program leaders for providing tuition-free musical instruction in South Los Angeles.
Ridley-Thomas described Sweet Strings’ growth from 25 children in a single room with no instruments to serving 60 students with another 100 on the waiting list. He commended Kika Keith, identified as co-founder and executive director of YECM, and Dr. Chan Ho Young, music director and professor at the Colburn School of Performing Arts, for leading the program. Dr. Young and Keith said the program aims to establish a South Los Angeles Youth Orchestra and a community music school offering broader music education.
Program representatives left informational materials and a documentary with the council and asked for support as they expand into additional council districts. The presentation emphasized music education as a way to provide constructive after-school opportunities and did not request immediate city funding during the remarks.
