01 & 14 (121)Public Comment
From: Karlayren Rojo <
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2021 9:06 PM
To: Public Comment
Cc: Anaheim Ballet
Subject: Support of Anaheim Ballet
Dear Mayor Sidhu and Council Members,
Anaheim Ballet has been part of the Anaheim community and our lives for more than 20 years. The community that Larry and
Sarma create through the Anaheim Ballet facility provides a safe haven for many Anaheim children and adolescents, including
ourselves. Without Anaheim Ballet's Step -Up! Program, we truly believe that we would not have met our personal, academic,
and overall accomplishments.
The Anaheim Cultural Arts Center provides a professional, safe, and welcoming facility at the heart of Anaheim for local and
international students. Anaheim Ballet fosters resiliency through physical and mental guidance, and continues to do so in the
past year amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. Unlike affordable housing plans, Larry and Sarma's dedication to their students and
community is self -less and genuine. As a current educator I have witnessed first-hand how the arts are the first to be eliminated
from a child's public education and life. Anaheim Ballet provides community performances and professional training to the
underserved youth of Anaheim that those students need which is missing from their life, free of charge.
The Anaheim Cultural Arts Center (the current home of the Anaheim Ballet) is slated to be demolished without plans for a new
Cultural Arts Center or home for the Anaheim Ballet. If the City demolishes this architecturally unique building that has
attracted world-class athletes, you will be removing the only Cultural Arts Center in the City and displacing the City's treasured
arts organization. It is best for the community, and especially for our underserved youth, that Anaheim Ballet remains in its
current accessible location!
Please vote in support of the Cooperative Agreement with Anaheim Ballet. Thank you for your consideration.
"Before a child talks they sing. Before they write they draw. As soon as they stand they dance. Art is fundamental to human
expression."-Phylicia Rashad
Sincerely,
Anaheim Ballet Step -Up! Outreach Scholarship Alumni
Karlayren Rojo, Elizabeth Rojo, Raul De Jesus Rojo, Jean Paul Rojo