April 11–12, 2025
Beckmen YOLA Center, Inglewood, CA
El Sistema USA (ESUSA) is pleased to announce the 2025 Regional Gatherings. This series of two regional events will bring together music educators, administrators, and students for two days of professional development, networking, and community engagement. This West Coast Regional Gathering will be held in partnership with YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) at the Beckmen YOLA Center on April 11-12, 2025.
Event Overview
Join us for an inspiring and action-packed regional gathering, where educators, program leaders, administrators, and Youth Ambassador Alumni (YAs) from the ESUSA network will come together to explore concepts to develop student leadership and wellbeing within equity-based music education.
This gathering will provide valuable opportunities to hear directly from youth in Sistema-inspired programs about their experiences and how we can better support their mental health and create holistic impact through programming. Expert-led workshops will equip participants with actionable tools to improve wellness—not only for students but for program leaders and teachers as well, ensuring a comprehensive approach to nurturing everyone involved.
Participants should plan to arrive Thursday evening, April 10, and depart Sunday morning, April 13. Sessions will take place all day Friday and Saturday.
Speakers
Ndindi Kitonga
Co-Founder Angeles Workshop School
Ndindi Kitonga, Ph.D., is a Kenyan American educator, community organizer, and human rights activist dedicated to radical education, mutual aid, and abolitionist care, co-founding Angeles Workshop School and Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid (PUMA) while also teaching ethnic studies at California State University, Long Beach.
Ivonne Chand O’Neal
Founder and Chief Research Officer of MUSE Research
Ivonne Chand O’Neal, Ph.D., is a leading expert in creativity research, arts impact assessment, and cultural strategy, serving as the Founder and Chief Research Officer of MUSE Research, where she works with educational institutions, government agencies, and the entertainment industry to advance equity, access, and human flourishing through the arts.
Marianne Diaz
Founder of CleanSlate
Marianne Diaz is the Director of Outreach Services at the Southern California Counseling Center, using her lived experience to provide accessible mental health support and gang intervention in Watts and the greater Los Angeles-area, creating a community-centered space for healing and transformation.
Helen Lessick
Artist & Public Art Consultant
Helen Lessick is a creative catalyst and nationally recognized arts consultant dedicated to fostering artist-driven public art projects, cultural policy, and community engagement, with a legacy of enhancing under-resourced communities through the arts in the U.S. and internationally.
Event Details
Early bird pricing ends on Feb 21, 2025. Each registration is for the full two day event.
Registration closes March 27, 2025.
| Tier | Early Bird Price | Regular Price |
|---|---|---|
| ESUSA Members | $125 | $175 |
| Non Members | $175 | $225 |
| College Students | $25 | $50 |
- Program leaders and managers designing programs and curriculum
- Public school teachers looking to gain new skills, network, and learn about incorporating youth voice
- Teaching artists of El Sistema-inspired programs
- Music education students
- Youth advocates and mentors aiming to support and empower young musicians as leaders within their communities
- Administrators and policymakers interested in understanding the transformative impact of youth leadership in music education
Event Location
The 2025 El Sistema USA West Coast Regional Gathering will take place at the Beckmen YOLA Center (101 S La Brea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301) on April 11-12, 2025.
We suggest you arrive Thursday evening, April 10 and depart Sunday morning, April 13.
Hotel
Book your stay for a discounted rate at the below hotel by March 27.
Hilton Los Angeles Culver City
Address: 6161 West Centinela Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230-6306
Rate: $184/night. Includes a breakfast voucher for each day.
Guests staying at the hotel may sign up for an uber voucher at registration to go between the hotel and the Beckmen-YOLA Center.
Dining
Lunch will be provided on Friday and Saturday. Attendees staying at the hotel will receive a breakfast voucher for each morning. There will be a reception with appetizers on Saturday evening. Dinner is on your own each night.
Accessibility
El Sistema USA strives to make its programming accessible to all. The 2025 West Coast Regional Gathering will take place at Beckmen YOLA Center which is ADA compliant. Please visit the venue’s website for more information on accessibility.
For additional information or if you have questions, need assistance, or an accommodation not mentioned, please contact info@elsistemausa.org.
Thursday
- Arrivals
Hotel check-ins
Friday
Morning:
- Breakfast 7:30–9:00 AM
- Travel to venue 9:00–9:30 AM
- Opening Keynote & Welcome 9:45–10:00 AM
- Intentional networking / ground setting 10:00–10:30 AM
- Ndindi Kitonga Session 10:45 AM–12:15 PM
- Lunch 12:15–1:30 PM (Catered onsite @ Beckman)
Afternoon:
- Marianne Diaz Session 1:30–3:00 PM
- BREAK / Sponsorship / Intentional networking 3:00–3:45 PM
- Creative Refresh 3:45–4:00 PM
- Youth Leaders Alumni Panel 4:00–5:30 PM
- Closing Reflection 5:30–5:45 PM
- Travel to venue 5:45–6:00 PM (as a group)
- OPTIONAL Networking Reception @ Creative House 6:00–7:45 PM
Saturday
- OPTIONAL Rise & Shine Yoga 7:15–8:00 AM
- Breakfast 7:30–9:30 AM
- Travel to venue 9:00–9:30 AM
- YOLA Institute Rehearsal – YOLA Overview 9:30 AM–10:15 AM
- Curated Walking Tour of Inglewood 10:30 AM–12:15 PM
- Lunch 12:30–1:45 PM
Afternoon:
- Ivonne Chand O’Neal Session 1:45–3:15 PM
- BREAK 2:30–2:45 PM
- Afternoon session 2:45–4:00 PM
- Closing Remarks / Reflection 4:00–5:00 PM
- Travel to hotel / dinner 5:00–5:30 PM
- Dinner 5:30–6:30 PM (on own)
- Upbeat Live at Walt Disney Concert Hall 7:00 PM (optional)
- LA Phil presents Vivaldi, Mozart, Haydn 8:00 PM (optional)
