Rhythm Gym (RG) is committed to enriching the lives of people in diverse and economically disadvantaged communities of Southern California by providing music and movement based activities that emphasize community, creativity and healthy living.
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If you would like to support Rhythm Gym with a tax-deductible contribution, please contact Janet Marinaccio at janet@rhythmgym.org or 818-728-1751.
OR make your donation online:
1. Go to: The Donation Page
2. Select Rhythm Gym from the pull down menu.
3. Use the form to make your donation.
4. Thank you for your tax deductible donation!
Join I-Give.com Click Here for easy giving to Rhythm Gym through online shopping. Brand Name merchants (like Staples, Peet's coffee, Eddie Bauer, E-Bay and MORE) donate a percentage of your sale to RG when you use I-Give.com to shop.
Register your grocery savings card and everytime you shop THEY will donate up to 5% of the sale to Rhythm Gym at no extra cost to you.
~ Albertsons/Savon/Osco Register Here
~ Ralphs/Cala/Bell card Register Here (Enter NPO# 82936)
Our vision is to serve diverse communities throughout the Los Angeles area by providing participatory, integrative group music making, drum circles, and basic movement/dance activities to people of all ages. Using the universal language of music to create a dialog between people from diverse backgrounds, people come together in community and create a natural support network for the children and families.
Rhythm Gym participants learn and develop valuable skills that enhance their capacity for timing, coordination, sequencing and wellbeing. We hope to cultivate a love for music and a passion for creativity for creativity’s sake. There is nothing like seeing the sparkle in the eyes of a child or an adult who has made a creative connection with another person or even with themselves.
We believe that music is the universal language shared by all people and is everyone’s birthright
We believe that access to rhythmic arts broadens our capacity to learn.
We believe that playful learning is as essential to life as our heartbeat.
We believe that properly facilitated group music-making and movement activities can result in:
• stress reduction
• improved fine and gross motor skill functioning
• more self-confidence in artistic abilities and social skills
• enhancement of expressive and receptive communication skills
• improved hand-to-eye integration
We believe that Rhythm Gym activities can positively impact children by:
• building their self-confidence
• enhancing their interest in learning
• energizing school and community environments
• developing critical life skills
• improving their academic performance
• increasing their awareness and appreciation for other cultures
Janet Marinaccio, MA - Executive Director
Ms. Marinaccio brings more than 20 years of professional leadership experience to this project, from program design and implementation to grant writing and budget management.
Kalani - Founder/Program Director
Kalani is a music educator and acclaimed author. He brings to this project extensive experience designing and presenting programs in school and community settings. Kalani has designed and/or presented recreational and educational programs for organizations including the International House of Blues Foundation, The International Music Products Association, P.S. Arts, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Grammy Foundation, The American Music Therapy Association, The Percussive Arts Society, The National Association of Music Educators, and others.
Officers:
Lisa Jordan, MS; Human Solutions, LLC; Chair
Lidia Young; Goodwill; Co-Chair
Louise Oliver; Goodwill; Secretary
Advisors:
Darla Kim, MA; Metro North WorkSource Center
Kimberly Kirschling; Tierra del Sol Foundation
Andrea Mitchel, MEd; PSSST Consulting
Jerry Oliver; Retired
Sherry Warschaw, MA, MFT; Mission Community Hospital
Lehua Altemus, LMT, CIIM