Rafaela Espinoza

A letter to Jonathan Zeichner, Inside Out co-founder...
 

January 30, 2008

Hello Jonathan,
I'm pretty sure you don't remember me after all of these years. My name is Rafaela Espinoza. I used to be a member of Inside Out when I attended Henry Clay Middle School during the years of 2000-2002. I was in the plays that dealt with the issues about homelessness and teen pregnancy.

Beyond that, I just wanted to let you know that being a member of Inside Out truly helped me become who I am today. Keeping me away from the negative things in my neighborhood and introducing me to a world full of art made a huge impact in my life. This program also helped me to look deeper and deal with the issues in my life and childhood that made me so angry. I am now as happy as I have ever been.

Just as an update. After I graduated from Henry Clay, my family moved out of South Central Los Angeles and I attended Gardena High School. I continued my involvement in the arts in the form of dance, specifically I became a Mexican Folklorico dancer. During my junior year of high school I auditioned and got accepted into a professional group called Pacifico Dance Company. I danced with them for a year until I was accepted to the University of California, Santa Barbara.

I am currently living in Santa Barbara and am a sophomore here at the university. This University has opened my eyes to everything new and I just wanted to thank you and your program. Because I wouldn't be here today if, back when I was a child and at the most vulnerable stage in my life, a group of amazing people hadn't opened up their hearts to me and taught me how to hope and strive for a better life. Your love for the arts and for everything close to it made me love the arts and helped me learn to love myself. My love for dance couldn't have ever happened if you and your program hadn't introduced me to the world of an artist. Once I moved out of South Central my heart yearned for them and that's how I decided to become a dancer. Your program, the staff, the mentors and dance ultimately saved my life. I could never repay what you and your program did for me.

Thank you so very much,

Rafaela Espinoza