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<br />Ibarra, Evelyn <br />From:Sara Guerrero <guerrero.sara@gmail.com> <br />Sent:Tuesday, May 7, <br />To:eComment <br />Subject:Subject line: Arts Funding - Item 30 Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Work Study Session <br />Attachments:Subject line Arts Funding - Item 30 Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Work Study <br />Session.pdf <br /> Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links. <br />May 7, 2024 <br /> <br />To our Mayor and City Council of Santa Ana, <br /> <br />I urge you as our elected officials to include, in our city’s annual budget, a robust budget line to support the <br />arts. <br /> <br />I write to you as someone who grew up here, attended its public schools, became a homeowner, a parent, a <br />professional arts leader and educator. I take much pride in being a member of this community. My spouse and <br />I raise our family here. The theater arts organization Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble, that I founded <br />and I continue to support, is intentionally based here. <br /> <br />Arts is an essential component to our humanity and our ever growing population. The very center of our city is <br />defined as a place of arts and art making. However, Arts funding in Santa Ana is in jeopardy and compared to <br />other cities in Orange County who lack the vibrant and organic arts and culture, Santa Ana has one of the <br />smallest budgets in the county. <br /> <br />Growing up here is one of the reasons I found my path into the performing arts. And now as a working <br />professional and like many others in Santa Ana, I look for ways to extend opportunities and possibilities to our <br />community of youth, adults and families and future generations. <br /> <br /> <br />One way I am able to do this is through the REVIVE Santa Ana Arts Organization grant. <br />The funds my organization has been awarded is to support our Cantos Cuentos and Corridos Project of Santa <br />Ana using a nearly 300 year old Mexican and American story/songwriting tradition to share the untold stories of <br />the people and the history of Santa Ana. <br />Previously, I was awarded an individual arts grant (two consecutive years) from the city to develop new and <br />traditional folktales and fables for the stage with the youth of Santa Ana. The work toured to local middle and <br />elementary schools, día del niño festivals and was written and performed by the students of Santa Ana High <br />school students. <br />There are so many more amazing individuals and organizations that continue to provide a place for art making <br />for, with and by our community and list goes on. <br /> <br />Please take this opportunity to support the arts into the twenty-first century with funding to match. <br /> <br />I thank you for your time <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Sara Guerero, <br />founding executive director of Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble <br />1 <br /> <br />