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A Los Angeles woman received the Presidential Citizens Medal Thursday for her work with children from the city's gang-infested neighborhoods. NBC's George Lewis reports.
Dr. Margaret Martin's enthusiasm and passion are infectious. "We're saving kids' lives!" she proclaims.
Because of her, 1,500 youngsters from the gang-infested neighborhoods of Los Angeles are off the streets and spending their spare time in youth orchestras sponsored by the Harmony Project, which she started a decade ago. Kids accepted into the program are given free musical tutoring and instruments, provided they sign a contract that they will finish school and not drop out. On Thursday, President Obama awarded a Presidential Citizen's Medal to Martin, one of 13 Americans to receive the 2011 award.
"Our students learn discipline, persistence, confidence, accountability for the use of their time," Martin said, "and they learn to collaborate well with others in an ensemble."
Those students agree. "The music really made me focus more in school and made me concentrate," said Harmony Project violinist Andrea Garcia during a break in a Saturday practice session, "it releases my stress and I don't get angry as much."
Mizael Reyes, another violinist, chimed in. "I know that you have to put effort into music so I have to put effort into everything else if I want to accomplish anything," he said.
The temptations for kids living in gang neighborhoods are being challenged - with success - by a program called Harmony Project. Here, students talk about the program and how its keeping them off the streets.
Margaret Martin knows about hard times. She said that as a young mother, she walked out of an abusive marriage and lived for a time in an empty office building.
Gesturing toward herself, Martin said, "This is the face of poverty in the United States."
After she turned her own life around and earned a Ph.D. in public health, Martin resolved to give something back. And then something happened that inspired her.
She started Harmony Project, she said, because she saw a group of gang members stop at a farmer's market in front of a child playing Brahms on a violin.
That little kid was Martin's young son Max, trying to earn a few extra dollars as a sidewalk musician. At first she was scared that the gang members would try to harm him, but then she noticed they were entranced by the music and began digging into their pockets, putting money in Max's violin case.
"In that moment," she said, "they were teaching me that they would rather be doing what that kid was doing than what they were doing but they never had the chance."
Giving youngsters that chance is what drives the Harmony Project and its highly passionate, highly articulate founder.
One woman's solution to keeping kids out of gangs... create harmony. Here's more of George Lewis's interview with Margaret Martin, founder of Harmony Project.
"Kids will rise to the level of your expectations," Martin said. "You just have to have great expectations, and they do. They are precious resources."
She has acquired a powerful ally in Gustavo Dudamel, the conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the product of the youth orchestra program in his native Venezuela.
"We couldn't do what we do without the support of our partners," Martin said.
Now, the woman who turned hard times into harmony hopes to replicate the project in other cities. And she's having fun planning the expansion.
"It IS a lot of fun," she said, "It's the best job ever!"
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In a time of trial and suffering for many, the Harmony Project is a knight in shining armor, an angel with peace and love. Or, just great!
Nice to read a story with a positive message. I'm sure the music helps but I think it's the caring that matters the most.
uplifting article.you keep going woman... great job. this country needs more like you .so many kids don't know which way to go in life and you give them a good way to go! the positive non self destructive one. god bless you.
It is great to find motivating news in the middle of so much negativity.
With people like Margaret Martin, there will always be hope. She's been there and did something about it. I hope the sponsors line up.
What a great program and inspirational founder. Thank you for posting this story on a day when there was so much violence in the news!
This is a wonderfully uplifting story with a powerful message about the personal rewards of self-improvement, perseverance, and the joys of building a creative outlet.
It was a bad move when our all knowing politicians cut art funding for schools. The arts have always provided a positive place for kids to express their beauty.
It has long been said music can tame the beast. It's great that kids can still be moved by classical music. I wish I had expanded my horizons earlier in life but it wasn't until my mid 20's I discovered the joys of classical music.
Now I just gotta figure out a way to make a few bucks outta this and put it on the stock market...
Maybe wrap it up in some nice derivatives and sell them...???
What a fine American and person. She shows us what we can do to turn around the decline our Great nation has experienced. The Children are our future, no if ands or buts about it, and neglecting Education is a death warrant for our culture.
Inspired and uplifting reading, happy for the kids, and happy for the person.
Great cultures are remembered not only for their dominant militaries, but for their acheivements in the arts, and spiritual endeavours. Time to turn inward and get our house in order. We reached the point of diminished returns on our outward violence, and are nearly bankrupt in more ways than one from it.
This woman deserves that award and more. Congrats and carry on, God Bless. JJ
She remembered to give back and it is good. Just think of how these young people will move on to experience more and grow to also remember to give back. With the news reporting the takers from every area of America this is what America is really about.
Blacks are racist against Latinos, Hispanics and Asians.
I'm a black grandmother and love my Latino daughter in law and my grandchildren and it's sick to think those thoughts about anyone.
Might have been useful to put a website link to this organization or possibly even whether they accept donations of money or instruments. . . or possibly volunteers.
Do they plan to try expanding to other cities? Or, are they willing to help people in other cities organize similar activities? Lot's of opportunities missed in this story. . .
I am a disabled veteran with psych and physical ailments from my military accomplishments between 1990-1993. I don'tpromote or DEMOTE political campaigners but I can tell you I was on 7 psych medications and chose to stop taking them over a year ago. I have a service dog (MARLEY) she helps with my anxiety levels but without me using “Black-market” marijuana its harder for me to control, without marijuana the ARTHRITIS in my back would be more painful. I have a young friend of mine who is diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) he too benefits from the effects. I say to you the readers KNOW-THE-FACTS…..If it’s legalized it too would stimulate the economy by shutting down unneeded prisons and government spending on prison guards , low-level law officials and programs like” NARK” and “DARE” that eat at local community budgets(This would put the MONEY back where it came from Social Security, Healthcare and WEL-FARE). These are local programs formed by the government under the “war on Drugs” with money bribes to your local politicians. why do you think we all want to know now “WHERE DID THE MONEY GO ?”How about the $$Billions The IRS pays out to ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS under the ACTC (addition child Tax Credit) , ITINs (Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers) have become increasingly linked to fraudulent tax claims which is said to be over $$ 4 Billion a year.It’s hard for me to believe the Agency LACKS the legal authority to challenge such tax returns!The budgets are done every year the money is hidden in programs!!!Have we forgotten we gave IRAQ “GRANTS” to rebuild not LOANS ? How about the tsunami $$ to Japan to rebuild or to Indonesia to rebuild OR HAITI after their earthquake to rebuild ? I have an IDEA use US tax dollars to help the US TAX PAYER……….The sad part is we the people didn’t vote for that congress did for us. when we have a crisis we don’t have the money . Not to mention the new STATE “regulation” on pain medication means I now have to drive to my doctors once a month instead of once-every 3. The raise they are considering for SSDI is a joke compared the the gas$ increases over the past 3yrs. WE keep writing laws that keep LOW-income, LOW-income. wall-street has the gas market cornered their job is to make their investors money, it’s congress that’s spending our money and draining the purse not WALL street. Try sleeping at night knowing the country i was injured protecting is the same country I’m now fighting to legalize an” alleviation” from my symptoms.”Follow ME I’m The Infantry" !!”
"Everybody's sayin music is love"
What an inspiring and uplifting article!!! I occasionally work with the LA Phil and have been so excited for the Gustavo concerts this month (Oct). There’s a whole series of shows still on sale (more info mel )… may be a good time to introduce someone you love to the arts!