Meet ErikaWe have exciting news! Now that our 20th Season has begun, we are extremely happy to announce that Erika Ramirez is our new Program Coordinator! We are SO pleased that Erika will be joining the team, and we are excited about the many incredible attributes she brings to CMW, including firsthand experience as a CMW parent.
Erika has a long history with CMW, and a special insight into our programs. We asked her to talk a little bit more about her story, and here is what she had to say: You have quite a story with CMW! Can you describe your history with CMW? Well, I’ve been involved with CMW since 1999, I believe. I was working at West End Community Center when my ‘relationship’ with CMW started. Sebastian went to the Center in order to promote his program and his vision of introducing Classical music in this community. About that time, my son Rusbel started taking cello lessons with Heath. When Rusbel got to high school, he decided to leave CMW for football. After that, I did not have any child enrolled in the program; but my involvement with CMW continued in the form of volunteering my time in translating any forms from English to Spanish due to the large Hispanic population in the West End Area. Years past and here comes, Alana, who started her violin lessons (w/Sebastian) in 2005, I believe, she was 7. Eleven years later, now 18, she graduated in May. What originally drew you to CMW? Well, I like music first of all, and as a single mother, at that time it was a way to expose my children to something constructive; and financially, it was something that I could manage. Do you have a favorite CMW memory? The most recent favorite memory: When I saw Alana graduating, getting her own certificate. That meant that all the difficulties we had had during those 11 years paid off. What drew you to the Program Coordinator Position? Being involved with CMW for so many years as a parent became part of my regular life, so I thought that with my experience as a CMW parent I could take the new role of program coordinator and continue to be part of this big and beautiful program/family. What are you looking forward to the most this year at CMW? During my first year, I am looking forward to fulfill if not all but most of the goals that the program coordinator position entitles-especially the volunteer system. I know it is a big challenge, but I believe we can do better than previous years. Do you have any special hobbies or hidden talents you’d like us to know about? I love music in general, never learned to play any instruments, but I have some basic, basic knowledge. When I was a teenager I used to sing at school events and other activities. My hobby is to travel either by plane, car, train; whichever is the most convenient and cheapest way of doing it. We later learned over lunch that Erika has some pretty superhuman driving skills and once drove 20 hours without stopping! We’re not sure if this skill will be useful as Program Coordinator, but we’re pretty much in awe! We are so thrilled to welcome Erika to the CMW team! –-Chloë Kline, Education Director/Resident Musician |
