02 Jun Music, Media & Recovery: How c3 Helped Share a Powerful LA Story
c3 Communications, Inc. (c3) helped secure a Spectrum News 1 Southern California segment spotlighting Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom’s work restoring music education in fire-affected LA schools—a powerful example of how thoughtful media relations can elevate healing, purpose-driven nonprofit work.
At c3, we believe in the power of purpose-driven stories to create meaningful change. This segment wasn’t just about news; it was about showcasing hope, healing, and the transformative impact of the healing powers of music to bring back some sort of normalcy. Watch the full segment HERE.
The Challenge: Rekindling Joy After Devastation
The devastating LA Fires left a profound mark on communities, including elementary schools that lost everything. In the aftermath, students and teachers faced immense emotional and creative recovery challenges. Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom, an organization dedicated to integrating music into education, stepped in to help the school, teachers and children. Their mission: to bring music back to these fire-devastated classrooms, helping children and educators cope with trauma and rekindle joy. Marquez Elementary, featured in the Spectrum News 1 segment, stands as a powerful example of this broader revitalization effort across affected areas.
A Collaborative Symphony of Support
The work to restore music education was a testament to extraordinary collaboration. Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom initiated this extensive effort by reaching out to their partner, the Los Angeles Unified School District. Arts Education Branch Coordinator Sarah Urias identified specific needs in affected schools as did Karen Anderson, Arts Coordinator in the Eaton Fire Zone, spanning Altadena and Pasadena schools.
Key collaborators included Jean Lachowicz, Executive Director of Todd Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony, Myka Miller, Executive Director of The Guitar Center Music Foundation and Julia Rubio, Executive Director of the NAMM Foundation. Together, these nonprofits pooled their knowledge, combined resources, and actively raised funds to procure essential instruments.
Not mentioned in the segment was Dr. Bruce Robbins a proud graduate of Marquez Elementary himself, along with friends who also attended the school decades ago, rallied around their alma mater. Their contributions, and those from their wider circle, helped fund a variety of music programs – from Rock Band and Mariachi to orchestral music, guitar, and ukulele classes – providing much-needed support for children and teachers to cope with the trauma of loss.
c3 Communications: Amplifying a Vital Story Through Expert Media Relations
Our role at c3 was to ensure this story of resilience, collaboration, and healing reached a wider public audience. We recognized the impact of Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom and their partners, and coordinated the media relations strategy for this initiative throughout Southern California via strategic media relations. This took a little while to come to fruition given all the entities involved to make this happen. Our objective was to not just report on the work, but to convey the genuine feelings of recovery and the tangible difference music was making in the lives of students and teachers.
The successful placement of this segment is a prime example of how thoughtful public relations can serve as a vital bridge between impactful nonprofit work and the public consciousness. By bringing powerful, purpose-driven stories like this to light, we support community healing and foster broader understanding of critical initiatives.
At c3, we are proud to champion organizations that drive positive change. This collaboration with Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom and their partners underscores our commitment to strategic communications that truly makes a difference.
You never know how it will impact the people but this is the wonder!