Parenting in the Key of Los Angeles
Words by Rafael González, President of Grand Performances:
Raising children in Los Angeles means raising them amid constant rhythm…the rhythm of neighborhoods, languages, and the many cultures that give this region its pulse. Parenting here becomes an act of listening to music, to memory, and to the stories that surround us.
Last Saturday, my sons, Kalixto and Luxiano, and I spent the day moving through those rhythms. We began in downtown LA, where my sons started their morning with their weekly vocal lessons, learning pitch, breath, discipline, as well as the patience and focus that music demands. Afterwards, we headed to the Golden Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown for dim sum breakfast, a small ritual of joy and discovery, before setting off to experience the rhythm of Los Angeles itself.
We started at the Central Avenue Jazz Festival, where South LA’s legacy came alive through the sounds of world-class musicians and the spirit of a community that has carried jazz forward for generations. On Central Avenue, the music carried the stories of a community that helped define LA’s identity. My sons listened, asked questions, and began to understand that art is both expression and endurance.
Later, in Little Tokyo, we joined the joyful gathering of FandangObon, dancing among traditions from Japan, Mexico, West Africa, and beyond, a living example of what happens when cultures meet in respect and harmony. FandangObon is what Los Angeles does best: it doesn’t blend cultures into sameness; it allows each to shine, forming harmony through respect and rhythm.
Along the way, my sons met friends and mentors Carlos Guaico, Dexter Story, Allison De La Cruz, Quetzal Flores, Debra Nakatomi, Jim Herr, and Karen Mack. These amazing folks are artists and civic leaders who embody the power of creativity to build connection and change. They showed my sons that culture isn’t something that happens on a stage; it’s something we live into, protect, and pass on.
As I watched Kalixto and Luxiano take it all in, I was reminded of what I learned and championed years ago at First 5 LA, that early experiences with music and the arts profoundly shape a child’s development. The arts teach focus, patience, and discipline. They encourage empathy and build the capacity to listen, collaborate, and dream. They help children find their voices and use them with purpose. When we give children access to the arts, we’re developing future people of conscience and imagination.
Experiencing both events in one day was a reminder of what makes Los Angeles extraordinary: neighborhoods rich with history, art that transcends generations, and communities that celebrate joy, resilience, and belonging. This is Los Angeles at its best...where music, art, and culture don’t simply entertain; they educate, connect, and transform.
Moments like these remind me that parenting is an act of love, a practice of guidance, respect for culture and traditions, and a commitment to nurture the world our children will inherit and shape.
At Grand Performances, I see that spark every summer, families discovering new sounds, children dancing freely under the skyline, and multigenerational communities learning from one another through the power of the performing arts. These moments are more than performances; they are lessons in culture, connection, imagination, and civic life.