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Our Impact
Our mission is to provide music and dance education that sparks joy, creativity, and belonging in PreK-6th grade students in Los Angeles County, and through international partners abroad.
Partnering with schools where arts programs are limited, we ensure every child has the chance to create original work, perform, and grow through artistic expression.
Our Partners
Our Story
Bloom Arts Foundation (BAF) was established in 2020 to address the lack of access to early childhood arts education in Los Angeles County public elementary schools. Recognizing the scientifically-proven impact of music and dance on the socio-emotional and cognitive development of elementary school learners in PreK through 6th grade, our founders created a program that enriches students’ lives through direct learning during the school day and empowers public school educators by equipping them with the necessary skills to confidently integrate music and dance into their classroom activities.
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Our organization grew from the excellent reputation and community relationships formed by the Bloom School of Music and Dance, founded in 2008 by our Executive Director, Laura Porter. Starting with a humble 8 school partners during the 2021/2022 school year, BAF has expanded its capacity to provide weekly music and dance classes for 195 classrooms in 32 public schools across Pasadena, Glendale, and Los Angeles Unified School Districts in 2024/2025. BAF has reached over 11,000 students, teachers, and community members to date.
Research has proven that early childhood is the single most important time for music and movement education because of the substantial, lifelong impact it can have on a young child’s brain, developing self regulation, pre-literacy skills, executive functioning, and social-emotional skills.
As an LA based non-profit we strive to provide access to music and dance education to all students during the school day, starting in early childhood. We believe that the need is great, as the vast majority of elementary schools in LA County (as well as across California) do not offer their students music classes. Most often, only in middle school and high school do students have the option to participate in music during their school day, which means the youngest learners are often not given the same amount or quality of arts education.
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Arts equity is at the heart of our organization. We spend time and resources advocating for our students at the state and local levels, as well as networking with like-minded organizations to share best practices and learn new ways of reaching school communities.
Why We Advocate for Arts Education
Our Vision &
Values
Vision
We work toward a future where every child, no matter their circumstances, receives an arts education which is designed to equip them with essential life skills in creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking - preparing them to become innovative problem solvers in any career path they choose. Early arts education strengthens memory, attention, and problem-solving skills - tools that serve a child for life.
Internal Values
(How We Work as an Organization)
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Creativity & Growth – We encourage students to create their own original work and we provide educators with tools to make music and movement a part of daily learning.
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Collaboration & Commitment – We bring teaching artists, classroom educators, and students together, building strong learning communities.
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Joyful Learning – We know that artistic expression lifts the spirit, strengthens the mind, and brings light to every student’s education.
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Lifelong Learning – We provide training and mentorship to those who teach, ensuring that the impact of arts education continues for generations.
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Expanding Opportunity – We focus our efforts on bringing arts education to schools where students would otherwise have little or no access to creative programs.
External Values
(How We Serve the Community)
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Student-Centered Arts – We guide young learners in composing, choreographing, and performing, helping them to feel valued and to take ownership of their creative development.
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Teacher Support – We give classroom educators the skills to bring music and movement into daily instruction, ensuring that artistic learning thrives beyond our direct work.
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Community Uplifting – We honor and incorporate the backgrounds and traditions of all the communities we serve.
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Lasting Impact – We measure our success not only by the lessons and skills we teach but by the confidence, creativity, bravery and perseverance students carry forward in life.
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Championing the Arts – We stand for the fundamental importance of music and dance education, working to ensure that these opportunities reach every child.
Our Sponsors
