The Caesura Youth Orchestra (CYO) is based on the El Sistema model to provide urban youth with a positive community where they can through music experience a break from the negative impact of drugs, gangs and economic disadvantages. Since 2014, founder Dave Ferguson has worked in every aspect of the organization, from teaching music to kids to website management to fundraising. Because he’s built a strong foundation of the organization, he has been looking at growing the board, staff and volunteer base to expand their capacity and create a succession plan for his retirement in a few years. JRP pro bono consultants have worked with CYO on human resources and social media, with JRP volunteer David Fields joining the CYO board in 2019.
Dave and David have a plan to build a larger and more engaged board, and asked JRP to look for a board member with strong finance skills, a must on all boards. We introduced them to Josh Betta, public finance expert and amateur musician, who loved CYO’s mission and quickly joined the board. I often say that boards are like musical groups: everyone needs to know the same music as well as their particular parts of the music. With the great addition of Josh, CYO’s board has a variety of players with the right skills to make beautiful harmony, thereby allowing more of Glendale’s low and moderate income kids to learn the joys of music!