Angela Colantonio

Urban Alliance
750 Main St, Suite 1208
Hartford, CT 06103

Dear Angela Colantonio,

We are writing to ask the Urban Alliance to consider hosting a violin performance by The Milner
Virtuosos at the North End Farmers Market this summer. As an extension of an after-school program at
Milner Community School, this summer violin program has helped 10 students develop music and life
skills that they would like to share with their local community. In line with your mission to create
opportunities for people to achieve lasting change in their lives, we hope that you would consider offering
these students the chance to engage with their community while putting healthier lifestyles into practice.

As The Milner Virtuosos, our mission is to assist revitalization efforts in the North End of Hartford by
helping youth develop a sense of personal and community value through music instruction and
performance. Supported by an invaluable team of stakeholders, Caitlin Leffingwell runs both violin
instruction and program development using training she has acquired through the Suzuki Association,
BuildaBridge International, and her ongoing Masters in Urban Studies: Community Arts.

Despite a uniquely turbulent history, Milner has always pulled its PK-8
th
grade students mostly from
two surrounding neighborhoods: Upper Albany and Clay Arsenal. This population is about 70% Black
and 30% Hispanic, with vibrant West Indian, African, and Puerto Rican culture. Yet chronic decay and
pervasive poverty have characterized the area for generations, such that almost 95% of Milner students
are currently in poverty. Moreover, many residents cite societal immobility as the main problem there
noting that the area is undesirable yet nearly inescapable. Such hopelessness results in a wide variety of
issues like drug use and gang violence that continue the cycle of immobility for students at Milner.

Our goal is to equip students with skills and resources that lead to greater societal mobility, while also
helping students actively see and increase the value of their community. Through innovative violin
instruction for 2nd-8th graders, we improve academic performance and teach life skills such as self-
discipline, focus, determination, and creativity that can ultimately provide students with the ability both to
leave the North End and to make it a place where people want to stay.

In addition to tapping into abundant local resources, we have also partnered with other programs at
Milner to provide the most well-rounded and effective instruction possible. These partnerships include the
Charter Oak Community School of Music, Hartt School Community Division, The Gifted Onez, Art of
Drill, and Hartford Public Schools. Donors and many volunteersincluding numerous returning
studentsalso make the program possible by supplying instruments, repairs, tickets, and transportation.

However, the success of this program requires an even wider variety of supporters, and we hope that the
Urban Alliance will join our team by providing a performance opportunity for some of our summer
violinists at the North End Farmers Market. We will contact you by phone next week to answer any
questions, but if you wish to contact us you can call at XXX-287-1042 or email XXXXXXX@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Caitlin Leffingwell
Program Coordinator
The Milner Virtuosos