Hannah Marie Cho
Empowering Arts
When I was in 7th grade, I got an invitation to perform in the dementia ward at a local rehabilitation center for elderly community members. On my first visit there, I saw two ladies jostling for a seat closer to me in the front row. I realized at that moment they weren’t just there for entertainment – concerts for these socially isolated individuals were a welcome rarity, a chance to experience the uplifting power of music and regain a sense of connectedness to life. Inspired, I created a nonprofit organization called Empowering Arts (EA) with the goal of bringing the joys of art to vulnerable groups.
IMPACT IN NUMBERS
100+
Volunteers Participated
200+
In-Person Events
(concerts, art classes, Music lessons)
$15,000+
Total Funds Raised
What We Do
Music Concerts
We hold free live instrumental and voice music concerts for senior citizens and children who would normally not have the opportunity to attend them. We’ve observed how our music provides psychological support to the elderly, empowering them to reconnect with their memories and emotions.
We’ve also helped advance charitable fundraising initiatives through our performances at events whose causes and values align with our own. These include Beyond Blindness’s 2022 Annual Gala, Colburn School 2024 Annual Gala, and Pacific Academy Foundation’s 2024 Gala.

In-Person Instrumental Music Lesson and Mentorship
Our volunteer music teachers provide ongoing mentorship and in-person music lessons free of charge to elementary students at El Sol Academy who could not otherwise afford them. We also do grant fundraising to purchase instruments for our music students including a full-size digital piano at Gigi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center in Orange County.

Art Enrichment Classes & Camps
Using Eco-Friendly Art Supplies
We provide art, acting, and music classes to seniors with limited mobility and children with different abilities. Our art class uses a variety of classic art materials while teaching drawing and painting techniques. We also use eco-friendly art supplies, such as organic watercolor paints made from flower petals, recycled paper, empty bottles, eyeshadow palettes, toilet paper rolls, rocks and pebbles, and tree leaves. We’ve seen how our classes promote human-to-human communication and connection through the arts.

Environment Workshops Creating Musical
Instruments With Recycled Materials
We provide free workshops to teach children about the environment and how to protect it. Participants learn to create their own musical instruments or objects from recycled materials. Through this process, they gain a deeper appreciation of the world around them and feel empowered to explore their surroundings in new ways.

SPONSORSHIP









PARTNERSHIP









Windcrest, Irvine ,CA

Tustin Hacienda Memory Care
Rosewell, GA


