For a group of children in Yakima, Washington, life is changing one cello at a time.

Young children line up outside the music room at Garfield Elementary School under the only graffiti on campus. It says "La musica de la vida," words that are true for these kids. They are members of YAMA, which stands for Yakima Music en Acción, or "Music in Action."

Local arts groups are looking at ways to reach younger generations and the Yakima Valley’s Latino community. All sort of entities advocate programs that keep young people engaged in positive activities and out of trouble at vulnerable ages. So it comes with little surprise that an after-school orchestral music program, spearheaded by a dynamic founder, has found support not only in its target neighborhood school but with officials throughout Yakima.

Known locally as Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA), this El Sistema-inspired nucleo, empowers, inspires, unifies, and instills pride throughout the neighborhoods it serves.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx