As a child, Jesús E. Purisaca Ruiz dreamed of learning guitar. Through Minneapolis’s Guitarra en el Barrio, he helps young students turn their own dreams into music.
Transcript
This is Minnesota's Legacy, a look at the organizations and the people who have benefited from Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
Xan Holston: At Guitarra en el Barrio, it starts with the fundamentals. Executive Director Jesús Purisaca Ruiz and his teachers show students the basics hand position, posture and how to read sheet music.
Jesús Purisaca Ruiz: The foundation of our program is in a classic guitar.
Xan Holston: The program allows Purisaca Ruiz to provide something to others he wished for as a child.
Jesús Purisaca Ruiz: But couldn't afford when I was a little boy. I wanted to learn to play the guitar, but I didn't have the opportunity.
Xan Holston: But with support from Minnesota's Clean Water Land and Legacy Fund, Purisaca Ruiz can provide students ages five and up with materials and low cost instruction. This is a music from Spain. For him, music opens the doors to the world.
Jesús Purisaca Ruiz: You can go in any place around the world. Music is like another language. It's a universal language.
Xan Holston: Every lesson is an opportunity to build something that lasts.
Jesús Purisaca Ruiz: For me, when I can see other students how they are growing, I feel very proud at the same time I'm feeling that I am leaving a legacy.
Minnesota's Legacy is produced by AMPERS with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at AMPERS dot ORG.