Somos Sunnyside: Episode 48 featuring Tucson Youth Music, Tucson Police Department & Sierra K-8

In this powerful episode of Somos Sunnyside, we highlight a groundbreaking collaboration that’s hitting all the right notes in the Sunnyside Unified School District. Superintendent Gastelum sits down with a diverse panel of change makers: Christopher Garcia, Sierra K-8 teacher and music instructor; Lieutenant Faith Schrouder from the Tucson Police Department; Dana Wier, CEO of Tucson Youth Music; and Granger Vinall, Board Chair of Tucson Youth Music.

Together, they discuss the On Beat Studio program—a unique partnership between Sierra K-8, the Tucson Police Department, and Tucson Youth Music. The program offers free violin and guitar lessons to 2nd–3rd and 6th–7th graders, bringing students and police officers into the same learning space, united through music. It's more than just music instruction—it’s a violence prevention initiative under TPD’s VIVA program, aimed at creating positive, personal interactions between youth and law enforcement.

Lieutenant Schrouder shares how being a musician herself allows her to connect with kids on a human level, while Dana Wier and Granger Vinall speak to the broader vision and impact of music education across Tucson. Christopher Garcia offers an inside look at the classroom magic, where students are finding confidence, joy, and a sense of belonging through their instruments.

This episode is a testament to the power of partnership, the importance of access, and the role music can play in building stronger, safer communities.