Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center

The Pullum Center aims to provide a program filled with structure and well-planned curriculum to help students build self-esteem, develop civic responsibility and teach them to apply the same dedication and commitment to their academic aspirations.

Our goals are to:

Improve students’ academic success.

Develop students’ self-esteem and leadership skills, impart sense of belonging and reduce self-destructive behavior.

Increase students’ appreciation for the performing arts and how participation can improve their lives.

Contribute to local community through performances and service activities.

Our strategy to achieve the expected outcomes is to provide a performing arts program (i.e. instrumental music, voice, dance, and drama) with quality instruction that instills confidence and fosters artistic excellence in our students. Currently, 30 weekly performing arts classes are held at the Center headquarters and another 30 are held at participating schools. Students are provided a free dinner and a snack at the Pullum Center and Marcus Garvey School during the school year to ensure they are nourished. During the summer, when school is not in session, students are offered breakfast, lunch and a snack.

Executive Director Fernando Pullum is an educator and professional musician. Despite his difficult childhood growing up on Chicago's Westside, the city's toughest neighborhood, Fernando earned his bachelor's degree in music education and master's in trumpet performance. Fernando moved to Los Angeles in 1984 to follow his dream of becoming an educator and professional musician. He assumed the music program at L.A.'s Washington Prep High School. Under his tutelage, the program thrived. In 1989, LAUSD recognized Fernando's music program as the first music magnet in South Los Angeles. During the years that followed, 100% of Fernando's students graduated with a high school diploma and only one student failed to enroll in college during the next fifteen years. Fernando has been recognized by many organizations and individuals throughout his tenure, including Oprah, VH-1, John Lennon Foundation, and the State of California as its teacher of the year. He has performed and recorded with many industry greats, such as Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackson Browne, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Eddie Murphy, Fishbone and more.

The Pullum Center employs 20 part-time arts education staff members with expertise in instrumental music, dance, voice, and drama.

The Pullum Center has been successful in increasing our capacity to serve 600 students every year--a 100% increase from 2015 to 2017. Recent accomplishments include:
- Our students recorded with Aloe Blacc on the John Lennon educational tour bus.
- Students plays and sang with Ronnie Spector at the National Music Merchandisers (NAMM) in Anaheim.
- Ten students were hired as extras on the HBO hit show Insecure.
- Two students performed in the Shakespeare Festival in Scotland.

The Pullum Center continues to strive for financial sustainability. It is currently taking strategic steps to ensure the organization is supported by diversified revenue streams.