Meet Lizette Garza

Lizette is a Chicago native, and Pilsen resident with a passion for Hip Hop and event planning.  She earned her B.A in Music Business from Columbia College Chicago in 2012 and currently works at ElevArte Community Studio as the Youth and Events Manager.  She uses her abilities to plan ElevArte’s cultural events and manage teen programs, as a tool, to inspire young people and unite community. In addition, Lizette works as a Music Curator for ReverbNation and occasionally plans local festival and events.  Prior to ElevArte, she has worked as theWe Are Hip Hop Festival teaching artist and a after-school instructor at Chicago Commons. She is a proud youth advocate, a pizza enthusiast and believes in the power music. 

Q+A

What inspires you?

Someone who can share their story authentically, maybe that’s why I like working with young people so much, they always have a story to share. They know how to “keep it 100” (keep it real). Sharing challenges, failures or struggles, is not easy and requires courage but I see beauty in being so courageous and vulnerable. Sharing a story can be intensely powerful and an emotional thing for me! If I hear a story and it touches my heart, I cry, uncontrollably but it really motivates me to continue making a positive impact in this world. Having such empathy, serves as my reminder that the world hasn’t made me cold or bitter and I embrace that wholeheartedly. I think if we all had the opportunity to share our stories authentically maybe the world would be a much more compassionate and understanding place.
 

What makes you laugh? 

The Internet, hands down! It’s such a wonderful, hilarious place where I can find vines of old people dancing to the latest trap songs, GIFs of Llamas escaping their ranch and memes of little kids throwing shade. I love and laugh at it all, probably more than the average person. What do you hate? 
I don’t hate anything or anyone but I do have plenty of pet peeves. One of the big ones is when people have a difficult time pronouncing my name. What bugs me is rather than them asking me for the correct pronunciation, they just name me “Liz” or “Lizzy” to make it easier for themselves. Long story short, my name doesn’t allow me to trust anyone that cannot pronounce it or at least, attempt to. #SorryNotSorry
 

If you had to change careers what would you want to do?

My path has led me to some awesome accomplishments but when I take a step back, I realize that my career is only in its beginning stages. I’m 25; so change in my career can happen at any given time. It’s really exciting to think about what’s next because I know the opportunities are endless. Granted I still have a lot to learn but I am open to opportunity so who knows where I’ll end up. Whenever it happens and whatever that opportunity is, I know it’ll be big!
 

What do you geek out about?

In no particular order:

  • Traveling somewhere new
  • Popeye’s Chicken and Pizza
  • Jewelry 
  • DJ’s who play all my favorite jams back to back
  • Working on someone’s resume
  • Bubble baths
  • A really good margarita
  • Drake cakes (cakes with Drake quotes on them)

Want more? Connect with Lizette via Twitter and LinkedIn.

Photo Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis Photography