We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lizz Leral a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lizz thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Ms. Lesley and I sat next to each other in Choir. We were just 2 of 3 2nd Sopranos in a small 40 year-old choir. I was a newbie there and she quickly welcomed me into the fold. After my 1st Holiday Concert with them, Ms. Lesley invited us all to celebrate at her house. She was quite the holiday decorator, every room thoughtfully touched with that holiday magic we love to bask in that time of year. Sprinkled here and there were beautifully bedazzled quilts. I remarked on their beauty when Ms. Lesley offered to teach me how to quilt. Honestly, quilting was not on my bucket list! In fact, I, like, many had preconceived ideas of what quilting is, i.e. doilies, lace, old-fashioned, chickens and bunnies, a craft one indulges in their senior years… Silly me.

Just 1 month later, my family received the tragic news that Dad’s health was in serious decline! At 64 years young, my beloved Dad was in and out of nursing facilities. Doctors couldn’t offer many answers, though it was assumed he suffered a stroke. The toll that it was taking on my mother was equally painful to witness as she struggled with the reality of it all. After my month-long visit, I returned to Los Angeles with such a weight on my shoulders. There was so much that my 5 siblings and I had to do and figure out for both of our parents. I was on the phone with doctors and social workers and family several times a day, hoping that something would turn around. My Dad was our rock, protector and guide. I found myself praying for relief.

Ms. Lesley reminded me of her offer. I wasn’t interested, but I needed that distraction. I made myself take that lesson with Ms. Lesley as I was on the verge of falling apart. She introduced me to all of her tools, her sewing machine, her library of quilting books, her carefully organized catalogue of fabric and notions and most importantly she introduced me to a whole new world of creativity that would be the foundation of my mission from that point forward.
I am forever grateful as her kindness to pass on this skillset changed the trajectory of my life.!

Lizz, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Over the years, I alternated between four different career paths; set-decorating, teaching, acting and independent music. With each, I honed valuable skills that I still rely upon to this day. Before Quilting for Community, I did not have a vision for a organization of this scale or a desire to lead one, however after my Dad passed away in 2018, I felt this incredible, pressing urge to “see” if others might find the same relief that I had with quilting. It was one of the hardest steps I’ve ever made. I was new to quilting, new to programming and new to the non-profit sector and yet I was passionate about the possibilities of bringing a sense of relief to folk who were in emotional, mental or physical pain. The mission began to unfold before us.

As our name suggests, I wanted to create an organization that offered a free, inclusive, creative space to learn the art of quilting. Free because quilting in most settings is an expensive hobby. In order to quilt, one must acquire materials, equipment and skill: fabric, thread, sewing machine, batting, rulers, scissors, rotary cutter, etc. As you can imagine from this list, the cost of taking on this craft could be costly, upwards of $1,000 or more just to get started. FYI: “Quilt-making has been called the greatest mass movement that no one has ever heard of. There are over 20,000,000 quilters in America. Within the U.S., the industry profits more than 3.5 billion dollars.” [Why Quilts Matter 2013_ The Kentucky Quilt Project] Quilting is an expensive craft! How did such an ancient craft become a 3.5 billion dollar industry? Because I wanted everyone to have access, Quilting for Community had to provide a space where these tools and materials were made available to everyone for free.

Our mission became to build community by teaching the art of quilting. We offer an intercultural, intergenerational, creative space where ancestral knowledge can be shared. We donate our quilts to hospice, hospitals and shelters through-out Southern California.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Giving people free access to tools and knowledge is one of our goals. Another goal is to ensure the legacy of quilting by reaching young people, particularly ages 14-30. What they learn, they will be able to teach.

Also, we’ve partnered with Cal State Northridge to do monthly mending repairs for students. We encourage high school and college students to volunteer and learn the inner workings of our Design Center and quilting in general.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to share what I know with someone else. To witness a “lightbulb moment” with someone is a treasure, to be able to see how sharing a tip or trick is just the piece of the puzzle they needed to understand something is monumental. The other part of that is to witness that same person share that same tip or trick to someone else.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.quiltingforcommunity.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quiltingforcommunity/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quiltingforcommunity
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizz-leral-7b5067209
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/quilting-for-community-chatsworth
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@quiltingforcommunity