Lucia Castillo’s Story

Lucia Castillo is a young regiomontana (someone from Monterrey, Mexico) who, since her childhood in Monterrey's neighborhood "Independencia," discovered, in cumbia regia and vallenato, rhythms that arrived in the city in the '60s through vinyl records, a refuge that marked the course of her life. These music genres not only filled the streets of her neighborhood with joy, but also fostered a unique subculture that Lucia calls “a very regia vibe.” Despite growing up in an environment marked by violence and complicated situations, music offered her a safe space and an outlet to express her emotions and relate deeply to others.

Motivated by her love for these genres and her desire to create a positive impact, Lucia founded “Onda Regia,” a project aimed at promoting a culture of peace among children by teaching cumbia vallenata. In addition to teaching music, the project focuses on cultivating self-love, self-acceptance, and mutual respect. “Onda Regia” also implements music workshops and provides psychological accompaniment to children and young people, giving them tools to face their own challenges.

At the age of 17, Lucia joined the “Formar para Transformar” program at the Universidad de Monterrey, a platform that has allowed her to develop her skills as a changemaker and professionalize her social initiative. In this program, she met Jesús Escareño, passionate about social entrepreneurship and coordinator in the program, who from the beginning supported and encouraged her through valuable learning. She also met Brandon Rodriguez, who introduced her more deeply into the vallenato culture and taught her to play instruments such as the guacharaca, strengthening her connection with music.
 

Lucia believes that music is a powerful tool to generate change, as it allows us to connect with people's emotions, stories, and needs. For this reason, she dedicates herself to asking, listening, and understanding the people she meets, and then applying the knowledge acquired to benefit the “Onda Regia” community.

Lucia aspires to be a living example of how cumbia can be more than a musical genre: it can be a tool for social transformation and peace. She describes being an agent of change as a way of life that involves having the courage and passion to change what is perceived as unjust, using music as hope. Through her project, Lucía seeks to promote the common good and peace, while always maintaining her identity and essence.

Story written by Jenny Soleil, Young Changemaker of Forming to Transform.