Site darlacozzarelli.com the mission of Refining Purpose as described by Darla, is a dedication to inspiring young people to pursue their purpose and shine a light on issues by creating a broader social awareness to impact action. She had noticed, when talking to some of her peers, there was a lacking desire to pursue their dreams. They had become complacent and unsatisfied in their lives. Darla’s solution was to put a series of interviews together of successful millennia’s telling their stories to inspire others. But, she didn’t stop there. She also noticed a lack in activities geared towards adoptees and foster youth. Darla explained that if these young people had a place to go where they can meet others with common experiences, then they would be more likely to gain confidence in their own selves and realize that they can succeed in life under any circumstances. So, her organization began “meet-up groups” which incorporate music, art, writing sessions and other fun events.
Darla shared that the arts are a big part of her own life, and a way to cope with the daily stress of being a young woman. She learned how to play piano as a young child and would sing along to Whitney Houston records. Music became a passion of hers. When she was a teenager, Darla began writing her own music and eventually released her debut single titled “Obsession”. The song premiered to top 40 success on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts and is currently nominated for a Hollywood Music and Media Award. Since, she has released a second single “Oh boy”, and is currently working on an ep titled “Refining Purpose” to raise awareness of the non-profit organization.
Darla Cozzarelli truly encompasses what her organization is all about. Though-out her undergraduate studies of Criminal Justice at California State University Los Angeles, Darla encountered mentors who helped steer her towards pursuing a graduate degree. Darla expressed that she wanted to make a bigger social impact, and the way to do this was to achieve a masters in social work at a macro level. She is currently studying at USC and intends to also earn a PhD. She is an ambitious young woman who has “refined her purpose” to make this world a more inclusive and inspiring place for others. The future predicts to be bright and rewarding for this entrepreneur.
For more information on Darla and Refining Purpose, you can visit her website at darlacozzarelli.com.
