AIM 4 The Heart

About Us

Thirty-five years of reaching minds through the heart.

AIM 4 The Heart is a California 501(c)(3) organization with over 35 years of experience creating and implementing a sustainable model of community-based programs designed to positively intervene in the lives of at-promise youth through the Arts.

Our Mission

A society transformed at its core.

AIM 4 The Heart envisions a society transformed at its core to recognize the value of Emotional Literacy.

We believe that the most powerful way to positively impact minds is to first reach individuals via the heart, with art being the most effective tool. Our HeArt Education programs apply the principle that through the study of the Arts we can learn our humanity and develop the skills necessary to heal.

Our multi-disciplinary programs teach the importance of emotional communication, self-awareness, character development, and critical thinking. Our dynamic team of artist-educators facilitates these in a variety of spaces, consistently fostering human development for learners of all ages.

Emotional Literacynoun

The ability to identify, understand, and respond to emotions in oneself and others in a healthy manner — to empathize with those emotions, and to express them productively.

  • Emotional communication
  • Self-awareness
  • Character development
  • Critical thinking
An AIM 4 The Heart facilitator leading a session for a seated audience

Our Story

From a living room to the world.

Over the years, our team has facilitated the HeArt Education curriculum in schools, universities, prisons, youth facilities, organizations, museums, and more around the world.

In addition to leading our work for decades, our Founder, Leila Steinberg, is a legendary Music industry executive — most notably for her role as the mentor and first manager of world-renowned artist Tupac Shakur and others.

Many of AIM's former students, facilitators, partner organizations, and collaborators are well-known celebrities, athletes, executives, and artists.
Late 1980s
Leila Steinberg founds AIM 4 The Heart while managing and mentoring Tupac Shakur
1990s–2010s
HeArt Education spreads to schools, universities, prisons, youth facilities and museums worldwide
30+ years
Leila serves as Executive Director, then transitions to lead facilitator and educator
2023
Stu Summerville is named Executive Director
Today
A team of trained artist-educators carries the curriculum forward, in person and internationally

Our Team

Led by heart, for decades.

Leila Steinberg

Leila Steinberg

Founder

A long time executive, Leila Steinberg has served as a manager, educator, writer, and artist across decades of impact in the Music and Entertainment industries. During the late 1980s, she performed as a backup dancer and singer, touring with musicians like O.J. Ekemode & The Nigerian Allstars and other legendary artists.

Around the same time, during her work as the manager and mentor of Tupac Shakur, she founded AIM 4 The Heart and served as the organization's Executive Director for more than thirty years. Now, she works closely with the organization as a lead facilitator and educator in schools, prisons, and organizations around the world.

Stu Summerville

Stu Summerville

Executive Director

Stu Summerville is a graduate of Indiana University, where he accelerated and finished his coursework in two years at the age of 18. Stu then attended the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and graduated with his Juris Doctorate at the age of 21.

Along his academic and professional paths, Stu has specialized in problem solving at the intersection of Culture, Entertainment, Sports, and Technology. Through all of these, Stu's passion and commitment to promoting humanity and Emotional Literacy remained.

After serving AIM as an artist-facilitator and assuming internal administrative roles within the organization for several years, Stu was named Executive Director of AIM 4 The Heart in 2023.

Board of Directors

Leila Steinberg

Founder, Board Member

Jody Armour

Board Member

Blake Walker

Board Member

Devanee Crawford

Board Member

Tracy Robinson

Board Member

Eleanor Earl

Board Member

Our Impact

Our mission has taken us all over the world.

Over the years, our team has facilitated workshops in a variety of settings and helped many participants develop and grow their humanity and Emotional Literacy skills. We want to highlight the organizations who supported us, joined us on that journey, and opened their doors to our workshops.

This work inspired me to make a difference and help change the world, to be a part of the solution instead of the problem.
Ishmael Wilburn — Participant
Aim4theHeart taught me the importance of understanding how to process my emotions in a healthy way.
John Paul Mizquez — Participant
I was taught how to be more self aware and understand how to read a room through a HeArt Session. I will never forget the experience.
Louis Adeyemi — Participant
I really appreciated the way emotions and a message can be expressed through a song and help give me understanding of a situation I might not be able to experience myself.
Terah Ramos — Participant
Attending a Mic Sessions challenged my critical thinking and made me think more deeply on issues.
Edmundo Diaz — Participant
I was able to understand the importance of community through aim4theheart.
Stephanie Le — Participant
USC Gould School of Law USC Sol Price School of Public Policy WME SoundCloud California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation The Berkeley Group Fashion Nova

We've also collaborated on special events with Polytechnic High School's PAAL Campus, Pico Youth & Family Center, Change the Tune, the City of Long Beach, the California African American Museum, the Long Beach Convention Center, HOPICS Trauma Center, KPFK, KPRP, and Homeland Cultural Center.