Meet the Founder
Debora Washington
Born, Debora Lee Ricks, Debora Washington was raised as the second of six children and experienced profound loss at an early age.
When she was 7years old, her mother left the family and she and her siblings were forced to grow up quickly, helping care for one another including their infant sister.
These early experiences would later shape her passion for faith, healing storytelling, and helping others overcome life's challenges.
At 15, while nine months pregnant, Debora reunited with her mother and felt hope restored for a brief time.
Her mother became part of her life again, even helping care for her daughter while she attended school.
Just six weeks later, Debora received news that would change her life forever. Her mother had passed away.
At 16, Debora found solace through journaling and music. Inspired by the Motown sound and the voice of Smokey Robinson, music became a source of peace, expression, and healing.
By 17, she found herself working within the educational system, driven by a desire to give young people what she had longed for as a child: love, hope, encouragement, and the opportunity to succeed.
That calling became the foundation for Love Letters A Universal Sound and her lifelone commitment to serving youth, families, and communities through education, music and faith.
Today, Debora continues her mission through Love Letters A Universal Sound is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving youth families and communities through education, music, faith , and storytelling
Despite life's challenges, Debora continually returned to college, driven by a passion for education, personal growth, and helping others.
My Why
In 1997, my 23 year-old daughter was brutally attacked and left permanently disabled. My husband and I brought her and her youngest son home from California, where we cared for her as a quadriplegic for 13 years until her passing. During that time, we raised her two sons and navigated a troubled marriage. That season of my life reshaped everything I thoughts I understood about suffering, responsibility, and faith.
Long before my daughter's tragedy I was a child asking God questions about the pain in the world. Why so much suffering? Why so much brokenness? People offered their answers, but my desire to understand never left me. Over time, life it's self became my teacher.
My life experiences from childhood loss, to motherhood, from caregiving, to grief-became the foundation for my work. What began as personal questions evolved into commmunity outreach, and later into a storytelling and music platform rooted in healing, truth, and transformation.
These losses did not end my purpose; they clarified it. They became the driving force behind creating space for people who desire to grow, heal, and become better in a troubled world.
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WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY?
KIND WORDS FROM OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS
"I learn so much every day. And it's so much fun too."
"I love volunteering with LLAUS. It's a way to use my talents as a musician to change lives."
"This is my favorite after school program. Our students love it too!"
