Lázaro's home studio in Havana Vieja is known throughout the city as a place where imagination replaces hardship, where children find safety and belonging, and where the arts keep kids off the streets, connected to their neighborhood and to each another. As a respected community leader and teacher, Lázaro has fostered an inter-generational cultural haven where free artistic expression and Afro-Cuban spiritual and cultural traditions are celebrated and woven into the fabric of daily life. It is a place, rich in creativity and joy, where children and their families come together to be supported, seen, heard, and healed.

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Lázaro's mission grew from his childhood experiences when he was orphaned at a young age. He was brought up inside a lineage of traditional Santería by his grandmother and aunt, who worked at a local cultural center where Lázaro learned music, dance, and the visual language of art in its various forms. Art offered Lázaro alternative perspectives and a supportive community – and paved the way for his path as a teacher and mentor. Lázaro sees his own life as an example of how the creative arts can be transformational and open extraordinary opportunities.  His deepest wish is to give back to his community and help create a better future for the youth and families of his beloved Cuba, a place he loves with all his heart.