LARP
Literacy Council was organized on April 29, 1986 as a citizen’s
support group for the Library Adult Reading Project of Los
Angeles Public Library. It was incorporated as a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization in August, 1988.
Through fund raising and advocacy, LARP Literacy Council assisted public library staff by providing financial support for expansion and outreach efforts.
Since 1998, Council activities have been focused primarily in the area of family literacy through support of preschool programs, while also expanding support to literacy service providers beyond the Library Department. It is an all-volunteer organization, with no paid staff.
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Report
on October 2008 Council Luncheon
By
Brenda Roberts
LARP's October 2008 luncheon was a
success and a delight. Held on one of the most flat-out
gorgeous days of the year, the luncheon was staged on the
spacious patio of Barbara Clark's home.
In attendance were board members,
site supervisors, friends of LARP-notably Don Backstrom of
California Statewide Certified Development Corporation (CSCDC)
and his daughter--and a great turnout of storytellers. LARP
board member Michael McCarty served as the event's irreverent
and irrepressible master of ceremonies.
The most important announcement of
the luncheon arrived when Mr. Backstrom informed the 26 in
attendance that CSCDC will be continuing its support of LARP.
In a salute to the organization and the leadership of Vicki
Juditz and Barbara Clark, he made it clear that the decision
to continue funding was without qualification and unanimous.
His announcement was greeted with applause and expressions of
gratitude; LARP members have been greatly concerned about the
organization's future funding in light of the retirement of
Barbara Vohryzek, effective December 31, 2008.
After recognition of LARP's
distinguished guests, the program's showcase storytelling
performances began. Guests were captivated by stories from
Yvette Brandy, Ellaraino, Sylvia Vasquez-Lawrence, Barbara
Wong and Kathleen Zundell. All were expertly
presented, including a story about a clever village child who
figured out how to avoid the jaws of a hungry tiger. Pulling
in participants from the audience, young and older alike, it
was a thoroughly entertaining experience. In fact, the
performers demonstrated a dazzling range of styles possible in
the art of storytelling. Their presentations were
proof--especially to those who had not witnessed firsthand the
talents of LARP's storytelling corps-that our organization
offers a rich and valuable resource to the children in our
community of centers.
It bears noting that the use of
Barbara Clark's home and her behind-the-scenes
contributions-bookkeeping, set-up, clean-up, program planning
and general "nudging"-were key to the success of the
event. To Barbara and to Cordelia, our unsung benefactor, our
sincere thanks.
| Board of Directors 2006: |
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Front row (left to right):
Norma Washington, Barbara H. Clark, Ray Clark, Kathy Steilioff
Back row: Ina Buckner-Barnette, Cordelia Lai, Pamela Greene, Vicki Juditz,
Michael D. McCarty,
Casper Reeves, Grayson Cook |
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| Current Board of Directors |
Barbara H. Clark, Library Administrator, Los Angeles Public Library, Retired, became a professional storyteller, and serves as Artist-In-Residence at Vineyard Senior Center. She is currently serving as Secretary/Grant writer for LARP Literacy Council.
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Ina Buckner-Barnette is a storyteller and award-winning actress with over 17 years of educational media production experience. She currently performs and teaches ESL to adults with L.A.U.S.D.
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Pamela M. Greene, Children's Librarian, also serves on the Board of Directors of The Children's Literature Council of Southern California. She is the current webmaster for LARP.
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Ina Hillebrandt is Founder and Director of Pawprints Literacy Plus, a program for teaching literacy skills to kids. She is also an author, publisher, and instructor of creative writing for adults.
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Vicki Juditz, Professional Storyteller
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Shirley LaRue, retired school teacher (elementary and kindergarten).
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Cordelia Lai, School Teacher, Retired. Taught Advanced Placement Level Physics for sixteen years before she retired. She in now doing volunteer work in various organizations, including 'Recording for the Blind and Dyslexia' which is one of her favorites.
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Michael D. McCarty, Professional Storyteller, is also on the Board of Directors of the National Storytelling Network and is Vice President of Dreamshapers, A Southern California Arts organization. His Mother used to tell him as a child, "If you can read, you can do anything!" He believed her!
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Casper M. Reaves, Sales Supervisor, American Income Insurance.
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Brenda Roberts is Managing Editor of Internal Publications at Cal State Northridge, and board member of the Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation, and Parenting Teens Resource Network.
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Kathleen Strelioff, Branch Librarian, Los Angeles, Public Library, Retired
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LARP Literacy Council Luncheon -
April 2, 2006 |
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Barbara Clark
receives a
Certificate of Appreciation from the Mayor of Los Angeles |
Michael McCarty
LARP Board Member |
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Barbara Clark (center) with Vicki Juditz (left)
and Ina Buckner-Barnette (right) |
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Katy Rydell
Storyteller |
Barbara Wong
Storyteller |
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