From 826LA in Mar Vista: Tiana Martin has worked with 826LA since August 2014 and is most recently proud to support the 2016 Young Authors’ Book Project at Animo Venice Charter High School.
For the last fifteen years, Tiana has worked diligently to improve the quality of life for individuals of diverse backgrounds. She has worked with children with autism and special needs by supporting applied behavior analysis (ABA) training programs, led action sporting events for young people affected by spinal cord injuries and managed teams to meet the needs of international ESL students acclimating to life in America. Tiana recently began a career with a major airline in 2012 as a Boston based Flight Attendant before relocating to her native California. She enjoys using her knowledge and experience as a Team Leader to support LGB/LAX Airport operations and Crewmembers operating at 30,000 feet.
Tiana is a first-generation college student, earning her A.A. in Psychology and B.A. in English and Creative Writing (Fiction and Poetry) from the University of California, Irvine. She enjoys writing and has worked with agencies in cause marketing to engage audiences for various socially responsible campaigns. Tiana is always on the go, but enjoys mastering new recipes, making time to read a good book, and outdoor adventures in her down time. In 2011 she developed a love for running and has competed in over 20 races, her most recent being Big Sur Marathon. If you see Tiana around please say hello!
From 826LA in Echo Park: Kristina Gsell is a recent LA transplant from NYC and couldn’t be happier about it. Volunteering at 826LA for the past 5 months has been an invaluable part of her adjustment to the new city, allowing her to connect with her local community and discover all the wonderful aspects of Echo Park and LA through their eyes. Kristina loves working with the 826LA students so much that she recently joined the Centaur Club, committing to weekly tutoring in both the After-School and Tuesday/Thursday Night Tutoring programs. Whether it’s getting a student to finally grasp a tricky algebra concept, teaching students some Italian while they teach her the same words in Spanish, or catching up with a fellow volunteer, Kristina always leaves her volunteering sessions feeling rewarded. In her free time, Kristina loves to hike, garden, and practice yoga. She is also an aspiring mermaid.
From 826LA at Manual Arts: Marlene Vadell has enjoyed being part of 826LA since 2008. She truly enjoys being a tutor in the After-School Tutoring program as she gets to help the children with their homework. Marlene also visited Manual Arts High School for the first time last month to help the Spanish-speaking students write and edit their narratives in Spanish. It was a terrific experience for her to work so closely with these students and to help them share their thoughts.
Marlene starts her mornings, Monday through Friday, by either practicing Bikram Yoga or going to the gym–a routine that she has maintained for the last ten years. Cooking for her family is another one of her pastimes. In her self-published cookbook, “Of Passing Clouds, Distant Shores, and Tales of a Cuban Cook,” one can get a glimpse of what it was like growing up in Cuba and her fond memories of her grandmother’s recipes.
Marlene recently completed a twenty-eight year career with a real estate development company. She is now pursuing other ways to enrich her life by serving others. She subscribes to the belief that to give is to receive and so she gives herself generously.