Blog

Volunteers of the Month: December 2015

Copyright JennKL PhotographyFrom 826LA in Mar Vista: Beth Hagenlocker is a co-founder of the Detroit Creativity Project (DCP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds improv programs for Detroit middle and high school students. She serves as the DCP’s Treasurer. Through her work with DCP, Beth looks for new ways to make writing more approachable, and encourage students to develop their literacy skills.

Beth is also a veterinarian and has spent most of her veterinary career working in feline medicine. Prior to earning her veterinary degree, she worked as a planner in various aspects of economic and community development in Detroit, Phoenix, and Seattle. At 826LA she loves having the chance to work with students of all ages. She volunteers in the Community Photoworks program and has worked with students at Phoenix High School.

Larry Gordon VOTM EPFrom 826LA in Echo Park: Larry Gordon has been a volunteer at 826LA in Echo Park for about four years, mainly working on the Good Times journalism project. A highlight was accompanying an ambitious and hungry student to interviews at two nearby restaurants in Echo Park. At the vegan place around the corner–Sage–they were rewarded with delicious ice cream.

Larry is a long-time staff writer and editor at the Los Angeles Times. He also is co-author of the hiking guide “Stairway Walks in Los Angeles.” He was a mid-career Fulbright Fellow in Bulgaria, teaching writing and journalism there. He lives in Silver Lake with his wife Leda, daughter Ellie, and their Wheaton Terrier named Molly.

Janie Bragg VOTM MA 3From 826LA at Manual Arts: In 2011, Janie Bragg took a leave-of-absence from the liberal arts college she was attending in her home state of South Carolina to come to Los Angeles for a creative development internship and simply never went back. Since then, she has graduated from the University of Southern California, where she majored in Narrative Studies and minored in Cinematic Arts and Sociology, and has had the pleasure of working for and learning from the wonderful creatives at film studios such as Point Grey Pictures. She is currently an aspiring writer, on-the-verge substitute teacher, hobbyist ballerina, television junkie, foster youth mentor, and, of course, committed 826LA writing tutor at Manual Arts High School. She resides in Pasadena with her attention-hungry black cat, Richard.

This entry was posted in General, Volunteers of the Month. Bookmark the permalink.