From 826LA in Mar Vista: Ginger Pennington loves helping creative kids write books during 826LA’s Field Trips! When she’s not helping kids write poetic odes to a sick anteater, or seeking four perfect alternate endings to a story about trash cans falling in love, she enjoys surfing, acting, writing, traveling, and finding fiction-worthy excitement in her everyday life.
Ginger has a B.A. in Theatre, an M.A. in Creative Writing, a motorcycle license, a yoga teacher certification, and a Nutri-Bullet that makes really good smoothies. She recently helped produce and acted in Ape Zone, a 90s-themed absurdist web series on WellDang.com. Her debut novel, Stolen Santa Monica, is on its way to the right agent any minute now.
From 826LA in Echo Park: During his three years of volunteering at 826LA, t.j. peters has come to the conclusion that in his lifetime of creative writing he has yet to compose anything as interesting than what most seven-year-olds can conjure in about three hours. While this realization is a bit of an ego-shot, it has also become one of his greatest inspirations, both personally and professionally. At this juncture in his life, he needs a weekly dose of 826LA simply to stay sane.
t.j. primarily volunteers with morning Field Trips, specializing (or so he claims) as a typist for 826’s young storytellers, poets, and Choose-Your-Own Adventur-ers. He has also spent his last two summers with English Language Learner (ELL) Camp, where he’s learned that perhaps the most effective tool for brainstorming is snacks.
t.j. is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and an unreasonably proud transplant of the City That Works. Outside of 826LA, t.j. is a freelance screenwriter and director in the entertainment industry. Literary-wise, his short prose and poetry can be found in various publications around the web. He also claims to be an amateur falconer. There is no evidence to support this assertion.
From 826LA at Manual Arts: Miguel Roura is a writer/actor/producer/artivist and a retired LAUSD English Language instructor from Boyle Heights. Since his earliest days during the Chicano movement as a community organizer and educator to his current involvement with CASA 0101 Theater, Miguel’s life-work has been to contribute to the betterment of his community.
He’s performed shows such as: Frida Kahlo Ten Minute Festival (No Me Queda Otra), “Project,” “Shakespeare Sonnets Night,” the fall 2014 production of “Julius Caesar,” Alicia Madrid’s “Sparkles and the Black Crying Woman.” His play “A Midnight Buzz” was chosen for the 2015 Frida Kahlo’s Ten Minute Play Festival. “Un Mitote Mas,” his short narrative is featured in the anthology Tell Your True Tale: East L.A. He is currently developing his first full length play “A Nail in the Heart” for production.
This school year he helped high school students with their personal statements at West Adams, students at Roosevelt with Ms. Andujo and Ms. Chapman’s classes for persuasive essays, students at Garfield with Ms. Thong’s class for their memoir books, seniors at Manual Arts for Scholarship Day, and juniors for next year’s personal statements, and students at Mendez to develop their pieces for “If I Were President” in Mr. De Leon’s classes.