SPRING 2014

NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, May 3, 2014

Venice Garden & Home Tour

Why Architects Support NYA

Gen.er.ous Liberal in giving; munificent; unselfish.
THESE WORDS accurately describe Erin-Aine Miller and her husband Ron Culver who have been major sponsors of the Venice Garden & Home Tour for ten years. The primary focus of Ron and Erins charitable giving is education and environmental issues. Their involvement with NYA began years ago when Erin volunteered to be a docent coordinator for the Garden Tour. Erin says the goals of a charity are important to them, and they look for very effective organizations that use funds well. They think the goals and culture

This annual self-guided walking tour raises funds for NYA. Each year the tour features an eclectic array of homes which showcase the unique spirit of the Venice community. See page 5.

Sunday, May 17, 2014

Student scripts written in the NYA program Write this Way come to life in a performance by professional actors, directed by Dan Ward at Electric Lodge. See pages 2 & 6. Thursday, November 6, 2014

Secretos: Stories we shouldnt Tell

Erin-Aine Miller (left) and husband Ron Culver of C / ARC, their Venice architecture and design firm.
Photo: Venice Paparazzi

18th Annual Investors in Education Reception

Held at the California Club each year, this exclusive event honors those in the investment community who are making a difference in the education of our youth. Thursday, November 20, 2014

Youth Service Council Luncheon

This annual Luncheon is held to show appreciation to the many youth serving agencies on the Westside. Friday, March 6, 2015

Scholarship & Community Service Awards Dinner

This annual event at The Riviera Country Club celebrates the accomplishments of our NYA students, as well as the support from our community partners and volunteers. See pages 3 & 4 for pictures from this years event. If you would like information on any of the events listed above, please call us at (310) 664-8893.

for kids. The Garden Tour is the perfect charity event. I give a lot of credit to Jay Griffith, Jan Brilliot and Linda Lucks who created something special when they If we want economic justice, founded the Garden Tour. There is an outstanding group of women we need educational change for who are involved. This program the economically disadvantaged. is important because it provides Education is the solution to helping education to families who are in kids have a successful future. need, concludes Erin. Ron Culver and Erin-Aine Erin-Aine Miller Millers architecture and design of NYA are good and effective. She says firm C / ARC melds art and technolthat kids who go through the NYA pro- ogy to create innovative architecture, gram have fundamentally different interiors and landscapes that embrace outcomes than those who dont. If we and inspire their occupants. Its one of want economic justice, we need edu- the many Venice architecture firms that cational change for the economically has made a tremendous contribution to disadvantaged. Education is the solu- the success of the Garden Tour. These tion to helping kids have a successful Venice architects are internationally future, says Erin. She speaks passion- recognized for their cutting edge and ately when she says, What NYA does environmentally sensitive work. Not is amazing. The Garden Tour achieves only have many architects made their wonderful things for the Venice neigh- own homes available to thousands of borhood; it creates unity by bringing tour-goers, but they also frequently bepeople together to work on it. Great come sponsors of the fund raising event. designers are doing interesting work, Erin-Aine Miller and Ron Culver are and they raise awareness of new tech- leading examples of the generous doniques. People love plants and good nors who support NYAs Venice Garden design. Everyone is doing their work & Home Tour.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Chairman Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Wendell Barner, President Realtor, Prudential California Daniel McQueen, 1st Vice President Attorney, Labor and Employment, Sheppard Mullin Watt W. Webb III, 2nd Vice President Senior Director, Portfolio Management, BNY Mellon Wealth Management Joe Silver, Treasurer Managing Partner, EdgeLine Capital Partners, LLC Joyce Maddox Morandi, Secretary Community Volunteer Don R. Allison, Immediate Past President Adjunct Professor of Economics

OFFICERS

Write This Way

by Kendell Shaffer

MEMBERS
Adri Butler Venice Garden and Home Tour Robert F. Cavanaugh Managing Director, DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners Clarke A. Morrow School Administrator, Retired Marissa Roman Griffith Attorney/Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Mark R. Ross Jose E. Feliciano Partner, Clearlake Managing Director, Diamond Capital Capital Group Partners Ludmila Gibbons Chris Ruud Community Las Doradas Women Volunteer Thomas W. Hulick President & CEO, Holly Street Wealth Advisors, LLC Paul D. Swanson Attorney, Liner Grode Stein Yankelevitz Sunshine Regenstrief & Taylor

ODonnell Iselin Finance Director, Donald Walton Moog Aircraft Group Attorney, Law Offices of Donald D. Walton Nancy Kirwan Landscape Designer Susan Welde Attorney, Locke Lord Ann S. Lucas Bissell & Liddell, LLP Community Robert Williams Volunteer Canon for CommuSeema Mishra nity Relations, Education Manage- Episcopal Diocese of ment & Research Los Angeles

EVERY THURSDAY since September I've had the privilege of working with seven brave and talented teenagers at Neighborhood Youth Association. In a screenwriting class called Write This Way, the students have learned the basics of screenwriting, studied movie clips and dissected professional screenplays. Each student has written a ten to twenty page short screenplay. The only direction: it had to be about something personal. Write what you know, is a basic rule in beginning writing. In several months time, these students have crafted beautifully told and dramatically compelling stories about events in their own lives. It's not always easy to be honest in your writing, but when you are, the truth is quite powerful. The subjects in the students scripts range from angry fathers, rape, loneliness, religion and love. On May 17, these scripts will come to life in a performance the students have titled, Secretos: Stories We Shouldnt Tell, (see story on page 6). Eight professional actors have volunteered to perform the stories under the direction of Venice local Dan Ward at Electric Lodge. Other

Top: Students with teacher Kendell Shaffer (second from right) and the director of Secretos, Dan Ward, (right). Above: Students use laptops in class. local Venice professionals have volunteered to speak and work with the students on this production. So far costume designer Natasha Noor, composer Josef Peters, and make-up artist Randi Mavestrand have shared their expertise with the students. Please join us on May 17 to watch these stories come alive.

Sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

Visit us on the web: www.nyayouth.org Follow us on Twitter @NYA_Youth Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ NeighborhoodYouthAssociation

Left: A student participates in a makeup presentation with professional make-up artist Randi Mavestrand, (right). Above: A student participates in a music-writing session with composer Josef Peters, (not pictured).

NYAs 31st Annual Community Service, Volunteer & Scholarship Awards Dinner

CONGRATULATIONS!
Community Service Award Winner
Google

Volunteer Award

Scholarship Awards
Jos Feliciano & Kwanza Jones Scholarship Evelyn Dumas Katherine Escoto Tatiana Gevelekian Cinthia Gutierrez Jonny Sanchez Friends of NYA Scholarship Abraham Cho Laura Hernandez Santiago Elizabeth Martinez Friends of NYA Vendella Barnett Scholarship Fanny Rivera Fred & Marjie Mautner Scholarship Elva Castillo Aurora Nuez

NYA Robotics Team: Lilliam Alicea Pedro Castellanos Autumn Lui Ricardo Morales Rahul Vishwanath Justin Webster

St. Bedes Bonnie Dawson Scholarship Diana Mendez St. Bedes Ruth Nicastro Scholarship Reyes Sena Marguerite J. Goulde Scholarship Carol Mejia Emily Mendez Investors in Education Scholarship Edward Hernandez Jacqueline Martinez The Joseph Scholarship Diana Mendoza Nancy Santiago Mar Vista Farmers Market Scholarship Elizabeth Blas Cortes Lourdes Lopez Aurora Madrigal Marisol Martinez Stephanie Nieto

St. Matthews Parish Outreach Wayne & Mary Muller Scholarship Jocelin Hernandez Mireya Mateo Gomez St. Matthews Tita Mann Scholarship Liliana LaMadrid Alex Mendoza Baja Cantina & Mission Foods Scholarship Jesus Romo Lisbeth Sanchez

Photos by Penny Jennings

NYAs 31st Annual Community Service, Volunteer & Scholarship Awards Dinner

Thank You
Scholarship & Award Sponsors
Educational Insights Friends of Neighborhood Youth Association Jos E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones Kirsten Goulde Amanda MacLennan Fred and Marjie Mautner Family and Friends of Tita Mann Investors in Education The Joseph Scholarship Sponsors Mar Vista Farmers Market Parish of St. Matthew St. Bedes Episcopal Church Sponsors of the Adel M. Martinez Award Sisters of Bede Baja Cantina Mission Foods

his program has taught me to become a leader by being courageous, taking responsibility and learning how to work together with the other youth leaders. NYA has shown me that putting yourself out there can open new doors in your life, for which I am very thankful. Emcee Katherine Bermudez, NYA Youth Leader

n high school, I became involved with the Youth Leader program where I was able to develop my leadership skills, increase my confidence, and have opportunities I would have never thought possible. Now as a current staff member . . . not only do I see the importance of NYA in our community, but I also get to help other students achieve their dreams. Emcee Kenya Mejia, NYA Alumna and Staff Member

T
Photos by Penny Jennings

his is my favorite night of the year because its a night thats all about big dreams dreams of going to college, overcoming barriers, building a better future and giving back to help others achieve their dreams. Its a night to celebrate the hard work that has gone into making those dreams a reality. And those dreams are coming true for more NYA students than ever! Viva Krasinski, NYA Executive Director

Don't miss the 2014 Venice Home & Garden Tour

Saturday, May 3, 10am-5pm

On Saturday, May 3, the Venice Garden & Home Tour will

showcase Hidden Venice: Then & Now, 30 intriguing gardens and homes in the Walk Street area adjacent to the Venice Boardwalk and in the charming, secluded Walk Street neighborhood east of Abbot Kinney Boulevard. This self-guided walking tour, from 10:00am to 5:00pm, starts at NYA, 1016 Pleasant View Avenue in Venice. Shuttle vans and food trucks will be available for the several thousand tourgoers who meander around Venice enjoying and being inspired by this colorful, creative community. Last May 2013, the tour raised $308,000 and sold over 2500 tickets in the most successful event in the tours 20-year history. This years tour will be another not to be missed extraordinary day in Venice.

For tickets and all information, call 310-821-1857, or visit us at www.venicegardentour.org

Top: The view from a penthouse rooftop overlooking the beach and boardwalk; Above: A second story pool overlooking Main Street; Far Left: The home of Lisa and Don Dimster, Dimster Architecture; Left: The succulent garden of Venice metal sculptor David Gale.
Photos: Eric Staudemaier

ABOUT NYA
Our Mission
Neighborhood Youth Association's (NYA) mission is to provide low-income, at-risk children and youth and their families with core academic support and a comprehensive set of life skills in a sustained and focused manner over the critical years of their lives so that they may achieve a successful and productive adulthood.

1016 Pleasant View Ave. Venice, CA 90291

Our Students
NYA serves 150+ low-income and at-risk and youth ages 5-18 and an additional 200+ family members throughout Los Angeles with sites in Venice, Mar Vista, Downtown, Mid-City and South Los Angeles.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Over 100 years of continuous service to the community 100% of NYAs high school seniors graduate on time 100% of NYA students go on to college most are first generation college bound! 100% of NYA students significantly improve their English and/or math skills. NYA Alumni Alma Maters are correct and up to date.

Secretos: Stories We Shouldnt Tell Directed by Dan Ward Produced by Kendell Shaffer in association with Write This Way, (see page 2) Written by NYA students Katherine Burmudez, Katherine Escoto, John Martinez, Jacqueline Martinez and Abygail Sanchez with Cinthia Guiterez and Maribel Hernandez

With an edginess that reflects their socioeconomic status and strong cultural influences, seven incredibly brave high school students reveal intimate details of their lives on subject matter that in the past would definitely have been considered taboo. A professional cast and a visionary director/ producer bring to light these stories and will change how you see young people forever.

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 142 Venice, CA

Tickets: http://secretos.brownpapertickets.com/

NYA Alumni alma maters: Bryn Mawr College California Art Institute California State University campuses in Bakersfield, East Bay, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles and Northridge Macalester College Marymount College Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Mount Holyoke College Rhode Island Institute of Design Ripon College Lewis and Clark College Loyola Marymount University Mount St. Marys College University of California campuses in Berkley, Davis, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz University of Southern California