KOREH L.A.'s Phenomenal
AmeriCorps Promise Fellows

Tamar Aranoff, Elaine Albert, Ariel Suarez, and Ruth Thatcher at the AmeriCorps Promise Fellow retreat in Sonoma County, May 2007.

Since KOREH L.A.’s inception in 1999, we have relied on the hard work and dedication of AmeriCorps Promise Fellows. As the number of KOREH L.A. volunteers continues to increase, so does the need for additional staff to support them. There are six Promise Fellows as of this month: four Literacy Coordinators, who each manage a group of schools and volunteers, one Outreach Coordinator, who establishes new ties with local communities to recruit volunteers, and one Special Projects Coordinator, who plans events like Wrap-it-Up, restocking of school libraries, and our corporate on-line mentoring program.

Lauren Krauss, Ruth Thatcher and Ariel Suarez.

Hiring AmeriCorps Promise Fellows allows KOREH L.A. to operate successfully on a small budget while getting the manpower we need. Because each position is 12 months, Promise Fellows use their experience here as a stepping stone, often between receiving a degree and attending graduate school. Being a KOREH L.A. Promise Fellow is a rewarding job in a supportive learning environment.

KOREH L.A. owes much of its success to its AmeriCorps Promise Fellows. We couldn’t do it without them!

In September, our 2006-2007 Promise Fellows left, and our 2007-2008 Fellows were ushered in. The following are our staff farewells and welcomes.

FAREWELL to…
	Lauren Krauss has had an incredible experience working as an AmeriCorps Fellow. This August she began attending graduate school at USC to earn a Masters Degree in Social Work. She will miss KOREH L.A., her colleagues, and all of her wonderful volunteers.
	Ariel Suarez has worked closely with the volunteers this past year, and gained a greater appreciation and understanding of the valuable impact they make on their student’s future. He enjoyed working with them and will surely miss them (along with his colleagues) as he ventures into the next stage of his life.
	Ruth Thatcher will be getting her helicopter pilot’s license. She thanks her colleagues and volunteers for making her term as an AmeriCorps a wonderful learning experience.
WELCOME to…
	Emily Beckerman is a recent graduate of Oakland University where she received a B.S. in Biological Sciences. She will be joining KOREH L.A. all the way from Detroit, Michigan. She is very excited to be involved with enhancing literacy and opening up the world of reading for children. She is also looking forward to a winter away from the snow.
	Anya Brodsky earned a B.A. from Columbia University in Psychology and Art History. Anya recently moved to California from New York City where she worked in medical research. She is excited to help bridge the literacy gap and is looking forward to being a part of the KOREH team.
	Ryan Hensman has recently graduated UCLA with a B.A. in History and Anthropology. He is extremely excited about joining the KOREH L.A. team and helping Los Angeles bridge the education gap one student at a time.
	Michael Noveck comes to KOREH L.A. by way of Detroit, MI. He earned a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science from Indiana University. Michael is eager to assist in the development of literacy among Los Angeles children.
	Ashley Oliva is a recent graduate from Mt. San Antonio College with a A.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences. She is looking forward to working with KOREH L.A. and the interaction with the Jewish community as it strengthens literacy in the schools. She looks forward to working with the volunteers and coordinators in the upcoming year.