From The Chair

By Allan B. Cutrow

As the chair of KOREH L.A., I have had the opportunity to attend three very different types of events celebrating KOREH L.A.'s efforts in addressing and attacking illiteracy. Each has provided me an opportunity to reflect on what we can be and how powerful our programs are.

The first of these events was the KOREH L.A. Bookmark Competition Awards Ceremony held at Rosewood Elementary School. The winners were readers who designed the best bookmarks. What I found most fascinating and enjoyable was the cross-section of people who participate as KOREH L.A. volunteers. The volunteers were students, professionals, homemakers and seniors. There is no question that participation in the program offers a unique opportunity for everyone to join in our efforts to improve literacy rates in our community. One of our outstanding senior volunteers reads to five different children. If only we each read to one child, let alone five children, imagine our impact.

The second event was a library restocking. As you may be aware, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A has joined with KOREH L.A. in embarking on restocking elementary school libraries in the Los Angeles area. Toyota's current goal is to restock three libraries a year. To date we have restocked ten. It is a testament to Toyota's commitment as a member of our community. It is simply wonderful to see the faces of the librarians, principals, and students when they walk in to their new libraries: fully stocked with exciting, colorful and challenging books, all available for them to explore. Sometimes in the "big" things that we do, we lose sight of how easy it is and how little is required to make a significant impact on others.

Finally, the third event was truly unique. More than 100 students marched from Roosevelt High School to the Breed Street Elementary School. Each high schooler adopted a student at the Breed Street School as a reading partner and is participating in KOREH L.A.'s efforts towards enhancing literacy in our community. Mayor Villaragosa, Councilman José Huizer and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo were present at this event. Again, the power of a broad coalition to address literacy, and the actual participation of young people in their community to attack illiteracy, is truly a fulfilling and exciting experience. Even more meaningful to me is that both of my parents grew up in East L.A. and my mother attended Roosevelt High School. In a sense, what goes around comes around, and while we live in a geographically immense city, we really are all a part of this city and its rich history.

The sum and substance of all this is that our staff, our volunteers, our school staff, our elected officials and the students themselves really are evidence of something very exciting going on in our community. What makes this so special is that all of us are participating together to address the problem of illiteracy, letting each person know that all of us care for each other, and showing that that we are in this together. This simply reinforces how fortunate I am to have an opportunity to be the chair of KOREH L.A.