June 2024 Newsletter
Championing our Community
PC: Brandon Moningka
Dear YS Community,
As we reflect upon this past semester in anticipation of the next, it is exciting to see all of the positive changes and impacts we’ve experienced as a family. From expanding our volunteer base to growing the size of our team, Young Storytellers is ever committed to shaping ourselves to best serve our community and its needs. Even our curriculum is becoming more accessible than ever, with online learning platforms and intentional expansion plans allowing us to share the power of storytelling with students near and far.
We continue to find new ways to live out our mission statement and we are always looking for individuals that align with the work we do. Keep reading to learn more about community members that exemplify who we are, and ways to get involved as we gear up for next semester! You’re guaranteed to be inspired.
Meet a Young Storytellers Volunteer
A huge shoutout to Alan Corvaia for his incredible hard work and dedication to Young Storytellers this Spring! Alan volunteered as an actor at four shows, including Elementary and High School Big Shows, two of which featured Spanish stories!
Thank you Alan for your unwavering support and your commitment to help empower these young voices. At Young Storytellers, we’re passionate about bringing people together and creating stories that amplify voices that often go unheard. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission!
Get to know Alan below:
How long have you been volunteering at Young Storytellers?
My first show was this past October 2023 and it truly shifted my world. My friend invited me to perform at La Ballona Elementary school and after that day I was hooked.
What has been the most rewarding part about volunteering at Young Storytellers?
Helping realize a young artist’s vision; especially those belonging to global majority communities who deeply need a space to share their stories and voice their truth.
What is the most memorable part of volunteering?
Getting to collaborate with such a diverse group of kids and schools is always exciting! Yet one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had is when I got to read and hear the monologues/stories of young storytellers in Hollenbeck Middle School —for the first time in SPANISH!!! I was moved to the core, specifically by the resilience, creativity, and will of all these incredible young artists.
Do you have any advice for new volunteers joining Young Storytellers?
Breathe the artist’s imagination as much as you can. In any shape or form, even if you don’t have any lines, staying active and ready to act as a tree or create sound effects will help suspend the audience’s disbelief, activate the actor’s commitment and further realize the image of the writer.
Volunteer Corner
PC: Brandon Moningka
Stay connected with us this summer by joining our volunteer events!
June: On June 25, we hosted a Coffee & Coworking event at the YS office in the Arts District. Our headquarters became “Cafe YS” as volunteers stopped by for coffee, hung out with our volunteer team staff, and even got some remote work done. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet new faces and enjoy a vibrant atmosphere, all with a view of sunny downtown Los Angeles.
August: Our virtual Volunteer Info Sessions start up again in August. These are one-hour monthly sessions where interested volunteers can learn more about Young Storytellers, our programs, and what it takes to volunteer with us. More details will be posted to our Events page soon!
September: Fall programs begin in September, and we’ll be having our Back to School Fall 2024 volunteer event to kick off the new school year! New volunteers will get to learn all about YS programs and what it means to be a mentor, while returning volunteers can share about their experiences and celebrate another year of storytelling! More details to follow, so stay tuned!
You can find out more information about our upcoming events by signing up on our website. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Andrea Barreto at andrea@youngstorytellers.com.
A Message from Alexis
Volunteer Outreach and Partnerships Strategist
As the Young Storytellers mission states, we’re passionate about bringing people together and creating stories to raise the voices of those who don’t often get heard. As our program expands and serves new school communities, the volunteers team is making a conscious effort to strengthen our network in order to grow and diversify our volunteer community. Now that Alexis is serving in our Volunteer Outreach and Partnerships position, our team has more capacity to build stronger connections with community organizations, coalitions, theaters, and the like.
Young Storytellers community, we need your help! If you know someone or are a part of a community that might be interested in connecting with Young Storytellers, please do not hesitate to reach out to them and introduce them to our Volunteers Team (email Alexis at Alexis@youngstorytellers.com). We are looking for community “champions” – folks who believe in our mission and are committed to helping us spread the YS word in their respective communities. Let’s raise voices together!
Meet Summer: Development Strategist
Hi there! My name is Summer and I am honored to join the team at Young Storytellers. My journey began as an actress, leading me to volunteer in Fiji and Puerto Rico, and eventually to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. It was during these experiences that I discovered the power of storytelling as an agent of change for communities. With a Master’s degree in International Development from the London School of Economics and Bachelor’s in Communications from CSUN, I specialize in nonprofit development through strategic communication. I am excited to bring my experience in fundraising and donor relations into my role and combining my passion for the arts and nonprofit work.
In addition to my professional journey, I enjoy hobbies that inspire my creativity and storytelling passion. When I am not working, you can find me Latin dancing, listening to podcasts, painting, hiking, and traveling the world with my friends.
Lastly, I would like to extend an invitation for you to join me in supporting Young Storyteller’s mission by giving today! By supporting Young Storytellers, you are helping empower young people - and the communities they come from - know that they can use their ideas, art, and voices to impact the world. Please consider making a donation to support our programs and follow Young Storytellers on Instagram @youngstorytellers for updates and opportunities to partner with us. I hope to connect with you in the future!
Thank You, Interns!
Young Storytellers is proud to partner with multiple organizations that provide internship programs for college students. This year, we worked with long standing partners LACAC and InternLA, in addition to kickstarting a new fellowship program with Ready to Succeed. These organizations align with our mission by providing equitable employment and funding opportunities to historically underrepresented and marginalized youth.
Thank you so much to our most recent intern cohort - Nishka, Teresa, and Lucero! We are grateful for your hard work and passion and excited to see where you go from here.
warm welcomes
Meet our newest cohort of interns and fellows!
