We're back with the Los Angeles Public Library! This time Librarians (yes, capital L) Marcia Melkonian at the  Canoga Park Branch and Elisabeth Calle at the Encino Tarzana Branch are helping Teens Leading Change realize their plans for The Domestic Violence Awareness Project. The concept for a graphic novel and a podcast was developed over eight classes with Samantha Guevera of StrengthUnited, a CSUN Community Agency (and CA Non profit of the year!) This episode highlights specific types of domestic abuse  as reported by Melissa Peruch, Estephanie Paz, Viviene Carjaval, Artina Turokh, Tanisha Gunby, and Isabelle Saeedy.        Thank you Joe Foldes for mastering the audio recorded off of Zoom and handling our post production. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio Produced by Betsy Foldes Meiman        

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LAPL Teens Leading Change- Domestic Violence Awareness Project Episode 1

Andre Devancens has been a part of Connectopod since second grade. Now he's fully graduated from Van Nuys High School and on his way to Cal Poly Pomona for Journalism.   In Andre's 2019 interview that was a part of our Teen Mental Health project at CSUN,  he talked about coming out as pan sexual, and his inspirations and aspirations. So as part of our 'grateful for our grads' June we revisited that interview and followed up with Andre to see how that interview stacks up to his present experience and to find out where he is headed now. We can't wait to see Andre's open-minded intelligence and energy out in the world! Thank you for all of your work with Connectopod. Congrats Andre! topics: Coming out as a teen, journalism, graduating high school, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Daryl Davis For more of Naia, The LA Master Chorale/Van Nuys HS  project visit:  https://lamasterchorale.org/oratorio-project

Congrats Class of 2021-Andre Davancens

Long-time Connectopod contributor and valedictorian Laz Meiman graduated Grover Cleveland Humanities magnet with High Honors class of 2021. He has been with us since the beginning, as reporter, teacher, producer and supporter. An independent thinker who wants to turn his perceptive talents to government, Laz feels he can be a proponent of positive change. His passion for history has inspired some great Connectopod episodes over the years. Congrats to Laz and good luck at UCSC! In this repost of a 2020 interview, Laz covers Fred Hampton and the Rainbow coalition, high school political internships, social justice leadership, the college application process, and cutting up an ox. We are so proud of you, Laz! Congratulations! You can also hear Laz explaining campaign finance reform as a guest on the podcast Contested Politics        

Congrats Class of 2021- Laz Meiman

Part therapist, part educator, part advocate, and part den mother Alejandro Soria, director of the drop-in center for homeless youth at The Village Family Services,  leads his team to provide support for homeless transitional age youth 14-24 (TAY) This interview, edited for length, took place during the height of the pandemic, and soon after two of their TAY, had recently passed away, including Robert Fuller, whose murder by hanging in Palmdale was in the news. Alejandro talks of all the Village Family Services in North Hollywood offered to homeless youth and the hidden challenges of serving youth in a lasting and life-changing way.            .    

Changing the Narrative- Unhoused Youth: Alejandro Soria

Art heals. Art can save your life. Ricardo Cobian was homeless at 18. By 22 he was planning his own demise. Ricardo found the DiC who helped him back from the brink and gave him the stability to find his passion for art, processing pain, and envisioning a future. Named  New Futures Prize Winner at The Other Art Fair Los Angeles (Spring 2021), this talented artist is now exhibiting on the prestigious Saatchiart.com/Ricardo Cobian If you need a place to turn to help you prevent homelessness or help you if you are experiencing homelessness go to  The Valley Family Services . They will help you. No judgments. Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes

Changing the Narrative-Unhoused Youth: Ricardo Cobian

This was ninth-grader T's first brush with Edgar Allan Poe. She had a definite opinion! Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Mr. Blythe shared his curriculum and together we came up with the idea to have them narrate Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart."  The crazed narrator provided the perfect vehicle for the class to become an ensemble of different personalities in his murderous head. Betsy Foldes Meiman directed the piece as if it were a take on Batman's Joker or popular video game homicidal maniacs, some of which she has voiced. The class took up the challenge and dug deep into the text, ingesting and performing Poe's words with deep understanding. Language and literacy barriers were smashed. The shy became killers, and of course Mr. Blythe himself, the poor victim. Recorded remotely by Betsy over zoom over a week's time, the edited files were given to professional sound designer Eric Willhelm who then created an eerie and ever more stressful atmosphere driving the story to its explosive conclusion.  We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art. We think they will never forget The Tell-Tale Heart!   *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

LAPL/Canoga Park Highschool- The Edgar Allan Poe Project promo

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Part of the Edgar Allan Poe Project, Mr. Blythe had his student write letters from 'Dr. Poe' to the insane asylum about his 'patients' (his characters!). They are as creepy as Mr. Poe's characters themselves! We thought it would be fun to have them read by professional artists. Letter 4 is narrated by Voice over artist Laz Meiman (of Nickelodeon's Harvey Beaks) soon heading off to college! We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art.    *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

LAPL/Canoga Park HS The Edgar Allan Poe Project- Letter number 4

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Part of the Edgar Allan Poe Project, Mr. Blythe had his student write letters from 'Dr. Poe' to the insane asylum about his 'patients' (his characters!). They are as creepy as Mr. Poe's characters themselves! We thought it would be fun to have them read by professional artists. Letter 3 is narrated by  Voice over artist  Betsy Foldes Meiman We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art.    *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

LAPL/Canoga Park HS The Edgar Allan Poe Project- Letter number 3

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Part of the Edgar Allan Poe Project, Mr. Blythe had his student write letters from 'Dr. Poe' to the insane asylum about his 'patients' (his characters!). They are as creepy as Mr. Poe's characters themselves! We thought it would be fun to have them read by professional artists. Letter 2 is narrated by Voice over artist and actual therapist Steve Morris We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art.    *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

LAPL/Canoga Park HS The Edgar Allan Poe Project- Letter number 2

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Part of the Edgar Allan Poe Project, Mr. Blythe had his student write letters from 'Dr. Poe' to the insane asylum about his 'patients' (his characters!). They are as creepy as Mr. Poe's characters themselves! We thought it would be fun to have them read by professional artists. Letter 1 is narrated by Playwright and film commentator Richard Harland Smith We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art.    *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

LAPL/Canoga Park HS The Edgar Allan Poe Project- Letter number 1

Mr. Blythe was concerned that his 9th Grade class of IEP* learners were having a hard time engaging with online learning (really who wasn't?!).  Rockstar Librarian Marcia Melkonian and The Friends of the Canoga Park Library reached out to Connectopod because engagement is our game! Mr. Blythe shared his curriculum and together we came up with the idea to have them narrate Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart."  The crazed narrator provided the perfect vehicle for the class to become an ensemble of different personalities in his murderous head. Betsy Foldes Meiman directed the piece as if it were a take on Batman's Joker or popular video game homicidal maniacs, some of which she has voiced. The class took up the challenge and dug deep into the text, ingesting and performing Poe's words with deep understanding. Language and literacy barriers were smashed. The shy became killers, and of course Mr. Blythe himself, the poor victim. Recorded remotely by Betsy over zoom over a week's time, the edited files were given to professional sound designer Eric Willhelm who then created an eerie and ever more stressful atmosphere driving the story to its explosive conclusion.  We had so much fun with this class and are grateful for their hard work and the joyful spirit with which they took to learning through art. We think they will never forget The Tell Tale Heart!   *Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

LAPL/Canoga Park HS- The Edgar Allan Poe Project

 Formerly homeless Bianca Palmer is now a medical professional. Music helped her cope through the tough times she related in her interview. So when it came time to do her episode, it was an easy choice of subject matter for her. Here she interviews two fellow TAY (Transitional Age Youth) who have reclaimed their lives with the resources of the Village Family Services drop-in center.  Connectopod music producer and professional musician Joe Foldes helped Gayle Alvarez complete her brother DJ's last song left unfinished before his suicide. "Find me Next to You" is a gift of love.  Phillip Hargo processed the challenge that was this last year through his hip hop piece '2020.' You can feel the energy and determination as we move into a new beginning!   Thank You to our professional musician mentors Joe Foldes who transcribed, played, and mixed DJ's "Find Me Next to You," as well as the entire episode, and Kevin Stevens who ran our recording session and drummed on "Find Me Next to You" If you are struggling with homelessness tap the DiC. 6801 Coldwater Canyon Avenue   North Hollywood, CA 91605 Phone: Betsy Foldes Meiman    

Changing the Narrative: Unhoused Youth- Still Grateful and Still Aiming High

Today you’ll meet Bianca. She is truly a kid you would never have expected to be homeless. She excelled in high school, participating in ROTC, trekking across the San Fernando Valley every day to attend El Camino, a school she advocated to get into on her own. She got good grades, and participated in extracurriculars. And she was doing it all on her own. But what she thought was support in a new romance, became the undertow that brought her down. But not for the count.        If  you need a place to turn to help you prevent homelessness or help you if you are experiencing homelessness go to  The Valley Family Services     Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes  

Changing the Narrative: Unhoused Youth- Bianca Palmer

We continue the Stories of the TAY* with Christopher Martin. Healing your life from childhood trauma takes a strong person, and what if you have to  navigate the world with social anxiety as well? Christopher is on his way to stability and figuring out how move his life forward by facing his past. We're rooting for you Christopher!  *Transitional Age Youth If  you need a place to turn to help you prevent homelessness or help you if you are experiencing homelessness go to  The Valley Family Services     Produced: Betsy Foldes Meiman Theme Song 'True' by Haunted Horses NYC   Sound Engineering: Joe Foldes      

Changing the Narrative-Unhoused Youth:Christopher Martin

Big dreams come with big risks. Phillip Hargro grew up comfortably in Indiana with hardworking parents and loving grandparents. He was a part of an active creative arts community. He came to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.  When pre-arranged plans fell through, he was left to figure it out. In his words, he was “humbled” by the challenges that came his way. He could be working on a set in Malibu by day and searching housing the very same night, never letting on about his situation to fellow cast members and employers.  He earns money in between dancing on the subway and hustling sales jobs. He utilizes the resources at The Village Family Services. Committed to his dream, he creates his own opportunities.  Here are a beautiful dance number,  his recent actor reel , and two shorts- Ambition ( about homelessness) and Conflict of Interest ( a thriller set in the BLM movement). And there's a pilot shot in Atlanta that we can’t tell you about yet.  It’s been a long humbling journey since 2017, but Phillip’s determination is starting to pay off.   

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