Zoë, an eighth-grade student from Westside Neighborhood School with a love for art, shares her joy, excitement, and talents with fourth-graders at Buford Elementary School, in Lennox. Our first Ember Project recipient provided carefully curated art supplies in a kit for each student to use during her lesson. Read her full story here.
Author Archives: John Umekubo
Heroes in the Making
In our search for Lumenaries (educators) and SparQs (students), we seek out individuals doing incredible work for communities in need. Most often, the projects these heroes engage in are long-lasting, working with these communities year over year and touching many lives. As we share their stories and good work, we catch but a glimpse ofContinue reading “Heroes in the Making”
Lifelong Warriors
Yesterday, March 26, the LumenSparQ board joined El Camino College students, faculty, administration, and community members on the “CommUnity Walk Against Hate” to support the fight against hate, racism, and intolerance. While the focus was on recent anti-Asian hate crimes, the event emphasized inclusivity and unity with people from all backgrounds. Before the walk, weContinue reading “Lifelong Warriors”
Our First SparQ – James Kanoff
James Kanoff is the co-founder of the Farmlink Project. In the early days of the pandemic, he and his friends had a simple idea. Let’s make a connection between a local farmer and our food bank. We rent a truck, take the excess produce off the farmer’s hands, and deliver it to the food bank. WithContinue reading “Our First SparQ – James Kanoff”
What History Can Teach Us
Eighty years ago today, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal of all persons of Japanese ancestry (immigrants and U.S. citizens) from the West Coast of the United States for fear they might support Japan in the war. As a direct result of this Order, my parents’Continue reading “What History Can Teach Us”
Lennox Middle School Book Club
It’s after school on a Tuesday in February. The Lennox Middle School Book Club members have gathered around the table. Our Lumenary, María Saldaña, leads the discussion on two books they have recently read. The students, a blend of middle school ages, sit quietly at first. In her soft yet confident voice, María sets theContinue reading “Lennox Middle School Book Club”
A Very Special Giving Tuesday
With a heavy heart, we arrive at Giving Tuesday this year, and today we ask that you consider a donation to another organization. Gabriel Stauring and Katie Jay Scott ran the organization known as iACT, whose mission is to “provide humanitarian action to aid, support, and extend hope to those affected by mass atrocities.” Gabriel andContinue reading “A Very Special Giving Tuesday”
Board Member Spotlight: Christine
Over the summer, our board member Christine developed a Sensory Path on the playground at Buford Elementary School. The purpose of a Sensory Path is to allow students to use exercise and motion to release stress and cope with various emotional states. Christine worked with DaVinci High School students to design and map out theContinue reading “Board Member Spotlight: Christine”
Lumenary #3 – María Saldaña
As we return to school this fall, we are honored to announce our third Lumenary, María Saldaña, English teacher at Lennox Middle School in Lennox, California. In addition to her full-time teaching position, María coordinates the after-school LMS Student Book Club, a program we have chosen to support. Read her full story It seems thatContinue reading “Lumenary #3 – María Saldaña”
Ready for the First Day of School
The installation of the Little Free Library for 156th Street Elementary School took place this past Sunday. We loaded the library, wood supports, and bags of cement into the truck and made for our destination. As with all construction projects, it seems, the process wasn’t without its hiccups. Upon arrival, we discovered we had noContinue reading “Ready for the First Day of School”