Boys & Girls Clubs of America Awards Elsa Brizzi For Her Program “You Are A Very Special You”
For Elsa Brizzi, her fifty plus year career as an educator and program director has been all about the “kids”. Starting at the LA County Office of Education, Brizzi designed TESA, a nationally recognized guide for Teacher Expectation on Student Achievement. Another focus of her early years was designing teacher training that included how to integrate the classroom as LA school populations grew and changed. Brizzi was instrumental in developing The Head Start Instructional Aide Program. With the support and team of instructors from Cerritos College, mothers of Head Start students had the opportunity to complete a certificate program and become pre-school teachers.
Brizzi is the author and illustrator of the book You Are A Very Special You used in the Intergenerational Literacy Enhancement Program (ILEP) recently received one of 23 honored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America with a Merit Award in an Education Program. Written in 1976, and now available in three languages, the endearing message of each person “specialness” is still relevant today.
For the second graders who have participated in this 10-week program at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach for the past 5 years, fondly renamed by them as ‘The Special You Reading Club’, their self-esteem, classroom behavior, interpersonal relationships, artistic talents, and reading skills have all been enhanced. “In the 3 years that I have participated in this mentor related reading base program, I saw tremendous growth in the second graders through the enhancement of their reading skills, their artistic expression, and their self-confidence,” said Stephany Skenderian, ILEP assistant. Brizzi, being the brainchild of this unique concept of pairing a second grader with a senior member of the community to create “intergenerational mentoring” follows her lifelong commitment and involvement in the field of education with a focus on developing self-esteem in students. When asked about the program Brizzi said, “What if we began treating people with respect because each one of us is very special.”
Photo L-R: Stephany Skenderian ( LBSeniors, Inc. Board, Woman’s ClubLifetime member, ILEP Assistant)
Elsa Brizzi (ILEP Founder, Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach Director at Large), Kitty Malcolm (President Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach)
Barbara Crane ( Past President Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach), Linda Velasco ( LOCA Art Education), Carla Meberg ( President LOCA Art Education)
Tina Haines ( LBSeniors, Inc member of Emeritus Council and former Board president), Pam Estes CEO Boys & Girls Club Laguna Beach
The success of this program was a collaborative effort of local non-profit organizations and community volunteers. The program has previously won an Art Star Award for collaboration. ILEP is sponsored by the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach through their Community Outreach Program and supported additionally by LOCA Arts Education, Laguna Beach Seniors, Inc., American Association of University Women Laguna Beach Branch, The Assistance League of Laguna Beach, Sally’s Fund, The Neighborhood Congregational Church, Orange County Libraries Laguna Beach Branch, and numerous grants and donations. “The reason the program is so strong is because of the collaboration the town gives,” said Carla Meberg, President of Loca Art Education.
Elsa thanks the staff and students at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach Canyon Branch. With their enthusiasm, it is hopeful the ILEP can grow under their direction and become a Boys & Girls Clubs of America National program. With that, the ILEP can be offered at additional locations and include high school mentors which help to fulfill volunteer hours requirements. For information on becoming a volunteer, please contact Pam Estes, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach.
About The Club
The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach occupies three sites in Laguna Beach; Canyon Branch, Bluebird Branch, and Lang Park Branch. Together, they offer a nationally recognized and award winning year round Out-of-School enrichment program that focuses on the whole family. From preschool to parenting classes, The Boys & Girls Club offers an array of services that focus on; academic success, good character and citizenship, healthy lifestyles and creative expression. Being an indispensable asset to the families of our community is a Boys & Girls Club time-honored tradition. For over 60 years, The Boys & Girls Club strives to support the youth of Laguna Beach throughout school recreation that celebrates the whole child. For more information about The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, visit www.bgclagunabeach.org or call (949) 494-2535.
