Coming Together To Read All Over

While the majority of the world sat frozen in horror by the heinous events on September 11, 2001, ten-year-old Brant Whiting watched the news and was reminded of a pledge he had given his doctors for saving his life. After an asthma attack nearly killed him when he was eight-years-old, he had promised his caregivers to do something worthwhile with his life. On 9/11 he listened while a senator spoke about one of the victims, 20-year-old Deora Bodley. She had attended La Jolla Country Day School and was a student at Santa Clara University. Like Whiting, she had loved books and helping people. “I just knew I had to do something,” he says.

Remarkably, Whiting came up with the idea for Read All Over, a program to supply used books to first-year teachers. He realized that when he was in third grade his teacher had bookshelves lined with books for the students to read. His new-hire fourth grade teacher, however, had relatively few books. He offered his books and rallied his friends, neighbors, school, and community to contribute as well.

Soon, with the help of ten other kids, Whiting founded Read All Over. Bodley’s family, her mother, Debbie Borza, Bodley’s teenage sister, Murial Borza, and Whiting’s mother, Lisa, are directors of this inspiring organization. Read All Over calls for children in schools and organizations across the nation to reach out to others and promote peace through sharing books. They accomplish this by helping kids to organize and promote book drives, donating the books for other kids to read and enjoy. “It doesn’t matter how big or small the contribution is,” says Whiting. “One hour, one book, one smile — it all makes a difference in someone’s life.” (858/566-7700, info@readallover.org) — Shana K. Wilson

Changing Lives: A More Than Abel Musician
by Ingrid Hoffmeister

“He’s a really nice boy,” emphasizes the band teacher in room 405 at San Diego High School when I tell her I’m looking for Abel Zatarain. Community Music Center (CMC), an after-school education program sponsored by La Jolla Music Society, had suggested talking to Abel as he personifies the positive long-term results of their program. CMC gives children grades 4-6 the opportunity to study and learn classical music. “I haven’t seen him today,” says the teacher who is about to lock up the room during recess. It is five minutes before our arranged interview time so I wait outside watching hundreds of teenagers tumble out of class into the corridor. Watching and listening to their laughter and chatter, I realize I have entered an entirely new world of hipster-jeans and cultural diversity.

With the help of two security types with walky-talkies, I maneuver my way across the campus’ concrete pathways filled with young Latino and African-American teenagers to the band room where my Germanic features quickly identify me as either a visiting teacher or an outsider on business. When a young man looking less than his 17 years approaches me, I notice his gentle features, short black curly hair and slight frame. “You must be Abel?” I ask as he nods shyly. We return together to the band room to ask the teacher if we might remain there during recess to talk, and she agrees.

Zatarain is the only child of older Hispanic parents who moved to San Diego from central Mexico. His 71-year-old father is currently in the hospital suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating and progressive muscle weakening disease that results in paralysis. He shows clear signs of concern and talks in a very mature and sensitive manner about his close-knit Christian family. As a child growing up in Chula Vista, Zatarain’s mother would sing Mexican Christian songs around the house and play a few tunes on the family’s electric keyboard.

“Music and playing an instrument are very therapeutic,” Zatarain says in a quiet tone of self-confidence. “Music has helped me with expression. It gives me a way to express myself and how I feel.” As a young boy, he attended the Cesar Chavez Elementary School in the Southcrest neighborhood of San Diego and the main CMC campus. His parents encouraged him to join CMC’s program, where he could receive instruction in a variety of areas including piano, guitar, strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. Zatarain made the flute his instrument of choice, attending the class three times a week for two years. “At the end of those two years, they gave me my flute,” he confides with great pride.

In order to receive this musical gift handed out during a graduation ceremony, students must meet all CMC’s musical goals and attendance requirements. Cecilia Estrada, founding principal of Cesar Chavez Elementary School, says, “The discipline involved in learning to play an instrument carries over into the student’s school work, and playing also builds their self-esteem and self-confidence.” More than 200 children receive virtually free music lessons at CMC. By literally putting musical instruments in the hands of approximately 200 full-scholarship students each year, the CMC has been designated as a “model program” by the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and has received national recognition by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Performing in school recitals and with the La Jolla Music Society, Abel’s musical talents and self-confidence grew. “Even after I left elementary school, I kept returning to the program to play my flute until seventh or eighth grade,” he recalls with a grin. “Then I became more interested in the piano, learning to play it in their after school program.”

Since the age of ten, Zatarain has held the unofficial title of “church pianist” for The Sixth Church of Apostolic Assembly, three years ago, the church made him their official pianist. In tenth grade, his flute flew back into his hand when he joined the San Diego High School marching band. Many CMC students progress to high school bands and orchestras, and graduates regularly perform with the All-City Honors Orchestra.

Abel likes to compose his own music and practice with a group of friends in the band room during lunch. “Today I mostly play piano,” says the young man whose favorite music is Latin and jazz. He continues, “I love to listen to pianists like Michel Camilo and Chick Corea and one day I hope to create my own band.” The early support of CMC has inspired in Abel both possibility and potential, which may lead to building a career in a variety of areas and help him become more than he ever thought possible.

La Jolla Community Music Center

Mission: To integrate high-quality after-school music instruction programs into specifically challenged communities and create a sense of pride and self-esteem to Community Music Center students, families, and the entire community through music education.

Founded: The La Jolla Music Society is heir to a distinguished tradition reaching back to the Musical Arts Society of La Jolla founded in 1941 by Nikolai Sokoloff, former conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. In 1993, they founded the Community Music Center.

Current director of Community Music Center isSerefin Paredes.

One hundred percent of the donations to the Community Music Center fund programs such as music teachers and instruments. Most administrative costs such as facilities are donated in-kind.

Funding objectives: Donations make it possible to open additional campuses in more neighborhoods and continue to offer high-quality instruction on a wider variety of instruments. The Community Music Center is currently in need of donated instruments.

Organization’s biggest challenges: Funding, availability of instruments, and establishing long-term plans for serving more communities through opening additional campuses.

Contact information: La Jolla Music Society: Ferdinand Gasang, development manager, or Hannes Kling, Eecation manager. (858/459-3724, www.lajollamusicsociety.org)