Educational Outreach
We are proud to host a group of 20 students and their teachers at each of our meetings. These guests receive a copy of the featured author’s book in advance of the luncheon meeting and participate in a special one-hour discussion with the author, followed by lunch and the author’s presentation. THIS PROGRAM IS FACILITATED THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSORS AND STUDENT BENEFACTORS.
January 2025, Guest Author, Marjan Kamali, with students from Indio High School. Ms. Kamali also met with Palm Valley High School students. Thank you to our Student Benefactors for giving us the opportunity to host ten student groups each season.
January 2023, Guest Author, Paulina Bren, with Student group from Xavier Prep. (Above) Professor Bren ( Vassar College) also met with students from Shadow Hills. Thank you to our Student Benefactors for giving us the opportunity to host ten student groups each season.
Xavier College Preparatory Students with 2022 Guest Author Michaela Carter.
Students and faculty from Rancho Mirage High School with Guest Author Michelle Dean, March 2019, Toscana Country Club
We have hosted students from the following schools:
- Amistad High School
- California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus
- Cathedral City High School
- Coachella Valley High School
- College of the Desert
- Desert Hot Springs High School
- Desert Mirage High School
- Indio High School
- La Quinta High School
- Palm Desert High School
- Palm Springs High School
- Palm Valley School
- Rancho Mirage High School
- Shadow Hills High School
- Summit High School
- West Shores High School
- Xavier College Prepaaratory
The program is coordinated by LSD Board Member, Joanne Mintz, and we are proud to say that many of the authors tell us that the time spent with the students was the highlight of their visit to the desert.
Library Outreach: In Support of Literacy and the Love of Reading
Last season, thanks to the generosity of our members we provided $2,500 grants to each of the Coachella Valley libraries. WE ARE PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO OUR LIBRARY BENEFACTORS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE.
It enabled the following programs:
Cabazon Library: The summer reading program, a December performer, and craft supplies
Cathedral City Library: Spanish materials, support for Reading by Design and summer reading program.
Coachella Library: Support for the Cesar Chavez Collection in the Desert.
College of the Desert Library: Additional student resources for COD's Indio location.
Desert Hot Springs Library: A movie license to host Saturday movies for the community and children's materials.
Indio Library: The summer reading program and a performer.
La Quinta Library: Hosting Booktober Fest and adult programming.
Mecca Library: Summer reading program incentives, Scholastic children's books, and a professional performer.
Palm Desert Library: Collection support.
Palm Springs Library: Give away books to participants of summer reading program.
Rancho Mirage Library: Purchase of 80-90 books in various genres with bookplate designating LSD as donor.
Thousand Palms Library: Building the large print collection
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Douglas Smith, Author of RASPUTIN
LSD Sponsor, Annette Smith, facilitated a Community Outreach presentation at the Rancho Mirage Public Library by her son, Douglas, a noted Russian historian. Approximately 400 people were in attendance for the illustrated talk during the 2017 season.
Charlie Lovett, Author of THE LOST BOOK OF THE GRAIL
Our 2018 Season's Community Outreach Program featured noted novelist and playwright Charlie Lovett.
His talk on THE LOST BOOK OF THE GRAIL was a free lecture, open to all members, guests and the general public, offered at the Rancho Mirage Library.
