Our Staff

Founder
Deborah Pardes
Program Director
Adam Straus

Letters of Endorsements

Our Board of Directors

Lisa Dougherty
Eric Ferraro
Deborah Pardes
Tim Spicer**
Randall Weaver

Our Advisory Board

Dale Allender
Roger Black
Mike Moser
Clare Munn
Keyure Patel
Tanya Pushkin Rojas


Current Partners

The California State Library

National Council of Teachers of English

Media Rights

KQED Education Network Adult Learning Project

Center for the Book in the Library of Congress

Project Read San Francisco

Many artists who do work inspired by literature have become our partners.

To become a partner with Artists for Literacy, please call us at 415.553.3330

Dr. Kevin Starr, California State Librarian, speaking at an Arists for Literacy event.

Dr. Starr and the California State Library have been supporters and partners of the organization since its inception in 2000.

Left to right: Valerie Reinke, Program Director at California Literacy Services; Lisa Bennett-Garrison, Former Director of California Literacy; Deborah Pardes, Founder, AFL; Randy Weaver, Director of Project Read, San Fancisco.

 


Staff

Deborah Pardes - A graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University, Pardes began her career in writing, music and media production nearly 2 decades ago. She has used art and technology in all her work, ranging from producing commnity events to launching multi-national art competitions. She sits on the advisory board of KQED's Adult Education Network, and offers workshops around the country for teachers and tutors of low-level readers. Pardes has produced several music CDs - three under her own name. She has just completed her first novel, "lemon water".

Adam Straus - Producer: With a background in music, media and event production, Adam comes to AFL with creativity and vision. He has worked locally with AIDS Walk San Francisco, Macy’s Passport In Store and the Oakland All Stars Talent Show network as a producer, production manager and volunteer coordinator. Before working in the nonprofit industry Adam worked as a club DJ and event producer for 10 years and brings knowledge of music and the industry with him. Adam graduated from Virginia Common Wealth University with BA in Mass Communications and a minor in Business.

Board of Directors

Lisa Doherty has years of accounting and finance experience in a wide variety of industries with both public and private accounting. After a BS with an accounting emphasis from St. Mary's College of California in 1994, Doherty went on to become a CPA in1996. During this period, she worked with many non-profits, both large traditional and smaller entrepreneurial organizations. She moved on to IDEX Global Services, a construction company in San Francisco, serving as Director of Finance for four years during which the company quadrupled in size. Following a short stint as a controller with a dot.com, she branched out on her own and has continued as an independent consultant for the past three years, working with clients in real estate, software, manufacturing, distribution, and non-profits.

Eric Ferraro, an attorney specializing in corporate, nonprofit and entertainment law, is also an accomplished musician and community activist. He has worked with the Homeless Advocacy Project and Glide Memorial Church, and is a member and panel attorney of California Lawyers for the Arts.

Tim Spicer
{Please note that Tim Spicer sadly passed away. He was an extraordinary leader and friend to us and is sorely missed every single day }
has devoted his professional career to financial services in a variety of positions for over 30 years. He is currently a managing partner of eCompanies Venture Group (EVG), a Santa Monica-based, $160-million venture fund focused entirely on Internet start-ups. Mr. Spicer co-founded the fund in early 1999 with Sky Dayton, Founder/CEO of Earthlink, and Jake Winebaum, past Chairman and CEO of Walt Disney's online operations. He has led the development, funding, and oversight of 32 portfolio companies on behalf of its limited partners, who include Goldman Sachs, Soros, SunAmerica, Accel Partners, and Earthlink. Spicer currently sits on the board of LowerMyBills.com, USBX Advisors, and GemConnect.com on behalf of the fund. He also serves as a venture partner in Evercore Ventures, a Santa Monica-based,$100-million venture fund, where he advises on start-ups in the storage-networking arena. From 1994 through 1999, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of SF Sentry Investment Group, a registered Investment Advisor with over $500 million of high net worth individuals' assets. A Certified Public Accountant and registered Financial and Operations Principal with the National Association of Securities Dealers, holding Series 27, 63 and 67 certificates, Spicer recently served as senior judge for the 2002 University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business, Columbia University, and the Goldman Sachs Foundation Social Venture Capital national competition. He was president of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Marin, a nationally ranked official with U.S. Swimming, and a board member of the Indiana University Center for Entrepreneurship, from which he graduated in 1971 with a BS degree in Accounting.

Randall Weaver directed library-based adult literacy programs for the Riverside City and County Public Library and the Riverside County Library System before becoming director of Project Read at the San Francisco Public Library. He was president of the Southern California Li-rary Literacy Network and president and founding member of the Riverside County Literacy Network, and currently co-chairs the Bay Area Literacy Network and chairs the California Library Association Literacy Roundtable. Weaver also has worked as a professional musician, playing bass for recording sessions and performances.