SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—Words Alive, a leading San Diego literacy agency that fosters a love of reading amongst at-risk youth, featured Lou Dunst, a local Holocaust survivor, during a teen book group discussion at Juvenile Court & Community School (JCCS) Arcadia Community on Thursday, March 14, 2013.
The Words Alive Adolescent Book Group (ABG) program serves teens, most of whom have been referred to specialized community schools by the Juvenile Court system and have experienced extraordinary circumstances such as violence, pregnancy and homelessness.
Each month between October and May, a facilitator and up to seven trained volunteers conduct facilitated book group discussions. Through reading and sharing opinions about books, book group participants enhance self-esteem, literacy analysis, critical thinking and the ability to put their own life experience into larger context.
In March, Arcadia Community dedicated their language arts and social sciences curriculum to the Holocaust. Reading an account by local survivor, David Faber in his republished book, Because of Romek; discussing historical facts about WWII, Kristallnacht, the Nuremburg Laws, and Hitler’s leadership; and listening to audio and movies about the Holocaust, the students were fully prepared to hear Lou Dunst’s presentation.
Born to an Orthodox family in a town in today’s Ukraine, Dunst was forced into slave labor at age 11 and eventually transported into a ghetto in Poland. Dunst and his family were later separated at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Dunst lost his mother, sister and father in the Holocaust but his brother – who until his passing last year lived in Los Angeles – stayed by his side throughout the five years in the camps. Dunst and his brother escaped death in 1945 and made their way to America.
Dunst now resides in San Diego, where he is a successful businessman and advocate within the civic and Jewish Community. Referring to it as his “obligation to share his experiences,” Dunst speaks extensively on the Holocaust and related topics to civic and educational groups. Dunst is scheduled to present at 1st Ave Literacy on March 20 and North County Technology and Science Academy on April 18 for Words Alive.
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Preceding provided by Words Alive