Difference Makers

You Are Loved Mural
The Difference Makers Series introduces our community to those who address the pressing issues of our time. Our intention is to inspire our students, and all of us, to live lives of purpose, meaning, service, and accomplishment - to be Difference Makers.

Our 2018-2019 topic is Addressing Homelessness

Monday, October 29, 2019 – Overview + Supportive Housing / LA Family Housing
The state of homelessness in Los Angeles today and the solution of Permanent Supportive Housing.
Three guests will speak:

  • Carla Hall is a Los Angeles Times editorial board member who writes extensively about homelessness, among other topics. Before joining the board, she was a general assignment reporter for the Times’ California section. Carla will educate us about homelessness in our city.
  • Natalia Torregrosa, Programs Coordinator/Community Engagement at LA Family Housing, will give an overview of the work LAFL does, the population they serve, solutions to homelessness and how our students can be advocates in our community.
  • Emily Martiniuk is a formerly homeless woman who now lives in permanent supportive housing. Emily will share her story and how permanent supportive housing has helped her and changed her life.
Monday, February 11, 2019 - Hope of The Valley Rescue Mission
Jonathan D. Leeper, Volunteer / Community Engagement Coordinator
The mission of Hope of the Valley is to attract people and resources to assist in the effort of meeting the needs of every hungry and homeless man, woman and child in the greater Los Angeles area. Through strategic partnerships and services, we empower our clients with the faith, knowledge, resources and skills to lead a life of wholeness and self-sufficiency.

Monday, April 15, 2019 – Food on Foot
Rob Danson, Head of Marketing and Communications
Food on Foot is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the poor and homeless of Los Angeles through programs that provide nutritious meals, clothing, work opportunities and, ultimately, the transition to full-time employment and life off the streets.  www.foodonfoot.org

Past Events

List of 2 news stories.

  • Difference Makers at Hope of the Valley

    The focus this year in our Difference Makers Series is Addressing Homelessness. In this second event in our series, we heard from Jonathan Leeper of Hope of The Valley Rescue Mission. Their mission is to attract people and resources to assist in the effort of meeting the needs of every hungry and homeless man, woman, and child in the greater Los Angeles area. Through strategic partnerships and services, they empower their clients (who they refer to as guests) with the faith, knowledge, resources and skills to lead a life of wholeness and self-sufficiency.

    In the first event of this series, we learned all about the homeless situation in Los Angeles and about supportive housing. And in our last event in this series, we will focus on feeding the homeless and get perspective from an organization called Food on Foot.
    Read More

  • Difference Makers Series Addresses Homelessness

    This year the topic of the Difference Makers Series is Addressing Homelessness. As we all know, there are many people who currently are living without homes. This past Monday, we learned more about who those people are, how they came to find themselves homeless, and some of what is being done to help them. We welcomed three very special guests:
    • Carla Hall, a Los Angeles Times editorial board member who writes extensively about homelessness, among other topics.
    • Natalia Torregrosa, Community Engagement and Programs Coordinator at LA Family Housing, which helps people transition out of homelessness and poverty through a continuum of housing enriched with supportive services.
    • Emily Martiniuk, a resident at LA Family Housing’s Palo Verde Apartments who lived without a home for several years.
    Cala Hall gave us an overview of the homelss situation in Los Angeles. Natalia Torregrosa explained supportive housing and the work that LA Family Housing does. Emily Martiniuk told us her story, and about how her life has turned around, thanks to supportive housing.

    The students asked wonderfully relevant and compassionate questions of the guests. Way to go, future Difference Makers!
    Read More
Archive

2017-2018 Difference Makers Guests

List of 2 news stories.

  • Bobcats Contribute to Tree People

    Congratulations Bobcats! Primary and Intermediate Student Council raised $347 to donate to Tree People for the purpose of planting trees in LA County to help their reforestation process, reduce pollution in the area, and increase beautification of our communities. We have some remaining books that will be donated to low-income communities to share the gift of reading.
     
    Thank you Student Council and everyone who contributed to the success of the Primary/Intermediate Yard and Bake Sale.
    Read More

  • Difference Makers Trash Free Lunch Challenge

    Our first Difference Makers Speaker this year was with Allie Bussjaeger from Grades of Green to introduce Berkeley Hall to the Trash Free Lunch Challenge.
    Read More
Archive

2016-2017 Difference Makers Guests

List of 3 news stories.

  • Co-Founders of The 5 Gyres Institute on Conversations with Lisa Taylor

    These difference makers have always loved our planet and for eight years have relentlessly pursued a world free of plastic pollution - particularly in our oceans. Anna Cummins, along with co-founder Dr. Marcus Eriksen, founded The 5 Gyres Institute to research plastic pollution and engage communities in systemic change.
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  • Difference Maker Robert Egger of The L.A. Kitchen

    Elisabeth Wagner
    As Founder and President of The L.A. Kitchen, Mr. Egger’s life for the last 30 years has been all about reducing waste and improving lives. He will speak to our community on Thursday, October 13, at 2:10pm, at the Uhlmann Performing Arts Center in Hodges Theater. All are welcome!
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  • Difference Maker Robert Egger of The L.A. Kitchen

    At our first Difference Makers Series event of the school year, we welcomed Robert Egger, Founder and President of The L.A. Kitchen. Mr. Egger’s life for the last 30 years has been all about reducing waste and improving lives.
    Read More
Archive

2015-2016 Difference Makers Guests

List of 5 news stories.

  • "You Are Loved" Mural at BHS

    Lisa Taylor
    Difference Maker Alex Cook is an artist in the truest sense of the word. His art speaks the truth, whether through paint or music, Alex expresses what he feels with honesty and courage. He's recently focused his artistic expression on painting murals - You Are Loved murals, though he also has five spiritual music CDs to his credit.
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  • Difference Maker Ellie Laks of The Gentle Barn

    Difference Maker Ellie Laks, Founder of the Gentle Barn, visited Berkeley Hall School for a presentation to our community as part of our Difference Makers Series.
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  • Difference Maker Matt Murrie of "What If?... 360°"

    This week included the first presentation of our Difference Makers Series. Thursday’s workshops with Matt Murrie in grades 1-8 truly highlighted all the lessons our students learned from Sydney Brouillard-Coyle's talk about not being our afraid to get involved and “get our boots dirty."
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  • Difference Maker Sydney Brouillard-Coyle

    Lisa Taylor
    She gets her boots dirty. She has since she was six. 15-year-old Difference Maker Sydney Brouillard-Coyle told a packed Hodges audience about her passion for change and what she's doing to make it happen.
    Read More

  • Difference Makers of The Thirst Project

    Lisa Taylor
    In his talk, Seth explained that when he learned that nearly one billion people around the world don't have access to clean drinking water, he founded the Thirst Project to fix the problem.
    Read More
Archive

2014-2015 Difference Makers Guests

List of 1 news stories.

Archive

Difference Makers at BHS

List of 3 news stories.

  • BHS Difference Maker Treats Kids to Movie

    Berkeley Hall sixth grader Jai heard on NPR how underprivileged kids were being treated to see Marvel’s new action/adventure movie, Black Panther. He sold some of his DCR crypto currency and hosted more than a dozen of Charmaney Bayton’s kids (along with adults) to see the movie.
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  • 1st BHS Beach Cleanup a Success!

    On Sunday, March 13th, many BHS families met up just north of the Santa Monica Pier and spent a few hours cleaning up the beach in collaboration with Heal The Bay.
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  • 8th Grade Difference Maker

    Lisa Taylor
    Our Difference Makers Series at Berkeley Hall is designed to help our students think of ways they can actively engage in community service and support causes that matter to them personally. I wanted to share the recent work of one of our current 8th grade students, Jackson Garland, who spoke this week at a Los Angeles County Supervisors’ hearing.
    Read More
Archive

Upcoming Events

List of 1 events.

  • Apr
    15

    Difference Makers Series

    5th – 8th grades, from 8:05-8:50
    1st -4th grades, from 9:00 – 9:50
    ECD, from 10:00-10:15
    Parents are welcome to attend.

    Guest:
    Rob Danson
    Head of Marketing and Communications
    Food on Foot
    Uhlmann Performing Arts Center in Hodges Theater
    Elisabeth Wagner
View All Events

Videos



Photos

The Thirst Project

Alex Cook "You Are Loved" Mural

Matt Murrie "What If... 360"

Sydney Broillarde-Coyle

Located in Los Angeles, CA, Berkeley Hall School is a private, coeducational school for students in preschool through grade 8. Rigorous academics in a supportive atmosphere and grounded character development allow students to become fearless scholars and conscientious citizens - gain a love of learning, leadership with social responsibility, creativity with moral integrity, and self-esteem with compassion for others and the environment.