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S. Mark Taper Letter
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Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration)
Bobbie Greene's Files
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 25, 1997
Dear Friends:
I am pleased to have this opportunity
to send greetings to each of you attending
the grand opening of the S. Mark Taper
Foundation Center for Community Leadership.
I am grateful for organizations like
the S. Mark Taper Foundation that work to
foster within the community partnerships
between public and private enterprise. I
know firsthand the contributions the Mar
Vista Family Center has made to the Los
Angeles community. The efforts of all those
involved with these programs are
commendable. It is my hope that your
dedication to and success in the
neighborhoods of Los Angeles county will
resonate throughout the nation and encourage
others to become involved in their own
communities.
Please accept my best wishes for a
wonderful day and a successful future.
Sincerely yours,
Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
09/23/97 TUE 12:09 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
001
S. Mark Taper Foundation
12011 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: 310/476-5413 Fax: 310/471-4993
FAX COVER SHEET
Please call 310/476-5413 if this transmission is not legible.
Page 1 of
3
Date: Sept. 23, 1997
To:
Bobbie Greene, Deputy Chief of Staff
Organization: Office of the First Lady
Fax No.:
202/456-6244
From: Ray Reisler
Message:
Sorry this is so late. I'll assume that no news is bad news
unless I hear to the contrary. (For Federal Express purposes,
the Mar Vista telephone number is 310/390-9607.)
09/23/97 THE 12:10 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
002
September 23, 1997
Ms. Betty Factor
President, Board of Directors
Mar Vista Family Center
5070 Slauson Ave.
Culver City, CA 90230
Dear Betty:
When I visited the Mar Vista Family Center last May, I saw a model community
project much like the "village" I wrote about in my book. I observed community
leadership in action giving hope to parents, youth and children involved in your center.
next stage 1 service
extend
As you embark on the next twenty years of service to your community, I offer my
best wishes to you and all of your supporters on the occasion of today's grand opening of
your new S. Mark Taper Foundation Center for Community Leadership. It will
enable somany others to benefit from your experience.
Dership t support or X Xhis,P
I congratulate the S. Mark Taper Foundation for its lead grant on this project.
Foundations Bulfand with Founcal innovative staff and bold leaders (or, Innovative and bold
foundations are critically important partners in the revival of underserved urban
neighborhoods and communities.
100k
cook prival heaving 2
Please keep me informed of your progress and the success stories that will surely
continue.
Best regards,
Hillary Clinton
09/23/97 THE 12:10 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
003
session
A PUBLICATION OF
THE MAR VISTA FAMILY CENTER and THE MAR VISTA INSTITUTE
Fall 1997
S. Mark Taper Foundation give $350,000 for
Center for Community Leadership
cross the street from the Mar Vista of nonprofit organizations that enhance the
A
Family Center, another house of
quality of peoples' lives.
hope has risen. The S. Mark Taper
Bullt in part by at-risk youth, the new S. Mark
Foundation Center for Community
Taper Center for Community Leadership will
Leadership will be the training ground for
provide a location for low-Income residents
the leadership and community development
from throughout the city to attend workshops
programs of the Mar Vista Family Center.
in how to transform their communities by
sharing responsibilities. Called the first of its
Table of Contents:
The S. Mark Taper Foundation's lead grant
kind in Los Angeles, the S. Mark Taper Center
of $350,000 catapulted Mar Vista to a new
for Community Leadership will also host train-
S. Mark Taper
stage in its development. "After our first
ing's to adapt the Mar Vista experience to meet
Foundation gives
$350,000 for Center
grant to the Mar Vista Family Center in
other communities' needs.
1992, we recognized its potential for trans-
for Community
Leadership
forming itself from a local service agency to
Board President Betty Factor states, "The S.
a national resource for other community
Mark Taper Foundation grant brings to life our
First Lady Visits
agencies." states Ray Reisler, Executive Di-
long held vision of supporting families and
Mar Vista Family
rector, S. Mark Taper Foundation.
communities in creating their own solutions to
Center
the problems they face."
The Foundation periodically revisits the ac-
Lucia Diaz: Profile in
complishments of previous grantees by
The new facility converted a dilapidated 4 unit
Community
looking for signs of growth that signal new
apartment building into one that is state of the
Leadership
potential. Mar Vista was chosen for the
art with computer lab, library, offices and con-
substantial gift believing that it had a unique
ference rooms. With It comes a dramatic new
The Mary and
means of training community people to lead
chapter to the Mar Vista's 20 year history of
Norman Pattiz Plaza
their own programs, and that its methods
community work. "What we have here has
Supports New
could be useful to other communities
made the difference in many people's lives. we
Community Focus
throughout Los Angeles. "Through this
are grateful for the generous S. Mark Taper
grant, the Foundation found a unique op-
Foundation grant. By sharing what we have,
portunity to help move an organization to a
we can make the difference in even more
new level," states Reisler. The S. Mark
people's lives." says Lucia Diaz, Mar Vista Exec-
Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a
utive Director.
private family foundation funding a variety
RAP
September 23, 1997
Ms. Betty Factor
President, Board of Directors
Mar Vista Family Center
5070 Slauson Avenue
Culver City, CA 90230
Dear Betty:
When I visited the Mar Vista Family Center last May, I saw a model community project much
like the "village" I wrote about in my book. I observed community leadership in action giving
hope to the parents, and children involved in your center.
As you embark on the next stage of service to your community, I extend my best wishes to you
and your supporters on the occasion of today's grand opening of the new S. Mark Taper
Foundation Center for Community Leadership. This facility will enable countless others to
benefit from your experience.
I congratulate the S. Mark Taper Foundation for its leadership and support on this project.
Foundations can be critically important partners in the revival of underserved urban
neighborhoods and communities.
I look forward to hearing of your progress and the success stories that will surely continue.
Best Regards,
Hillary Clinton
10/14/97 TUE 14:11 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
001
S. Mark Taper Foundation
12011 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: 310/476-5413 Fax: 310/471-4993
10/14/97 Done Side
FAX COVER SHEET
to
Please call 310/476-5413 if this transmission is not legible.
Page 1 of 6
Date:
10/14/97
To:
Bobbie Greene, Deputy Chief of Staff
Organization: Office of the First Lady
Fax No.:
1202/456-6244
From:
Ray Risler
Message:
10/14/97 TUE 14:11 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
1
002
S. MARK TAPER FOUNDATION
October 14, 1997
Bobbie Greene
Deputy Chief of Staff
Office of the First Lady
Room 100, OEOB
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Bobbie:
I have spoken with Jean Hessburg and received my invitation. Thank you.
May I bother you with another issue? This is not a high priority but if it is no
trouble for you, it would be great.
Like the grant to People For, a grant I made this year to Crystal Stairs (see
attached write-up) was one of the better ones I managed to get approved. The Executive
Director of Crystal Stairs is an exceptional woman who is a possible invitee to a White
House Conference on Child Care to be held on October 23, 1997.
Her name was submitted by Maxine Waters. I don't know if that is an advantage
or not. But Alice is special (see vita attached) and would be a fine representative to this
conference.
Thanks, Bobbie. Again, this is nothing vital. IfI do not speak to you before, I
will call you right after the Spirit of Liberty Dinner.
Regards,
Raymond Rey F. Reisler
Executive Director
12011 SAN VICENTE BOULEVARD SUITE 400 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90049
TELEPHONE (310) 476-5413 FAX (310) 471-4993
10/14/97 TUE 14:12 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
1.
003
SOCIAL SERVICES
Crystal Stairs, Los Angeles, CA
Background: For 16 years, Crystal Stairs has been one of the largest child care and
development organizations in California. Together with almost 4,000 child care providers,
Crystal Stairs feeds 17,000 children nutritious meals daily, helps 6,000 parents find child care
annually, helps 3,000 welfare participants in the GAIN "Welfare-to-Work" program find
licensed child care annually, trains 3,000 social service providers annually in a wide variety of
child care topics, subsidizes child care for 1,700 children so their parents can work or go to
school, and partners with child welfare agencies to provide care for 475 children in need of
protective services. Its services are concentrated in South Central Los Angeles, serving low-
income parents who are working or going to school.
The Need: Crystal Stairs is well positioned to provide two elements that are essential to the
success of the federal government's welfare reform efforts. First, special training targeted to
increasing the quality of child care in South Central Los Angeles. Second, leadership groups
designed to increase parental effectiveness in the areas of finding and maintaining employment.
Government officials think that short-term job-finding assistance, by itself, will help welfare
clients get off welfare and stay off. Crystal Stairs' experience suggested that these clients need a
lot more to help them overcome the frustration and fears that restrain their ability to change.
Crystal Stairs' proposal addresses the help that welfare clients (particularly single mothers) need
to build skills and achieve results.
Since the problems of welfare parents rub off on their children, Crystal Stairs believes that with
high quality child care, both parent and child can develop more positive behaviors.
Financial Glimpse: Crystal Stairs is a large nonprofit organization, with a multi-ethnic, multi-
lingual staff of nearly 100 and an annual restricted budget of almost $21 million. Since it is a
fiscally sound organization with low overhead, the bulk of its funding goes directly to the
community.
Requested from S. Mark Taper Foundation: $400,000 to help welfare mothers get off
welfare before they are thrown off.
The Proposal: Crystal Stairs proposes to combine employability training with intensive child
care services into a two-year demonstration program called "Project 730." As the welfare
reform legislation now stands, welfare recipients will have two years -- 730 days -- to transition
off welfare. First, Crystal Stairs proposes to engage at least 100 welfare recipients and their
child care providers in a specially-tailored series of training workshops covering a number of
topics related to good parenting.
The second component of the proposal is the creation of 10 parent leadership circles designed to
develop parenting skills and increase parent employability and attachment to the workforce.
With professional assistance, low-income, low-skilled parents can be provided with a system of
support that can sustain them through the process of work and parenting. They will have the
5
10/14/97 TUE 14:12 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
004
opportunity to practice their new skills in a supportive group and to begin new ways of
approaching work and life with their children at home.
Although Project 730 will certainly inform the public understanding of the relationship between
child care and welfare reform, its main focus will be on outcomes. Crystal Stairs proposes to
meaningfully evaluate Project 730 by assessing the numbers of participants, the quality of child
care, parenting behaviors, parent attitudes and beliefs, employment rates, job retention and career
development possibilities.
10/14/97 TUE 14:13 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
005
10/10/97 12:26
CRYSTAL STAIRS
310 471 4993
NO. 406 P002/003
CRYSTAL
reachin' landin's and
5105 West Goldleaf Circle
turnin' corners
Los Angeles, California 90056-1272
(213) 299-8998
STAIRS, INC.
ALICE WALKER DUFF, PH.D.
CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Alice Walker Duff is Executive Director of Crystal Stairs, Inc., one of the
largest private, non-profit child development agencies in California. She is
respected for her administrative skills and legislative acumen, and is a well-known
advocate for children's services.
Since 1966, Dr. Duff has worked in the fields of education, civil rights, and the
arts, specializing in child care and public policy. In 1980, with Dr. Karen Hill-
Scott, she co-founded Crystal Stairs, an agency which helps parents find safe,
affordable child-care, enables child-care providers to do a better job, and
subsidizes child care in South Central Los Angeles. Crystal Stairs also conducts
public policy research, and helps feed more than 17,000 children each month in
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, through the Child
Care Food Program. In collaboration with the Resident Management Corporation
and Black Women's Forum, Crystal Stairs operates a child care center serving
children in Nickerson Gardens, the largest public housing development in Los
Angeles.
Dr. Duff's research and writing focus on public policy issues in child care and the
arts. She was a principal author of the Cultural Masterplan of the City of Los
Angeles. Crystal Stairs has earned a reputation for cost-effective, high-quality
services and accurate, relevant research.
Dr. Duff has used her administrative experience and research knowledge to
influence public policy on child care and encourage its effective implementation.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Educational
Partnership; the Los Angeles County Child Care Planning Committee; the Board of
Directors of L.A.'s Best; Board of Directors of the California Child Care Resource
and Referral Service Network; Los Angeles County and City Child Care Planning
Committees; and the Board of Directors of the National Center for the Early
Childhood Work Force.
Meeting family needs through Research. Service and Advocacy
10/14/97 TUE 14:13 FAX 310 471 4993
S MARK TAPER FDN
006
10/10/97 12:26 CRYSTAL STAIRS + 310 471 4993
NO. 406 P003/003
Dr. Duff has served on a number of other boards and committees that protect and
expand child-care services in California, including the California Children's Lobby Child
Development Policy Board; the California Child Care Advocates; the California
Alternative Payment Program Association; the Task Force of Child Development
Associates/Council for Professional Recognition; and the United Way Region V Child
Care Task Force. She was president of the Los Angeles/South Bay Affiliate of the
National Black Child Development Institute.
In addition to her professional activism, Dr. Duff volunteers numerous hours in
community service. She was a founding member of the Ethics Commission of the
City of Los Angeles, and has had a leadership role in the establishment of many
continuing organizations including the Occidental College Black Student Caucus, the
Black Alumni of Occidental College, the UCLA Black Graduate Students Association
and the Black Graduate Students in Education, the California 500 of the Children's
Lobby, and the Family Circle of the Lula Washington Contemporary Dance
Foundation.
She is a life member of the NAACP and chaired the Historical Markers Committee for
the 81st NAACP National Convention, and the Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological,
and Scientific Olympics, (ACT-SO), for the Los Angeles Branch. She was active in
the parent governing body of a Los Angeles Unified School District magnet
elementary school and was a Community Trustee/Integrative Committee member of
the Los Angeles Educational Alliance for Restructuring Now (LEARN). She is an
active member of the Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship, United Church
of Christ.
Dr. Duff was born and raised in Harlem, New York and comes from a long line of
social activists. She is married to civil rights attorney, Joseph H. Duff. They have
two daughters, Gingi Folayan and Laura Johnay, who are both alumni of the Los
Angeles Unifled School District Hamilton Humanities Magnet and Stanford University.
Dr. Duff received her B.A. in Sociology from Occidental College and both her M.A.
in Sociology of Education and her Ph.D. in Urban Planning: Social Development Policy,
School of Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of California, Los
Angeles.