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RichardHerlan …………
July 15, 2015
RE: Kenya Harris
To whom it may concern:
I have worked with Kenya Harris at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles and have been
consistently amazed at her ability to enthrall an audience of both adults and children while
conveying a message that is far from easy.
Kenya brings a maturity and dignity to her presentation that is a model to young people, while at the
same time, they are thrilled by her wit and insight. In each phase of this difficult presentation she
invites her audience to enter into the enthusiasm she herself feels for the subject, and her passion is
infectious to the children as well as their teachers and the adult chaperones.
Most of these young people came to the Museum with some apprehension about the subject matter
or about the idea of Museums in general. Within moments they are smiling and sharing with Kenya
as she touches on their personal concerns and interests. They no longer seem to be student and
teacher so much as fellow adventurers on a quest for knowledge.
Probably the most amazing part of her engagement with these young people is Kenya’s ability to
turn every situation into an interactive learning experience. It would be difficult enough to present
this material in a lecture format, but Kenya’s great talent is the ability to draw the audience into a
dialogue, to engender their participation so that each young person is contributing, reaching, asking
for more; and the result is that the children leave satisfied that they have truly accomplished
something. This isn’t teaching; this is facilitating the learning process at a level that is thrilling to
watch.
During my many years working in Television, I have directed national spokespeople, talented
actors, and voice-over veterans, but I have seldom seen anyone that has the natural relationship with
an audience that Kenya seems to effortlessly bring to every situation. She is truly a gift to the
Museum and to everyone fortunate enough to take the tour with her.
Sincerely,
Richard Herlan
Docent - MOT
Co-Executive Producer - Pursuit Productions
2319 14th
ST. #13
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: (310) 985-2786
dickherlan@msn.com