Mission Statement

Live Arts Group (LAG) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created to bring free arts enrichment back to youth in under-served neighborhoods, with a special focus on at-risk youth, LGBT youth, youth in juvenile detention, and runaway youth in drop-in homeless centers. Through its proprietary ³Pass It
On² music video workshop, LAG offers these youth the opportunity to explore and experience the many crafts involved in creating music videos, from conceptualization to delivery of the finished video. This is done using professional equipment and under the mentorship of accredited filmmakers at no cost to the youth or the hosting centers. Participants are given the opportunity to exercise their creativity while learning the responsibility of working on a project from start to finish. While ³Pass It On² is a free program that is designed to be mobile, that is, the program is produced at individual hosting centers and is tailored to the needs of each specific youth population, it is the goal of LAG to establish a physical facility to house our staff, equipment, the continued development of new arts workshops, and all ancillary properties.

Live Arts Group Board of Directors

Kevin Bannerman: Kevin has an extensive background in production, having worked as a development executive for various companies over the years. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Gay and Lesbian Artists in the Entertainment Industry (AGLA) which was a precursor to GLAAD.

Karina Friend Buck: Filmmaker Karina Friend Buck is the driving force behind Genuine Buck Film, one of Hollywood's premier providers of pre-release feature film programming and DVD bonus materials. She is the proud mother of astronomer Zoe Buck, happy partner of writer Craig Buck, and has been a mentor with The Fulfillment Fund since 2004. After participating as a speaker at several Live Arts workshops, Karina decided to join the Live Arts board in 2006.

Diane Cary: (Executive Director) Diane is a professional actress in stage/television/film who has also written and produced short festival films, as well as written for the USA Cable series Forever Knight. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa/Cum Laude from the University of Denver, majoring in theatre arts/English literature and minoring in education for a teaching degree in theatre arts.

Liz Friedlander: Liz Is highly regarded in the music industry as an incredibly talented music video director. She has worked with the likes of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, Celine Dion, and REM amongst others and has been awarded the MTV Viewer's Choice Award for Best Video for her work with Michelle Branch.

Diana Jacobs: Diana is a well-known Los Angeles graphics artist/printmaker and financial benefactor to the arts via her family's foundation. Upon being invited to the screening of the pilot program's videos, she was delighted to accept a position on the board.

Elizabeth Graham: Elizabeth is a professional actress and has also been a producer on a number of shows for PBS, including Nova and Boston Pops. She also produced Zoom, a series for children with disabilities.

Patricia Bell Harik: Patricia is a CPA and partner in the accounting firm Zdonek & Wolowicz. She is also active in multiple community projects, including acting as president of the Switzer Center, an organization assisting children with learning disabilities.

James D. Parriott: James has worked for the last 20 years as a writer/creator, director, and executive producer in Hollywood. Most recently he has served as Executive Producer of ABC Television's Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty. Other recent projects include Push Nevada (executive producer), The American Embassy (creator/executive producer) and Rag and Bone (co-written with Anne Rice, director, executive producer).

Julie Rose: Julie became involved with Live Arts while she was the director for the Tyra Banks foundation. With an extensive background working with At-risk youth, she came to Live Arts offering her experience with programming, development and fund raising. She is currently the VP of Development for an international clothing line and is the executive producer for her first independent feature length film, currently in post production

Ronald Taylor: Ronald is currently VP for Diversity at Fox Television and one of the most prominent African American TV executives. After serving as an advisor on the "Pass It On" video project pilot, he accepted an invitation to join the board.

Marcy Swartz Toscher: Marcy is an accomplished business owner, respected senior executive and loved mother of three sons. A law school graduate and experienced lobbyist, Toscher used her business savvy and creativity to excel as an antique dealer and storeowner as well as an interior designer. She went on to serve as a senior executive for Dualstar Entertainment Group where she over saw marketing and promotions and style and design for the successful Mary-Kate and Ashley Fashion and Lifestyle Brand. Mary and her husband Steven, a tax litigation attorney in Beverly Hills, have made a loving home for their three sons over the past twenty-four years.

Gwenn Victor: Gwenn has directed for the Sundance Institute's Playwright's Lab, the Mark Taper Forum's Other Voices Workshop and the Los Angeles Theatre Center's New Works Festival. She has also written and directed plays performed by disabled artists in a program funded by the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Dept.