“Lanny Kaufer’s “Martin Luther King & the Spirit of the ‘60s” presentation is a theatrical masterpiece of storytelling, music (including period pieces and original scores) and history. Through his first hand accounts of non-violent protests and civil disobedience, he brings the time period alive providing relevance for any student of history. Lanny’s standards-based presentation is a must-see and is sure to entertain, educate and excite. Lanny truly epitomizes the philosophy that actions speak louder than words and is an inspiration to people of all ages who believe in justice and equality for all.”
Amber McPherson
History/Social Science Teacher
Santa Paula High School
2010 Ventura County (CA) Teacher of the Year
“The [5th grade] assembly was great! The slides deliver quite an impact and connecting it to music is really powerful. Students are exposed to valuable historical information in your assembly and they are feeling the emotion of the time period through the music.”
Dr. Sherrill Knox
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
Ojai Unified School District
Ojai, CA
“Mr. Kaufer’s presentation on his work with Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement was fun, engaging, and informative. My students loved the singing and Mr. Kaufer’s ability to incorporate music from that era into the presentation. My students learned so much about equal rights for all and kindness from someone who was right in the middle of it in the 60’s. I loved how his presentation brought those values into today’s world and how to make our school, community, and world a better place through kindness and care. Thank you for this wonderful presentation!”
Katie Mulholland
5th Grade Teacher
Chaparral Elementary
Calabasas, CA
“Thank you so much for sharing your many gifts with us so generously. The history of not only Midland but your journey and many connections were very touching…Please thank Rondia for being her and sharing her warmth and kindness as well.”
Charis Derbyshire
Director of Advancement & Alumni Relations
Midland School
Los Olivos, CA
“We absolutely loved your presentation. Our students were very moved, inspired, and amused. Some, today, were singing, “Put your money where your mouth is.” We hope to keep in contact with you on future projects including our Career Day and Civil Rights assemblies. Again, we appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to drive for hours in the rain just to share your amazing experiences with our students.”
Nancy Fegert
English teacher
Park West High School
Pomona, CA
“Lanny Kaufer combines his musician talents and his first person account of the turbulent 1960’s in a way that both informs and entertains. Lanny’s presentation is an exclamation point to our U.S. History curriculum.”
Paul M. Marietti
Principal
Providence School
Oxnard, CA
“Lanny Kaufer presents a valuable history lesson of the Sixties and the Civil Rights campaigns in which he played a part. His slides and commentary show very effectively the arc of events that led to Civil Rights legislation and Voting Rights Act, and both his singing of iconic songs and remembrances of Virginia voter drives lend a spirit of authenticity and even joy to the presentation. Lanny knows his subject because he lived it — and his authentic spirit pervades this superbly produced and delivered production. I highly recommend him and his work.”
Rod “Jake” Jacobsen
Chair, English Department
The Thacher School
Ojai, CA
“Thanks again for presenting to our 6-8th grade students. We have gotten a lot of great positive feedback from the students and parents that attended that afternoon. I know that what we were able to see and hear made an impact on many of our middle school students. The staff and other adults present all felt that your first-hand experience really made the presentation most powerful, as well as the fact that you incorporated images, audio and song to connect us to that turbulent time in our history. Your artistic presentation — and attention to state content standards — make the “Spirit of the Sixties” a must see for all middle and high school students.”
Jeff Zimmerman
Teacher
6th-8th Grade Open Classroom
Ventura Unified School District
Ventura, CA
“The presentation is highly innovative, informative, and exciting. Students are highly engaged and gain a new perspective on the civil rights era. Mr. Kaufer’s knowledge and talent blend together in a fresh and new style that is a guaranteed home run!”
Geoff Kida
History/Social Science Teacher
Renaissance High School
Santa Paula, CA
“Mr. Lanny Kaufer did a great presentation in honor of Martin Luther King Day for our high school students.”
Gateway Community School Wolverine Update Newsletter
“The students and I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. They were most impressed by the music and powerful images. Many of the students were shocked to learn that racism wasn’t limited to white people versus African Americans, but extended to people of Mexican heritage too….Hope you see you again next year!”
Nola Drescher
Special Education Teacher
Gateway Community school
Camarillo, CA
“Lanny’s relaxed and informative style kept his audience engrossed as he brought that amazing time 50 years ago to life through photos and the spoken word. To enhance this riveting hour even more, Lanny played guitar, harmonica and sang Freedom Songs with enthusiastic audience participation. It was a pleasure to have Lanny here and to listen and be moved by his talk. I highly recommend this engrossing presentation for audiences from 9 to 99. It is a history we should never forget, and I thank Lanny not only for the talk, but for all he has done for Civil Rights in the ‘60s and beyond.”
David Scarlett
Resident Services Director
The Gables of Ojai
Ojai, CA
“Keep up the good work; your program has stuck with me, reminding me that individuals with good intentions and right actions can make an impact.”
Philip J. McKenna
President, Gaviota Coast Conservancy
Santa Barbara, CA
“THANK YOU, Lanny for your wonderful presentation to our students. Our students and teachers who attended the assembly were so grateful for your presence and all you shared about your personal experiences! We hope to have you back in the future.”
Mary Ziegler
Assistant Principal
Dos Pueblos High School
Goleta, CA
“I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful presentation you gave. The audience was so engaged and we got amazing feedback. I’ll spread the word about your wonderful program and please keep in touch.”
Llyr Heller
Young Adult Librarian
Simi Valley Library
Simi Valley, CA
“Your presentation was phenomenal! You were amazing! Thanks so much for coming to our campus and presenting such an important piece of ‘ongoing’ history. And thanks for the work that you do.”
Shelley Savren
Literature, Arts and Lecture Series
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA
“I REALLY ENJOYED your presentation today. It was entertaining while at the same time VERY informative. I shows that you have put a lot of time, energy and hard work into this project. VERY PROFESSIONAL!!! I didn’t know you could play the harmonica, guitar and sing ALL at the same time! I really think more schools and colleges need to have you bring the presentation to their location.”
LaRita Montgomery
Chair, Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Ventura County
Oxnard, CA
“Thank you for an incredible evening. I can’t stop talking about your heart, music and passion to educate people. Looking forward to seeing your performance again.”
Marisa Schrier Hersh
Director of Education and Family Programs, Temple Beth Torah
Ventura, CA
“Lanny’s presentation on Martin Luther King and the Spirit of the ’60s was engaging, eye opening, and full of rich information for my class of fifth grade students. I can not think of a more perfect way for them to be introduced to the Civil Rights movement than by an individual who experienced it himself. Lanny balanced the information he presented with songs, photos and video clips excellently. The students were on the edge of their seats for half an hour and incredibly curious, as evidenced by their multitude of questions.”
Kendra Napier
5th Grade Teacher, Chaparral Elementary School
Calabasas, CA
“Your presentation was excellent! I found it educational and entertaining. Thank you!”
Raeann Koerner
Dean of Life and Political Science, Ventura College
Ventura, CA
“Lanny Kaufer’s program, ‘Martin Luther King and the Spirit of the ’60s,’ was a big hit at our school. It was both educational and entertaining, capturing the interest of all students, from grades K – 12. I was amazed at the focus given by the K-3 students. Including songs — especially the sing-along ones — was a great idea. It not only involved the students in the presentation, but broke up the informational parts. I highly recommend this program for any school or community group that wants a thoughtful, personal, moving assembly that truly captures the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Craig Walker
Valley Oak Charter School
Ojai, CA
“Thank you so much for your Civil Rights presentation to our students. It was very helpful to the students to hear from someone who actually met Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
Katia Hazen
Principal, Washington Elementary
Berkeley, CA
“Your presentation was absolutely riveting for our students. Your skills as a teacher were obvious in the remarkable way you tailored each assembly to the grade level of the audience. We will remember your connection to the past and hope our students remain inspired into the future. I would love to have you come annually to an 8th grade assembly in the spring.”
Janet Levenson
Principal, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School
Berkeley, CA
“I appreciate you relaying to the PHD Team your firsthand experience in the great work by one of the nation’s most prominent men in history. Equality and Diversity make us a stronger Warfare Center which, in turn, better serves the fleet.”
Ray A. Acevedo
Captain, U. S. Navy
Commanding Officer, Naval Surface Warfare Center
Port Hueneme, CA
“Lanny Kaufer’s ‘Martin Luther King & the Spirit of the ‘60s’ is essential standards-based learning for the youth of today. As Mr. Kaufer shares his personal journey through the civil rights movement, the audience is exposed to rare historical photos and archival footage that help contextualize how young people became engaged citizens during the 60’s. As every school strives to produce an engaged citizenry, Mr. Kaufer’s presentation about civic engagement is one of the most important lessons students can learn during their K-12 education.”
Rick Castaniero
Teacher, Santa Paula High School
Director, VC LULAC, District 17
“It has already been three weeks since your excellent talk on civil rights. I truly thank you for doing it on such short notice just after Martin Luther King Day. I was just sitting here reading The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, which you recommended, when I realized that I had not communicated to you how much I appreciate your bringing Dr. King’s philosophy to this epoch in history and in particular to our community.”
Sharon West
Secretary, Board of Directors
Jewish Community of Ojai
Ojai, CA
“Thank you so very much for such an enjoyable and informative presentation. My class has read and discussed Freedom Walkers by Russell Freedman, made posters for MLK Day, and we’re learning about empathy. This was such an appropriate assembly for them to experience and bringing in the use of music of the day was such a brilliant and extra sensory piece that will stick with us. Thank you again for all you do.”
Sandra Hansen
5th Grade Teacher
Meiners Oaks Elementary
Ojai, CA
“What a terrific assembly! I really liked the pacing and all of the visuals. I polled the students and they enjoyed it very much as well. They said the content was perfect–they were able to understand what was going on and did not feel like anything was over their head or that they were being “talked down to” at any time. They also thought the singing was great and would like more music.”
Pamela Dzukola
5th Grade Teacher
Miramonte Elementary
Ojai, CA
Your presentation was absolutely riveting for our students. Your skills as a teacher were obvious in the remarkable way you tailored each assembly to the grade level of the audience. We will remember your connection to the past and hope our students remain inspired into the future. I would love to have you come annually to an 8th grade assembly in the spring.
Thank you, Janet. Your students’ enthusiastic response will inspire my work for years to come. It was a special moment for me to be presenting at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School on President Obama’s last day in office. The significance of that juxtaposition was not lost on me.
Lanny Kaufer’s “Martin Luther King & the Spirit of the ‘60s” is essential standards-based learning for the youth of today. As Mr. Kaufer shares his personal journey through the civil rights movement, the audience is exposed to rare historical photos and archival footage that help contextualize how young people became engaged citizens during the 60’s. As every school strives to produce an engaged citizenry, Mr. Kaufer’s presentation about civic engagement is one of the most important lessons students can learn during their K-12 education.
Rick Castaniero
Director
VC LULAC
District 17