Backstage & Behind the Scenes

Know more about the people behind KidsTalk, Voices of Tomorrow.

Ninon de Vere De Rosa
Founder/Executive Producer
ninon@kidstalk.org

by Linda Kessler

Even though I’m wearing sensible low-heeled shoes, I am finding it difficult to keep up with the woman with the microphone, cameraman trailing behind her. She has targeted in on her next interview subject, and doesn’t want to miss the opportunity. Her energy is incredible, her smile is heartwarming, and her enthusiasm for what she does is boundless. Impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, stylish heels (definitely not sensible), with perfect hair and makeup, she is ready to go, whether it’s to an exclusive awards dinner, a studio taping of a live show, or a picnic at the park, complete with hot dogs, burgers, and potato chips.

This is Ninon de Vere De Rosa, as I have come to know her. I have had the wonderful opportunity of being the editor of the KidsTalk Newsletter, which has evolved into the KidsTalk New Magazine in recent years, and have assisted with various KidsTalk events and activities, often just trailing along with a stack of release forms, watching the reactions of others as Ninon conducts her wonderfully insightful interviews.

Children and adults alike gravitate to her, perhaps sensing that she is genuinely interested in what they have to say - their concerns, their opinions, and their accomplishments as well as their defeats. Ninon never pre-interviews for her shows, even the live studio tapings. As she says, "I want the real answer or reaction. I don’t want to suggest an idea and have it come across as phony. That would defeat the purpose of truly listening, wouldn’t it?"
Ninon, (as she is known for the show) is well known throughout the world, and now in the Los Angeles area, as a spokesperson, actress, show host, journalist and philanthropist in connection with her many charities.
Born into a large family, Ninon is originally from England where she was privately educated and raised in Devon. Ninon left home at a very young age to take up residence in London, where she started her career in modeling, print, commercials and acting. There was no stopping this young lady. Whilst in London she met Charley Henches, a noted producer. Charley was responsible for "discovering" Ninon de Vere (her acting name) and she was then off to Beirut to perform her own underwater swimming act as the star of the extravaganza show "Mai Oui" at the Casino de Lebanon. This led to further jobs in films, print, and modeling, all of which Ninon enjoyed thoroughly.

Her career continued throughout Europe, London, the Caribbean, and finally on to Miami Florida. While in the United States, Ninon landed many movies, including "The Grove" in which she acted with Rita Hayworth.
After leaving Miami for California, Ninon adopted Los Angeles as her home. It was here that she met and ultimately married James De Rosa, a real estate owner and developer.

In 1982 Ninon met legendary filmmaker Hal Roach, and they became very good friends. In 1987 Ninon founded "The Hal Roach Awards" for the communications department at Loyola Marymount University. Hal Roach, Ralph Bellamy, Bob Hope, Henry Mancini, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Wise and Robert Wrights, CEO for NBC, have all been honored with "The Hal Roach Award" which has so far raised more than a million dollars.

Ninon is on the board of the Communications And Fine Arts Council and CFA Council Grant Committee for Loyola Marymount University, President of the Associates, who raise money for The House Ear Institute. She is also on the Board of Trustees for the House Ear Institute, and a member of numerous organizations, as well as founding her own charity, KidsTalk Foundation. Recently, Ninon was presented with the Humanitarian Award of 2001 by the California Chapter of the American Mothers, for her outstanding involvement with children and teens.

Aram Allen Nadjarian
Producer, Voices of Tomorrow
Director of Community & Government Relations, KidsTalk.Org
aram@kidstalk.org

Aram Allen Nadjarian was born and raised in Atwater Village, a tiny arts community in Los Angeles. Since he was very young, Aram had a passion for service and this led him on an amazing journey helping America’s youth.

Aram is a recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Urban Planning, Magna Cum Laude and with both departmental and university honors. A recipient of the Toyota Community Scholarship, the Burbank King Scholarship, the Target All-Around Scholarship, the USA-Today All-Academic Team Award, a Truman Scholar Finalist, and the recipient of the Donald A. Strauss Community Service Scholarship, Aram has dedicated his life to community service above self.

At the age of 11, Aram joined KidsTalk Voices of Tomorrow, a television production company and non-profit foundation dedicated to providing inner-city youth a voice in society. The organization consisted of weekly thirty-minute shows covering a variety of topics ranging from Teens and Gangs to Movie Star Teens to those dealing with drug or alcohol addiction. With more than 400 shows already produced in the 11 years KidsTalk has been in existence, KidsTalk has received 70 awards, including 21 Telly Awards and the distinguished 2005 Gracie Allen Award for Excellence in Media and Service.

Funded by a $10,000 grant, Aram also helped start A Second Chance, an innovative, comprehensive Juvenile Hall outreach initiative aimed at working with incarcerated youth in Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls. This program provides educational and job outreach services for these young people prior to their release, so that they have some placement options when they are released. Over 500 youth were impacted by the project, and many went on to receive their high school diplomas and begin their college careers.

Recently, Aram was selected as a 2005 Payden Fellow, and his travels took him to Armenia, his native country, to conduct independent and cutting edge research on judicial reform and access to justice in this developing country and other Post-Soviet countries like it.

Aram, as a 2006-2007 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, will be attending the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, to study towards a Master’s Degree in International Relations with a focus on Economic Development and Public Diplomacy. Aram got his start in Rotary at the age of 13, when he began volunteering at various Rotary events in the San Fernando Valley and the Universal City Sunrise Rotary Club, which sponsored Aram’s numerous volunteer activities and truly got him his start in Rotary. Aram attended 3 RYLA camps, and was a facilitator at 2 of them. He also worked towards starting an Interact club at his high school and was active with his Rotaract Club at LMU. Aram was sponsored by the Westchester Rotary Club for his Ambassadorial Scholarship and mentored by Rotarian Dr. Fred Kiesner, a professor of Entrepreneurship at LMU.

After his educational career, Aram hopes to attend law school and work in Public Interest Law as well as International Human Rights Law, possibly working with the United Nations or a Non-Governmental Organization. He focuses on this track through his work with Oxfam International, a global relief organization providing lasting solution to poverty, hunger and social injustice around the world. Aram is a humanitarian who strives to change the face of impoverished communities around the world and fight for those, both in the USA and abroad, who cannot otherwise fight for themselves. Aram aims to be that voice for the voiceless and a servant for mankind.

Kathleen Tucker
Director, San Diego Office
kathleen@kidstalk.org

Click to see Resume

Christine Kegeyan
Director of Communications & Corporate Relations
communications@kidstalk.org

Christine brings into the organization vast experience of national and international leadership. While serving as the assistant to the CEO of Capital Strategies, in Los Angeles, California, Christine gained significant exposure and experience in both local and national politics. At Capital Strategies, she consulted with Former President, Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary R. Clinton, Congresswoman Jane Harman, Governor Gray Davis, New Democrat Network, Democratic Governor’s Association, Jackie Robinson Foundation, and numerous other local and national concerned candidates and organizations. Christine’s responsibilities included fundraising for elected officials and coordinating all event planning and logistical priorities. She also organized media relations and community outreach to promote public participation within California’s minority communities of African American, Armenian, Asian, Latino, Persian, Jewish and Russian. Christine was the Finance Director for the Westly for Governor committee of the California State Controller Steve Westly’s political office. She holds a bachelor degree in Political Science from UCLA. Christine will be continuing her graduate studies in Business Administration in the fall 2007.

Jan Doak
Director of Funding
finance@kidstalk.org

Jan Doak has been in fundraising for thirty three years. In 1980 she became the Director of Development at the House Ear Institute where she served for 22 years. It was during that time, that history was made when the first child received a cochlear implant by Dr. William House of the House Ear Institute. Through Ms. Doak’s fundraising efforts and the outstanding research at the Institute the future of hearing for children and adults was changed around the world As of 2006, there are over 100,000 children and adults worldwide who are cochlear implant recipients, including most of the children in oral schools for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Jan has received many honors during her career, including the Fundraiser of the Year award from the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals where she served as President in 2000. She has been active in the Los Angeles Community for 46 years serving on many Boards including the Board of Trustees at the House Ear Institute. Jan and Charles have been married for over 50 years. They have three sons and daughters-in-law and two grandchildren.

Joanne Reeves
Director of Event Operations
events@kidstalk.org

Viral K. Shah
Production Director
ktproductions@kidstalk.org

Viral Shah is a editor based in Los Angeles, CA, but originally grew up in Kenner, LA. Upon moving to Los ANgeles, Viral graduated from the University of Southern California School of Cinema and Television. Since then he has edited a variety of films and television shows and has also enjoyed his time working on set. He has traveled around the country to supervise the
post-production of many shows and has a wide range of knowledge in all aspects of production and post. Viral met Ninon in 2001 and has been working for Voices of Tomorrow since then.

Shunt Ashdjian
Production Coordinator
ktproductions@kidstalk.org

Linda Kessler
Office Manager
 
Stanley Stone, Esq.
Legal Counsel

David Silkman, CPA
Accounting