This month marked the end of a literary institution that had mentored dozens of writers for nearly three decades in southeast Los Angeles County: the senior writing class sponsored by the Cerritos College Adult Education Program and taught by Downey resident Bonnie Mansell.
The students gathered for their final class period (this time with lunch) at the Norwalk Senior Center to celebrate Mansell’s retirement and her impact on their lives.
The roster of Mansell’s class reflected the diversity of Southern California, created by the influx of people who emigrated here after World War II. Participants came from all over the world (Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Ireland, Germany, etc.) as well as from all over the country (Hawaii, East LA, Utah, Maine, the Deep South, Brooklyn, etc.). English was a second language for many.
Her written works embodied this international potpourri of experiences that Karen Borrell described as a “cosmic mix of different backgrounds” and that Mina Anne Chudilowsky considered “living history.”
“When I taught high school,” Mansell explained, “I found writing much more interesting when students wrote about their own lives. So this course was offered as a senior creative writing course with an emphasis on memoir.”
Many readers of the local newspaper, The Downey Patriot, were avid followers of the “Shared Stories” column, which featured articles from Mansell’s students on topics ranging from sweet to funny to sad to sometimes terrifying. There were stories of everyday life and stories of wartime survival.
In 2016, an anthology titled Sharing Stories: Global Voices Coming Together was published in collaboration with The Downey Patriot. Editor Eric Pierce wrote that the stories were “an example of journalism at its most natural, raw and honest, shining a light on the American way of life in all its many forms.” A copy of the book was preserved in a time capsule on the Downey Promenade.
For Mansell, teaching became both a vocation and a career.
“Teaching this course has been one of the defining elements of my life,” Mansell affirmed, “like getting married, having children and grandchildren, or joining a particular church. The people you spend time with shape your life.”
Mansell’s influence on her students was profound, with students attributing the popularity of her classes to the encouraging, non-threatening atmosphere.
Undeterred by the multicultural nature of the course, students discovered their commonalities and returned month after month, year after year. Chudilowsky, who attended the course for nearly 20 years, said, “Bonnie brought different ethnic groups together and we learned from each other. People were so open-minded.”
Louis Thaxton, a “relative newcomer” from Long Beach, summed up his joy at finding the course with the simple statement: “I found my people.”
The reasons for registering varied: some wanted to leave something written for their families, others wanted/needed to share difficult experiences they had overcome, and many used the opportunity to deal with their own feelings related to past trauma.
“Every student who was part of our group was unique and significant,” Mansell said, “and they have a story waiting to be told, heard and recognized.”
Mansell recalled a mentor telling her that writing was an act of courage. “It gave me so much satisfaction,” she explained, “to see these students become more and more confident in the value of their own stories and in their ability to tell them.”
Over time, many students found that the classes offered them much more than just the opportunity to improve their writing skills. Encouragement, friendship, and learning from others were recurring themes.
Charlene Farnsworth, who retired from Rockwell International and took the course in 2009, said, “I have made long-term friends. The camaraderie in this group never changed, even when we had to go online (during the Covid pandemic). Your course gave me the confidence to put together my own book.”
Under Mansell’s guidance, even the shyest students found their voice. Unlike speaking, writing is not a natural human activity. Putting thoughts on paper is a learned skill, supported by effective teaching.
At weekly meetings, Mansell had students take turns presenting their work and getting feedback from others. Negative comments were not allowed. It was a powerful experience and incredibly affirming for those who said they never wrote much in school or for whom English was a second language.
Gail Earl, a member since 2008 who has published two novels and an autobiography, said the course was “a place where everyone could open their hearts, look deep and tell their story.”
Many participants described the course as a “safe” place to share thoughts and experiences that otherwise seemed too personal. Participants recalled one member jokingly referring to writing a memoir as “taking your clothes off on paper.”
Vince Madrid of Whittier said, “It brought me out of my shell as far as public speaking goes. Even in school, I hated answering questions. But every time I got on stage to talk, I got a little braver.” Madrid remembers getting into the class “by accident” and says he’s glad he came back on future visits.
Over time, Madrid discovered he had a talent for writing poetry and now participates in open mic events in the area.
Yolanda Reyna, who grew up in Compton, said, “The course completely changed my life. It boosted my self-esteem. I grew up not knowing anything. I had no dreams or goals. My mother had 14 children and she was an amazing woman, but I never graduated from high school. In Bonnie’s course, I blossomed like a flower.”
Reyna initially had the same reservations as Madrid about public speaking. “The course taught me to speak without being afraid,” she said. “I didn’t really know who I was, and now I’m my own therapist. Even when I write, I cry.”
She described the importance of sharing work with other students in class: “I love it when I read and hear all the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’. Then I know that my stories are good.”
Reyna began working toward her high school diploma at the same time she was taking Mansell’s class, and she decided to fulfill the requirements the other way around: instead of studying for the GED, she took adult education courses (math, science, etc.) in Norwalk for seven years and graduated in June 2022.
Kacie Cooper, who has been taking the course for 18 years, echoed Reyna’s experience of the self-reflection and awareness the course inspired. “The course was a wake-up call for me. It lit a light inside me,” Cooper said. “The whole writing thing helped me realize what I think about my life and how to express myself.”
In her younger years, Cooper worked as a stand-up comedian “to express myself,” but she knew she wanted to put her thoughts and experiences on paper.
“Bonnie was the first person to tell me,” Cooper recalls, “that if you want to be a writer, you have to be a reader.” Cooper is proud that she has completed a book that she can leave to her grandchildren.
“The course was a pathway to writing for me,” said Daniela Kanz, who grew up in Brooklyn. “I learned so much from our discussions and I will miss the encouragement I received after reading my stories.”
Vickie Williams, a retired pharmacist from Downey who grew up in Louisiana, recalls, “The course was an amazing journey in many ways. I learned the backstories of so many people and was able to strengthen my humanity and expand my community. The suggestions helped us refresh our memories.”
Borrell has been with the class the longest, having been part of the first event in La Mirada. She grew up in a small town in the Adirondacks, lived for a time in Mexico with her husband and children, and later became a fashion designer and artist.
“There were so many different episodes in my life,” Borrell recalled, “and without the lessons I probably wouldn’t have been able to put them all on paper for my children and grandchildren.”
Mansell does not know if the course will continue with a different instructor. Weekly attendance, which has often been over 30 students, has not yet fully recovered from the pandemic. People who might be interested as students are asked to call Cerritos Community College’s adult school.
In the meantime, some students hope to continue meeting as a group on Thursdays at the Norwalk Senior Center.
Mansell thinks she will visit them from time to time once she has settled into her retirement routine. “It has been an honor to be part of this community of writers,” she affirms.
