Not all the revealing, fun and fascinating history of Lakewood has been told by professional historians. In fact, a lot of the best stories of Lakewood are the stories that have never been written down.

Now, these stories are online, thanks to a new city-sponsored program called The Write Stuff.

Student essays are indexed by school at the bottom of the main Write Stuff page. Find the correct school, open the PDF file, and use the index in the file to scroll down to a specific essay.

The Write Stuff Essay Program

Using a kit of informational materials about Lakewood and “prompts” developed with the district’s curriculum team, students in grades 2 through middle school drafted their stories of growing up in Lakewood, theirmost memorable Lakewood resident, and their hopes and dreams on the threshold of the city’s next 50 years.

• Living in Lakewood for thirteen years has been a tremendous experience. The clean surroundings, the comforts, and the friendliness of the people, have made living here an unforgettable experience. When I was small, my family and I always took evening walks after dinner. We enjoyed Lakewood’s refreshing environment: the dancing June bugs in June, the block parties lit by colorful fireworks in July, the rolling leaves in August, the exciting Halloween festivals in the park in October, and the glittering lights of Christmas in December. Throughout the years, we felt comfortable and secure in our neighborhood.  Krista Acosta, DeMille Middle School

Sheryl Musicant Stewart, who coordinates The Write Stuff program for the city’s Community Relations Office, worked with LBUSD officials and the superintendent’s office in both the Bellflower and ABC districts to expand the essay program to more schools and more grades.

“We’re tremendously pleased with the work these creative young people have done. Parents and teachers should be proud of the observations of the students who participated in the program and their ability to express their feelings in writing.”

See the links below for the outstanding essays selected by indexed by school, grade, and student’s last name.

• From sports teams to camps Lakewood is all about having fun. At parks, they have special classes for adults and kids. For kids there are teams like soccer, baseball, and cheer leading; there are dance classes for kids too. Adults have special classes like fitness classes, and craft classes. Joining a team is so much fun! Going to dance class is another great experience for anyone and everyone. When it’s hot out go to the pool and jump in. Lakewood is full of fun for everyone!  Jessica Sanchez, James Monroe School

Students who participated received a certificate and a token of the city’s appreciation – a pencil that says, “You’ve got The Write Stuff!”

The Write Stuff program gathered more stories of living and growing up in Lakewood during the fall,” notes Stewart. “We’ll asked the community who wants to submit an essay to join a citywide essay program called Take Your Place in History. Everyone in Lakewood has a story to tell, and these community essay programs offer residents of all ages a chance to join in the festivities and add their personal voice to the celebration.”