by Vivian Hua 華婷婷

When one understands the personal history of Val Thomas-Matson, the Executive Producer of Look, Listen and Learn (LL+L), one comes to understand the deeply personal reasons that inspired her to create the playful, educational live-action TV program. Inspired by well-known personalities such as Mr. Rogers, Shari Lewis, and Lamb Chop, LL+L features Thomas-Matson as the show’s main character, Auntie Lena, in conversation with a number of visiting adults, children, and animal puppets, including the recurring character, Possum. The show’s focus is to close the achievement gap for youth of color, while addressing themes that are especially relevant to communities of color.