Interview with Lucy Canzoneri-Golden

              Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Lucy Canzoneri Golden
Miami, FL, December 20, 2015
Interview asm0344000009
Interviewed by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Kriti Sood
Length: 00:29:13
Interview with Lucy Canzoneri Golden, co-director of Coral Reef Montessori School. Lucy was born in Colombia, but grew up in Queens, New York. She graduated from high school in 1978 and attended Hunter College in New York where she received her BA in theater arts and elementary education. Lucy later earned an MS in Montessori education from Barry University. She taught in Harlem, New York, for two years before moving to Miami, where she taught as a drama and English-as-a-second language teacher in a Title 1 program. She continued to teach in a Title 1 school for six years. Between 1996 and 1998, she founded the Coral Reef Montessori charter school. She is Buddhist, and her work also includes promoting global citizenship and engagement in social issues. Lucy endeavors to include diversity in her school and incorporate original ideas for the children.
This interview forms part of the Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu.
INTERVIEW OUTLINE
 00:00:11: Introduction
 00:00:13: It is a pleasure to have you today. Today we are at Lucy Golden’s beautiful home in Biscayne Boulevard on Wednesday December 23. And we are just going to have a conversation about you, your accomplishments, all of the things that matter to you to share with the [Caribbean] Oral History Diaspora. So we are going to get started with your questions. The first one is always the same; tell us about your childhood. Where did you grow up, your family, your schooling, your early schooling, all of that about your early beginnings.
 00:10:32: Would you say that she was the most influential person?
 00:14:24: It was a very strange time. Nobody wanted to make any waves. It doesn’t matter where you were from or what angle you came from. Whether you are black, Hispanic, and even your father who was Italian in this case was a minority.
 00:16:30: And the food…
 00:19:06: Wow, that is quite amazing. But it also gave you, from what I am hearing, a foundation for the line of work you are in. Is that correct? Would you say that?
 00:20:22: Yes, well you certainly have a complete circle here. So tell us about your first, I’ve read about your first position in Harlem. Your first teaching position correct. So how did that impact what your teaching career would look like?
 00:23:40: Wow, a friend of mine that I met not too long ago was talking about her experience in Harlem in those days, she is African American. For her it was even more brutal, she had friends and others who had lived the actual experience.
 00:25:30: Yeah, the home environment makes a big difference.
 00:25:36: So, you moved from New York to Miami? And is that when you started looking at the Montessori philosophy?
 00:27:43: It wasn’t New York. No.
 00:30:24: Yes, that is quite a powerful force there. So CRMA, you guys founded that together? What prompted the two of you to go in that direction?
 00:33:55: To being tolerant.
 00:34:38: I can see that, I would love to visit your school. It will be quite something, because I remember my son when I was in New York put him in the Waldorf school and I was a librarian at the time in Queen’s village because of my life as a public librarian and I met this lady, she came to the library and she knew how I loved art and music as I was including that in the story hour and she said you know I would like you to visit a school that I put my daughter in and I think you are going to like it. So we went to it and it was the most amazing thing. And that is the thing I most regret when I moved from New York to Miami because at the time they didn’t have a Waldorf. And later on there was something about a Waldorf school, but when I read about it, something about it didn’t sit right.
 00:35:45: It was here in Miami right?
 00:35:52: Yes, well here in Miami it wouldn’t really sustain because a lot of people don’t believe that and don’t believe in the kind of teaching they were doing. The kind of open-mind … have the children really go through. My son’s first three years we had at the Waldorf and there is a huge difference. An absolutely huge difference. You can see it and that is the one thing I regret.
 00:36:30: …wouldn’t have access to it. So I’m listening to you and that’s why it kind of brought back…
 00:37:58: And to know the facts!
 00:38:22: It is a family holiday and you concentrate on that aspect. Exactly.
 00:40:39: I think it is amazing. Because as a public librarian, it has always been my thing. Do we know what we are talking about? We see books that are talking about, and you look at it and go wait a minute, come on, we can’t buy this copy, let’s not do that, let’s not put this in the public library shelf. We should know better. And of course someone will come in and tell you this, that, and the other. I’m so sorry but this is so inaccurate and so way out of the field that there is no way it can continue. But, it takes a lot of courage, you know I just met you, but listening to you, it takes a lot of courage just to stand up and just to be able to say those things. And be sincere and be consistent. Because people start, but because of outside pressure they cave in. You find the same people that had a voice become now just a follower.
 00:42:30: You just mentioned SOKA. Do you want to talk about that?
 00:44:49: So what is the legacy you want to leave for the next generation?
 00:46:37: So that legacy is already alive and working. It will, it will. Your love for that and your students and the seeds sprouting all over.
 00:47:00: So tell me, is there anything that I missed. Is there anything you want to say to conclude?
 00:48:58: Wow, I’ll see if I can take some time and visit your school just because it is probably amazing. This digital archive has the potential of changing a lot and the way people think because by listening… and we have done so many interviews, the caliber of people, and how much we need to share. Because that is also a part of it, how much they are willing to share. So that the next generation can see it and understand it and make sure we move forward. Thank you so much.
 00:49:52: END OF INTERVIEW