Alissa Pardo Stein was born and raised in Miami Beach. After attending college at Washington University in St. Louis – where she met her husband, Barry – she came back to begin married life and a long career serving the community, first as an educator and then in the nonprofit arena, including stints at Title I program HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), the Center for Yiddish Culture, and the University of Miami Holocaust Teacher Institute, where she’s worked with its founder, Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, for the past 26 years. A mom of three, grandmother of seven, and world traveler, she also manages to find time to support others as a certified yoga therapist.
¿Cómo te enteraste de la Feria del Libro de Miami?
That’s easy; through Mitchell [Kaplan]. We went to high school together so we’ve known each other for years. I remember when he was thinking about opening the store and I said, yes – we need you here! We need culture. Because it was a wasteland by the time I came back after college. You could roller skate all the way down Lincoln Road and not see another person.
That’s a great segue to my next question, because yes – downtown in the ’80s was arguably bleak and the Fair was one of the cultural institutions that helped transform it into what it is today. How has the Fair impacted Miami and how has it impacted you?
I love this question! I think the idea of gathering people together to celebrate books and authors was a novel idea for that time.
No pun intended. [both laugh]
Right! The Fair, along with other cultural offerings that were coming into being or evolving at the same time, really put Miami on the map as a city that was more than just retirement communities and party beaches. Personally, it’s given me a different vantage point than the one I had growing up here. Now we’ve got the Arsht, PAMM, New World Symphony, the ballet. We have things for people to do other than go to the beach and hang out.
Did you bring your kids to the Fair when they were young?
I absolutely brought them to Children’s Alley, which they loved. And sometimes I’d get a babysitter so I could come back on my own and see the things I wanted to see. [laughs] Full circle moment: When my daughter was a teacher she brought her students to Children’s Alley, too.
You’ve been a Friend for a long time – what are some of your favorite membership benefits?
I love the reserved seating, the year-round events, and seeing the same people year after year. I have a section in my phone contacts called Book Fair Friends. [laughs]
What’s an MBF moment or experience that still makes you smile when you think about it?
There are so many! I’ve had the opportunity and good fortune to meet so many interesting, intelligent, and compelling authors at the Fair – Dave Barry, Twyla Tharp, Caroline Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Michael Pollan – so many different people from all walks of life, which I love. But one of the best experiences was hearing Barack Obama speak. I couldn’t believe how many people had come to see him from all over and were just lining up in droves. Standing there in a group of like-minded people and grasping that it was such a very special moment for both Miami and for me, that was incredible.
El último gran libro que leí se tituló "Cien años de soledad".
Recientemente terminé Lady Tan’s Circle of Women – it was phenomenal – and Women in White Coats, about the first women doctors. I like reading firsthand stories of real, inspirational people. Now I’m halfway through Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World, which is really interesting.
I know you weren’t able to make it to Book Fair last year, so who did you see in 2024 that really engaged you?
Henry Winkler. He’s dyslexic and because I have my master’s in education with a focus on reading and learning disabilities, it really appealed to me how he had to struggle in life and found mentors who helped him believe in himself. I was really drawn to that.
Entrevista realizada por Elisa Chemayne Agostinho; las respuestas se han editado por motivos de espacio y claridad.