Artist Residencies

Lead Artist, Visual Arts & Graphic Design Studio Mentor (In-Studio Program Manager)

Planning and facilitating projects within the Visual Arts studios, including layout, design, and final execution of commissioned and personal pieces. Teaching young artists and apprentices skills and tools needed to perfect their art throughout projects. Collaborating on creative projects with other studio mentors, incorporating multimedia approaches to projects and pieces. Aiding the curator of MyARTS art shows and fundraisers. Acting as a positive role model and resource for participants/ apprentices and other staff members. Supporting participants’ academic, cultural and art interests. Recruitment of new apprentices and responsible for new apprentice acclimation to the MyARTS program. Responsible for planning and coordinating community activities and visiting community artists.

Non-Profit Project Director & Program Developer/Facilitator/Literacy Specialist

Project Developer and Lead Instructor for literacy through poetry programs in Wyandotte County Public Schools. Poet In Residence for Wyandotte County School District, 2002-2004. Co-developer of literacy/poetry program for Wyandotte County students. Facilitated in the creation of annual Metropolitan area poetry and art magazine, Urban Transcendence, including layout and design. Dedicated to inspiring young people to use their creative voice. Fine-tuned student’s writing capabilities and motivated students to become effective and strong performance poets. Co-Director of Urban Transcendence Poetry Performance, Bringing the Heat, 2005.

Project Developer/ Lead Instructor for Video Technology Programming. Responsible for implementing programming in Wyandotte County schools teaching young people fundamentals in development, acting techniques and editing short films and commercials 2003-2005. Instructor for media class held at Kansas City, Kansas Community College providing instruction and planning for student based cable television show, Reality Check, 2004-2006. Film director and editor of Urban Transcendence Poetry Performances, 2003-2005.

Facilitator of Visual Art Projects for Kansas University Medical Center, Health Careers Pathways Programs, providing summer internships to high-school students who wish to concentrate on careers in the sciences.

Creative Communications, Poetry Instructor/Art Instructor

Poetry and Art instructor for annual Alvin Ailey youth camp in Kansas. Curriculum development and facilitation of poetry and art workshops for middle school students and poetry performance coach for closing presentation. Poetry Workshops (2003-2009). Art Workshops (2006-current).

Assistant Instructor/ Program Coordinator

Assistant instructor and professional performer of the Afro-Brazilian cultural art of Capoeira in metropolitan area public schools, community centers, community colleges, youth group homes and detention centers. Responsible for all project coordination such as program contract negotiation, scheduling, presentations, grant writing, collaborative efforts with local non-profit groups and all administrative tasks including: marketing, advertising, art design and website design for the group. Coordinator for the Outreach program which helps to provide Capoeira internship programs for at-risk youth and connects local artists with domestic and international satellite groups. International performances and workshops to Brazil, Canada, Jamaica, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.

Contracted Artist/ Facilitator

Facilitator of visual arts programs in metropolitan area detention centers and alternative schools. Member of the Art Model team funded by the National Education Association for the development of creative arts implementation for public education, 2004-2006.