Meet Our Current Fall Teachers
NEW teachers to MALT
Jerry Axelrod is a reading specialist and English teacher who has taught for 50 years in public schools and at
colleges such as Penn State University and Community College of Philadelphia. He is the author of ‘Education Recovery Skillbook’ and of
numerous educational journal articles.
Sara Castillo runs marketing and distribution for an indie film company when she’s not working on wreaths or collaborating as Beth Uzwiak’s partner-in-art.
Marty Foley is a long time educator and history teacher. Since retiring from Greene Street Friends School in 2022, he has been working as a professional tour guide for WeVenture Philadelphia, as well as a volunteer tour guide at Laurel Hill East Cemetery. Marty regularly hosts visitors from around the world on Old City history tours, South Philadelphia public art tours, and day trips to Valley Forge, Longwood Gardens and Lancaster County, in addition to weeklong tours from Virginia to Maine.
Jason Hellmann lives in Chestnut Hill with his family, and is a self-taught knitter with seven years experience. His favorite things to make are textured sweaters, and he enjoys helping several Philadelphia-based fiber companies with their digital marketing and media through his company Local Thread.
Janice Henderson was an educator for 34 years, and used Canva during her teacher career to create worksheets, displays, and instructional resources. She now uses those same skills to design images for tumblers, t-shirts, and party favors. Her passion has always been crafting, whether it is scrapbooking, creating balloon displays, or designing digital images. Janice has a Masters degree in Instructional Technology and is Google certified.
Alexandra Jones s an award-winning writer and cheese educator. Her work has appeared in publications like Food & Wine, Epicurious, Civil Eats, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Alexandra’s first book, Stuff Every Cheese Lover Should Know, was published in 2020. She received the Daphne Zepos Research Award in support of research on cheese and climate change in 2023.
Corinne Karon is an internationally recognized tap dancer, choreographer, and educator who has performed on every continent — including Antarctica. She is the Executive Director of Tap Team Two and the Founder of Uniting Colleges Through Tap, with over 30 years dedicated to preserving and evolving the tap tradition. Her work often explores the intersection of movement, history, and social change, and she has led residencies and performances from Taiwan to Brazil. Corinne currently teaches at Rowan University, Bryn Mawr College, Chester Valley Dance Academy, and Wissahickon Dance Academy, and has guest-taught at Temple and the University of the
Arts.
Caitlin Lee (M.M.) is a classically trained cellist and has worked in the music industry as a performer and teacher for the past 20 years. Originally from the Midwest, Caitlin has held positions with the Wichita Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, Lubbock Symphony, as well as teaching positions at Hesston College and Bethany College. Currently exploring Philadelphia’s art scene at large, she is passionate about ALL types of art and music and wishes to spread her joy, expertise, and knowledge with others!
Lori Litchman is a freelance writer and poet. She’s also a former high school English teacher who loves sharing her passion for the written word with anyone interested. She enjoys creating safe writing spaces that help people unleash their inner muse.
Melissa McDermott serves as the Prevention and Education Director at Women In Transition, an organization thaempowers people to move forward in their lives free of domestic violence and substance abuse. She brings a unique and empowering perspective to self defense training, combining over a decade of experience in victim services and trauma-informed care with a background as a Registered Yoga Teacher and group facilitator. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Thomas Jefferson University and a Certificate in Trauma Studies from Lakeside Global Institute.
Anne McNiff has been a Mt. Airy resident for a little over 19 years. She has been making food look appetizing and special on boards and tables long before it became all the rage. A self proclaimed “foodie”, Anne enjoys discovering all the ways she can utilize many local products in her charcuterie boards and grazing tables.
Karl Morris, Ph.D., is a professor of computer science at Temple University. He studies software development, smart systems, and education. He also has over 20 years of experience as a technologist and consultant in private, public, and non-profit sectors.
Desmond O’Donovan is a USATF-certified track & field coach and a certified personal trainer. He coached track and
cross country at Juniata College and Abington Friends School, and currently coaches independently. He ran track and cross country for Science Leadership Academy and Juniata College, and is still training as a competitive distance runner.
Jaime Renman is the founder of Pickle Me Queer, an inclusive pickleball community in West Philadelphia that centers queer players and welcomes allied players in the neighborhood of all ages. Since picking up a paddle just two years ago, Jaime has taught countless beginners, both kids and adults, with a passion for growing the game and creating space for connection and joy,
Carin Sauerwein is a natural dyer, artist, and educator with over 25 years of experience in botanical dyeing. After
leaving the corporate fashion world, she founded Dye on the Side to reconnect with nature, creativity, and community. Her teaching practice is rooted in sustainability, sensory play, and creating calm through color.
Christina Sharay The Glitz & Glam Girls! Two visionary “Sis-Stars” Christina Sharay and Jojo Gass join forces to guide you through this transformative vision board experience. With their combined expertise in manifestation and creative expression, they’ll empower you to amplify your intentions, unlock your potential, and create your wildest dreams.
Eric Tillberg studied Art History in college and International Relations in graduate school. He has been interested in politics, culture, and history for years. Eric ran a history book club in Durham, NC from 2019 to 2024, which was well-loved.
Beth Uzwiak is an artist and anthropologist living in G’town. Sara Castillo’s partner-in-art, she makes wacky things with plants both fake and real from headdresses to your next party flowers
Returning Teachers
Joan Adler is the former Director of APPRISE Medicare Counseling at the Mayor’s Commission on Aging in Philadelphia. She has been a Medicare counselor in the community for the last 6 years.
Justin Ahlbach has an MA in Literature and an interest in contemporary film.
Stef Arck-Baynes is a mission-driven communications professional with over 20 years of experience developing strategy, relationships, and compelling content for nonprofit brands and socially responsible for-profits. As the founder and CEO of Achieving Good Communications Co., clients have included: The Conferences for Women; Bucks County United Way; Atlanta Habitat for Humanity; and The Jewish Relief Agency. Prior to Achieving Good, she directed in-house communications at organizations such as Philabundance and Brooklyn Public Library. A born-and-bred Philadelphian, Stef attended Central High School (251!) and lives happily in Mt. Airy with her husband, their daughter, and dog.
Liz Aubry began her restaurant career as a host and busser in order to put herself through college. Her experiences in the hospitality industry led to her infatuation with it. At 22 she became a bartender and never looked back. She loves the creativity, sounds, smells, and tastes involved in mixing a drink, and the fast paced yet family-like vibe of restaurants. She sees making cocktails akin to cooking: an emotionally rewarding way to bring people together. She is a bartender at Mt. Airy’s own Commodore Barry Club and Bar Lizette.
B-Luv, a Choreographer/Instructor is a 31 year pioneer, trailblazer in the line dance community. She has won a plethora of awards including 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards, Choreographer of The Year and Philadelphia Dance Legend! She has worked with several artists in the music industry which include Grammy Award Winner Peabo Bryson! She has been given the gift to do what she truly LOVES to do…..choreography and dance and it is her passion!
Dorothy Bauer spent most of her adult life in Berkeley, California where she was able to take classes at Living Light Culinary Institute and study with world renowned raw chef and author, Elaina Love.
Stephanie Ben-Salem holds a BA and MA in piano performance , as well as a MA in education, and has been teaching students from all ages, abilities and backgrounds for the past 44 years. Besides the piano, she is very proficient in violin, cello, sitar, darbouka, santoor, and tabla as well as a plethora of other instruments. She has been a performing artist for over 50 years throughout the US and Europe.
Glenn Bergman is the former Executive Director of Philabundance, and previously served for 11 years as the General Manager of the Weavers Way Co-Op. He has led food tours of Chinatown for MALT and this term is also eager to share his food explorations to Northeast and Southwest Philly. Glenn is donating his faculty fee to the nonprofit Ukraine Trust Train, providing humanitarian relief to people in the war. No funds will go towards military equipment.
Lynn Berkowitz, MFA, BFA, with a career in art museums, has developed an array of award-winning gallery tours, experiences, and apps aimed at helping audiences of all ages and abilities engage with a diversity of art ‘isms’ and approaches.
Marck “Flaco” Best is a native of Mt. Airy. As a master teaching artist, he holds roster artist positions with such prestigious arts education agencies as Young Audiences of NJ & PA, AIE, and Arts Horizons, and has a long-standing relationship with The Painted Bride Art Center, where he appears frequently. His passion lies in teaching men to dance with the women in their lives.
Rochelle Brenner is a Black Belt and full-time martial arts instructor for children and adults. She is also a former amateur boxer and includes training that can challenge every level. She is the owner of Action Karate in Mt. Airy.
Karen Bruhin is a 3rd degree initiate within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel (ASW), a Wiccan syncretic tradition. She is the High Priestess of Tenders of the Earth Temple founded in 2011 based in NW Philadelphia. A practitioner of a variety of esoteric disciplines, Karen has been active in Wicca and the local Pagan community for the past 20+ years and has been reading tarot for 45+ years. She is a past board member for Philadelphia Pagan Pride and has previously taught at Spring Magick, Autumn Magick, Philadelphia Pagan Pride, South Jersey Pagan Pride, Sacred Space/Between the Worlds, and Free Spirit Gathering.
Ben Buono has a B.S. in Astrophysics from Mount Union College and 7 years with NASA in Greenbelt MD working with the unmanned spacecraft attitude and orbit determination sections.
Troy Bynum, owner of TB Wildlife Photography LLC, is not only an enthusiastic birder but also a passionate wildlife photographer from Philadelphia, PA. Troy’s work focuses on capturing and showcasing the remarkable colors, intricate patterns, and rich textures that are abundant throughout the natural world. In his work, Troy draws attention to the oftentimes overlooked naturally occurring beauty found in the wild. Troy is on a mission to accentuate and celebrate the inherent magnificence of nature.
Craig Carracappa is a recently retired high school media production teacher. He has volunteered at the Philadelphia Folk Festival for over 40 years and has 45 years of experience playing guitar and singing.
Llana Carroll holds an BA in Literature from Purchase College/SUNY and an MA and PhD in English: Cultural and Critical Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Llana has taught non-fiction and essay writing at several colleges and universities and is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor of English and Philosophy at Drexel University. Her own writing has been published in several academic journals.
Christina Castro-Tauser is the founding director of Expansions Contemporary Dance Ensemble and Executive Director of International Ballet Exchange. She earned her MFA at Temple University and was the recipient of the Rose Vernick MFA Choreographic Achievement Award. Christina is an adjunct faculty at Temple University and Teaching Artist for Taller Puertorriqueno. In January of 2023 she became the owner of Wissahickon Dance Academy.
Rodney Chonka has lived, studied, taught and traveled in both Italy and France. Rodney is fluent in French and Italian and has taught both languages over many years.
Andrew Christman is a painter, printmaker and teaching artist based in Germantown and Mt. Airy. He received a BFA in painting at Pratt Institute Brooklyn and studied Art Ed at both Pratt Institute and Moore College of Art. He received an MA in East Asian Art History at Sotheby’s Institute of Art / Manchester University, UK. Andrew is currently a teaching artist for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a co-founder of Way of Words, an interactive poetry and visual art project that integrates writing, bookmaking and collage. He has exhibited his work at the Muse Gallery, Awbury Arboretum, the Da Vinci Art Alliance and the Imperfect Gallery.
Christopher Coan is a certified Pilates and Kripalu Yoga teacher with nearly a decade of experience. His classes are influenced by martial arts study, Buddhism and various healing modalities such as acupuncture and Ayurveda.
James Crichton is a tour guide, museum docent, tour escort and historical character re-enactor. Known for his dramatic presentation style, Jim helped to develop Historic Germantown’s popular Ghosts of the Great Road tours and served as the guide for them for many years. He served as a member of the guide corps at Cliveden of the National Trust for eleven years, was a guide for the History Hunters Youth Reporter Program for six years and has been a docent at Johnson House Historic Site since 2007. A charter member of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides, Jim has also conducted walking, step-on and duck boat tours of Center City Philadelphia, step-on tours of Valley Forge, Lancaster County and the Camden waterfront, and served as a tour escort for school groups in Gettysburg. Jim has often developed specialty history tours for clients, conducted new guide training at several local museums, and has authored guide training and enrichment materials for Johnson House. Jim is a longtime resident of Germantown and Mt. Airy.
Lori Crook, a Licensed Social Worker with a lifelong creative passion, transitioned into a self-taught artist after discovering alcohol inks. Since 2021, she has led 80+ workshops at venues like Norristown Art League, Whitemarsh Art Center, Evansburg Vineyard, and through private sessions in Montgomery County.
June Daley is the owner of JuneBug Sweet Treats, a small-batch bakery in King of Prussia, PA where LOVE is always the first ingredient.
Maegan D’Amato is a licensed mental health therapist and registered 500-hour yoga therapist. She has been using mindfulness meditation to help herself and others heal for nearly a decade. As a part of this, Maegan has been guiding Forest Baths in urban settings since 2018.
Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, DHCC accomplishes their mission through communication access services, education and advocacy. DHCC advocates for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals to help them gain communication access to services, businesses, educational institutions and their own places of employment. All DHCC ASL classes are taught by experienced Deaf instructors who look to not only teach ASL, but will also cover key ideas and stories about Deaf culture and history.
Barbara Delp, a local trust and estate attorney, has been teaching American Mah Jongg for over a decade. She enjoys introducing beginners to the basic rules of the National Mah Jongg League and teaching the finer points and strategies of this challenging game.
Megan Do Nascimento is a Mt. Airy resident who is trilingual in Spanish, English and Portuguese. Megan lived in Spain, works in International sales and has travelled extensively throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Megan is passionate about immigration issues and dedicated some of her time doing work in Matamoros, Mexico with Team Brownsville
Nicole Dupree is a teaching artist and founder of Indigo in Green–a Mt. Airy-based creative workshop producing artisanal, natural art supplies and educational resources. You can find botanical inks made by Nicole in the museum shop at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in the Welcome Center at Bartram’s Garden. For more nature art projects, field trips to green spaces, and plant portraits, watch Nicole on Indigo in Green, Saturdays @ 9AM on PhillyCAM. Connect, create, and collaborate with Nicole on instagram @ampersandtextile and @indigo.in.green
Andrea Elovson has been a freelance writer, a professional writing tutor at Penn State Abington, and now a college essay professional. Her training and experience includes a B.A. in creative writing from UCLA, an MFA from Temple University, a background in adolescent development and completion of the UCLA College Essay Writing Boot Camp. She has coached dozens of students, both privately and as the co-facilitator of the Kick Start Program – a series of week-long essay writing workshops for rising seniors.
Frances Emberley is a dancer, instructor, and researcher with an interest in early twentieth-century American social dances originating in Black communities, such as the Lindy Hop and Charleston. She has been teaching dance for the past nineteen years and holds an MA in Dance from Temple University where her research focused on both historical and ethnographic perspectives to explore the culture, aesthetics, pedagogy, and preservation of Black American social jazz dances.
Nina Epstein is known as the Digital Diva and has been an information technology instructor and consultant for over 25 years, helping individuals and small business owners use technology to solve their computing problems.
Kirsten Erwin has studied T’ai Chi since 1982 and is a senior student of the late Sibok Robert Kassof. She has taught regularly for MALT since 2002! Related areas of training include long and short Yang T’ai Chi forms, Qigong, Reiki, Kung Fu, and meditation. She is a Certified Instructor of T’ai Chi for Arthritis.
Peggy Feerick has taught traditional and digital photography for over 40 years including iPhone photography since 2017 for The Smithsonian Associates Studio Arts Program. She retired from George Mason University as Associate Professor and Coordinator of Photography in 2016 with prior teaching at various institutions including the University of New Mexico, Georgetown University, and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she was the photo archivist and curator for the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art photographic collection from 1988 to 1994.
Yvonne Ferguson-Hardin has been in the fitness industry for over 25 years. She is a degreed Fitness professional with certifications in Cancer Exercise, Gerontology, Physical education and more. Changing lives through specialized programming aimed to improve functional fitness in the 55 and over population is her goal.
Kurt Findeisen has studied T’ai Chi Ch’uan with Maggie Newman since 1979 until her retirement from teaching several years ago. With her consent, he began his own teaching in the late 1980’s through the auspices of Mount Airy Learning Tree. He is a retired physician who believes his T’ai Chi instruction is as valuable as any drug he ever prescribed.
Mike Finnell is an avid player with 18 years experience in the game. He has found over 1,000 Geocaches and placed nearly 75 more in the Philadelphia Metro area, including at the MALT office. Those hides include the top five (by quality) of Philadelphia’s over 900 Geocaches caches and have received recognition by Geocaching.com.
Rebecca Fisher is the cofounder of Philadelphia’s top rated Beyond the Bell Tours. Beyond the Bell designs inclusive historical walking tours that put the people back into people’s history. Rebecca is passionate about the intersection of social justice and tourism.
Tuomi Forrest is the Executive Director of Historic Germantown.
Mindy Flexer is a professional artist and certified art teacher. She takes each student seriously as an artist and works to help each one meet their own artistic goals. She loves sharing her passion for art with people of all ages and walks of life, and believes in the power of art to transform people, communities, and the world. She has taught with MALT since 2009!
Bridget Flynn is a local fiber artist who has been spinning yarn to use in her knitting and weaving for over 20 years. She is a member of the Philadelphia Guild of Hand Weavers where she teaches spinning. She can also be seen around the community demonstrating spinning and selling her handwoven goods.
David Freeman is a lawyer and educator. His thirty years of legal experience includes work as a prosecutor, defense attorney, zoning board counsel and private general practice. He currently focuses on education law, representing children and their parents. He is also a full-time educator in the Criminal Justice curriculum at Community College of Philadelphia.
Paul Gannon, ND, is a naturopathic doctor in practice for over twenty years, helping clients reach and maintain their health goals, tailoring the most effective cutting edge natural treatment protocols. He specializes in women’s health, cancer co-management and post-treatment thriving, gastrointestinal health, acute and chronic illness, as well as allergies and rheumatism.
Jojo Gass Jojo Gass is an abstract expressionist, chess enthusiast and proud plant mom. She has previously taught “Chess for Women” at MALT (inspired by The Queen’s Gambit). Now, she’s excited to share the joy, relaxation, and rewards of working with clay. Her unique ceramic designs are sold in boutiques throughout Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill.
Amelia Geiser has been crocheting for five years and has experience in a variety of other crafts. She is a full time high school science teacher, and has taught crochet as an elective and an after-school activity to elementary, middle school, high school, and adult students. She has found great success in teaching crochet to all ages by teaching basic skills that can apply to many projects, then assisting students while they create a product of their choice.
Andrew Gilmore has been studying the history of American entertainment since 1995, and has a BA from Arcadia University in Theater and American Recorded Popular Entertainment.
Makiko Goto-Widerman is a graduate of Showa Women’s University in Japanese literature and language. She has organized award winning homestay tours to Japan, is a graduate of UMass Amherst’s Arts Interdisciplinary Studies program, offers workshops in floral design, including Ikebana, and champions the art of traditional Japanese cooking.
David Grauel comes to MALT by way of NYC where he was a Technical Support and Training Specialist in Microsoft Office products for such companies as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. As part of the Human Resources Administration, he trained supervisors and staff, worked the Help Desk, and performed network troubleshooting.
David Greenberg has been writing screenplays professionally for over twenty-five years. He teaches screenwriting at Drexel University and has also taught at University of the Arts, Temple University, Moore College of Art, Arcadia University and Montgomery County Community College. His book Screenwriting for Micro-Budget Films has been called one of the greatest screenwriting books of all time by bookauthority.org. His feature writing-directing debut, Stomping Ground, is distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures.
Himasha Gunasek ‘s love for dance began in 2010 in Sri Lanka when she took Latin dance classes with her sister. After moving to New York in 2013, she fell in love with salsa and continued dancing after relocating to Philadelphia in 2019. At Flaco’s Dance Factory, she found a welcoming community and now enjoys teaching, sharing her knowledge, and inspiring others with the joy of dance.
Tyler Hathaway is a singing instructor and musician. He is enrolled in graduate school at Antioch University for a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on expressive arts therapy. His teaching practice is informed by his training in Inside Voice techniques as taught by Jonathan Stancato, his familiarity with healing practices (including somatic exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy, breath work, and meditation), his acting training at the Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca, and over 20 years experience as a drummer and percussionist.
Gina Henry created Go Global, Inc. to empower people to travel as much as they want. She has been taking about ten free vacations per year over the past quarter-century. Check out www.goglobalinc.com for more info.
Rebecca Hoenig has been an artist and art teacher for several decades. She is particularly inspired by nature and begins most of her work with drawing and observation from life.
Allison Houghton is an educator and author on a variety of organic gardening topics. She has served as the education director for the MA chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass) and as assistant grower for The Food Project farm in Lincoln, MA, and as the director of horticulture at Green City Growers building hundreds of food-producing gardens in the Greater Boston area.
Chelsea Jackson is a writer, editor, and writing coach, as well as the author of the poetry collection All Things Holy and Heathen (April Gloaming). Chelsea’s writing asks hard questions and explores what it means to be human. Their work has been featured in Fatal Flaw, Coffin Bell Journal, and Passengers Journal, among other publications, and they were a finalist in Animal Heart’s 2022 Poetry Collection Contest. Chelsea has an MFA in Poetry from Drew University and is the Co-Editor of The Maine Review. After moving around for over a decade, they returned to their home state of Virginia in 2022. They live in Richmond with their partner and cuddly pitbull. To connect with Chelsea or learn more about their work, visit chelsea-jackson.com.
Latoya Johnson is the founder of Natural Body Essentials. As a licensed esthetician with over 15 years of medical experience, she started her journey out of a personal need to find solutions for her family’s eczema. Today, she is proud to present a thriving business that offers natural alternatives for healthy skin and living.
Anne Johnson, a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and Art of Running instructor, joyfully teaches in-person and online classes worldwide, through MALT (since 1995!) and for her private local students in Mt Airy. She taught at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University for 15 years. She continues her outreach to people of all ages, professions, skill levels and diverse backgrounds.
Marcia Jones, MFA, is a teaching artist in Mt. Airy with 50 years experience teaching art to all ages, in art centers and art schools. Her instruction-based teaching method, which she named Making Art Makes Us Smarter (c.2010), represents her passionate belief in the regenerative power of creative art. Marcia’s primary mediums are watercolor and pastel. Her work can also be seen at Le Bus in East Falls, and in private collections. She was awarded MALT’s Barbara Bloom Teacher Award in 2022.
Kitty Kaar is a retired educator and corporate trainer who has been enjoying the empowerment of growing her own fresh, nutritious veggies for the past three years.
Victoria Kager is a former middle school teacher turned attorney, who has been playing pickleball for over four years. Growing up, she competed in tennis tournaments, and as an adult she has competed in pickleball tournaments. Victoria also has many years of experience teaching horseback riding.
Karen Kennedy is an American Sign Language teacher who represents DHCC.
Linda Kish obtained her MS from Temple School of Pharmacy and is a Reiki Level II practitioner. For over fifteen years Linda has led and taught various yoga classes including vinyasa, Hatha, restorative and chair yoga. She is a registered Yoga Alliance instructor (200 plus hours) and for over twelve years has also been a helpline volunteer for Living Beyond Breast Cancer.
Lisa Klauder has been a fitness instructor for more than thirty years. She has taught corporate and public classes including kids and senior fitness classes. Lisa has a certification in Group Exercise from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).
Debra Klingler has been a MALT dance instructor since 1994. She teaches a wide array of partner dances, including ballroom, swing and Latin dancing throughout the Philadelphia area, and can be found enjoying dancing with her students and partners in many local dance clubs.
Jessica Kohn received her Masters in Social Work, along with a Gerontology Certificate, from West Chester University in May 2024. She also received certification as an End-of-Life Doula for humans in 2021 and companion animals in 2023, both from the University of Vermont. She is the staff social worker at Special Equestrians, an equine therapeutic riding center in Bucks County. As a social worker and outdoor enthusiast, she is prepared to help others seek solace, utilizing nature as an inspiration and guide.
Connie Koppe has been finding joy in singing since she was 6. She has been teaching actors, singers and CEOs to build and use their voices more effectively for over 30 years. She has taught at the University of the Arts and gives private speech and singing lessons from her home in Germantown. Connie has been a seamstress and crafter almost all her life. She learned sewing skills from her mother, her Great Aunts and Jr. High Home Economics and reading the patterns. Connie has always loved to craft and follows her mother’s and father’s example of reusing cards and other items to make gifts and home decorations. These dodecahedron ornaments were taught to her by her father when she was about 12.
Capt. Peter Lacey brings extensive boating expertise, piloting power, and sailboats across diverse waters, including the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean, and more. With a U.S. Coast Guard Master License, Sail, and Towing Endorsement, along with certifications as a USCG AUXILIARY and US Power Squadron Certified Instructor, he’s a seasoned mariner. Lacey’s professional background includes sales of Marine Equipment for West Marine, and he also served in the US Navy.
Jessica Liddell is the owner of Bella Mosaic Art. It is the only studio in Philadelphia dedicated to the ancient art of mosaics. Artist-run and operated, we offer classes, facilitate community art projects, and create commissions.
Nathan Long grew up in rural Appalachia, earned an Ma and MFA in literature and creative writing, and now lives in Philadelphia while teaching at Stockton University in NJ. Their work appears on NPR, and in over 100 publications, including Best Short Fictions 2023, Best Microfictions 2020, Tin House, Master’s Review, Electric Lit, and Witness. The Origin of Doubt, their collection of fifty short fictions, was a 2019 Lambda Award finalist. Nathan has been writing and teaching about flash fiction for over 20 years and still loves reading a new flash story.
Baking bio: Nathan Alling Long has been baking bread for 30 years. They have worked at a commercial bakery as well as cooked at an organic restaurant, a commune, and for a meditation retreat. During the pandemic, Nathan took on making sourdough when gifted a 15 year old starter, which they will share with the participants.
David Low, MS, PhD was an entertainer and drug counselor before getting a doctorate in Religious Studies, and teaching as an adjunct instructor at Rutgers, Rowan and other colleges in the area. He has a private counseling practice in Mt. Airy. David teaches MALT’s comparative religion classes. See more about him at davidlowmsphd.com.
Vanessa Lowe can be heard on G-Town Radio and the Spotify podcast, Vanessa’s Money Hour. She spent 21 years in federal service supporting access to capital for underserved communities. Retired at age 56, she continues that work by leading Invest for Better circles – Impact Investing Learning Circles for Women, financial coaching via VLL Consulting. She’s committed to moving personal and institutional money toward justice.
Natalie Mancini grew up in Japan and is a native speaker of Japanese. She holds a master’s degree in Japanese linguistics. Since 2009, Natalie has been teaching Japanese at various institutions across the U.S. and has developed curricula ranging from introductory to advanced levels. Additionally, she practiced calligraphy throughout her school years in Japan.
Denisha Marriott has over 17 years of experience in the entertainment industry. She began her acting journey in theater and later transitioned to working in TV and film; and soon began training actors. She has worked with actors that have booked work on Disney, Hulu, HBO, Comedy Central, Universal Studios, Netflix, and more. She is a huge believer that every actor in the world can reach their goals by being grounded in their faith and putting the work in to excel to new heights.
Rachel Martin is the founder of Clutter Tonic: The Easy, Refreshing Way to Organize Your Home. She finds tremendous pleasure in teaching people to organize and maintain the homes they crave.
Paul Martin has been teaching regularly since 2000. He has trained under internationally recognized Masters in QiGong, Tai Chi, and Healing Arts. He has taught several times at the prestigious National QiGong Association Conference.
Jen May has been practicing yoga for 20 years, and she is sure that yoga has helped her balance her physical body, create a more resilient nervous system, and be more present for all the moments of life. With a background in biology research and teaching, Jen loves learning and teaching about bodies and movement. Jen has a 200 hr. certification in vinyasa yoga from Wake Up Yoga. She has also completed a 300 hr. Yoga Wellness Educator Training from Yoga U. Online, which emphasized teaching beginners and older beginners how yoga can benefit body awareness, posture, and healthy aging.
Henry “Hank” McCoullum is a retired Master’s Class Table Tennis Instructor from Pennsylvania State University. He is a credentialed coach and umpire for table tennis events. Currently, he is an active tournament participant and enjoys competing as a lifelong member of the United States Table Tennis Association (USTTA). Hank has also served on the National Governing Body of Table Tennis as Vice President of Collegiate Affairs. In this role, he coordinated and organized national competitions for the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Association of College Unions International.
Tony McFadden began dancing 50 years ago, and for over 20 years he has taught dance. He finds fulfillment in teaching students how to groove to great music and have fun. Since retiring eight years ago, he’s been traveling nationwide, competing in dance competitions and leading dance events. Alongside line dancing, Tony teaches classes in Bop, Cha Cha, Salsa, Strand, 2-Step and Basic Line Dance. He also enjoys teaching basic Waltz, Bachata, Tango, Hustle, Foxtrot, Chicago Steppin, Etc.
Kelly McLeod is a devoted Qigong practitioner with over a decade of experience. After spending 33 years in the pharmaceutical field, Kelly decided to pivot her career towards her deep passion for the fascinating ancient Chinese healing arts and obtained her certification as a Holden Qigong teacher. Kelly believes that Qigong should be a fun and accessible experience for all. She aims to create a comfortable learning environment that appeals to her students while making the practice enjoyable and relatable.
Vicki Mehl has studied T’ai Chi since 1995. She enjoys T’ai Chi because of its innumerable physical and mental health benefits, and because there is always more to learn.
Paul Mladjenovic is an educator, national speaker and author of Stock Investing for Dummies and the owner of RavingCapitalist.com. He has taught with MALT for over 25 years
Susie Moore is a licensed professional counselor, with 8 years of experience working with teenagers and adults. She utilizes active listening skills with her clients on a daily basis, believes strongly in the power of these skills, and is eager to share her knowledge about this topic with others.
Daniel Nemer, L.O.M. is the owner of G-town Acupuncture and currently celebrating 20 years as a licensed practitioner of Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal and Oriental Medicine. He has practiced various styles of Taiji (Tai Chi), Qigong, meditation and Yoga for over 30 years. Since September 2022 he has been studying Taiji Qigong Shibashi, the 18 movements, in the lineage of its creator Professor Lin Housheng and is certified to teach Set 1.
Ericka Neville, “The Money Coach,” went from bankruptcy to becoming an award-winning licensed financial expert. She has been conducting money management workshops, seminars and Bo$$ Money Challenges for the past twenty years. Ericka is co-creator of the 2019 Millionaire Mind Set Dream Big Summit.
An Nichols is an established performer in the Philadelphia community. Within the world of Improv, she trained at Philly Improv Theater and the Magnet and has performed in the PA & NJ Ren Faires, Bright Invention Ensemble, Philly Improv Theatre Conservatory, Lancaster Improv, and more! She has served as the diversity advisor for ImprovUtopia and directed Improvised Star Trek for ImprovFest Ireland. In the world of dance, she is a certified BellyQueen bellydance instructor who started in 2001 and went onto study with June Seaney, Tessa Myers, Habiba, Kaeshi Chai (BellyQueen), Oreet (bellydancer of the year) and Zoe Akili. She specializes in body positivity, teaching veil, floor routine, and assisting beginners in enjoying the basics of the dance.
Y’vonne Page-Magnus has many years of experience in this field. She has a BA in Fine Arts from the Inter-Continental University in London where she learned jewelry making, knotting and silk threading from a private instructor. She also studied geology on her own and is deeply passionate about semi-precious stones.
Grace Perkins developed the chair yoga class at the request of the Chestnut Hill Senior Center in 1985. She has created a unique program that integrates posture, metaphors, poetry, seasonal energetic awareness and stories to enhance the basic Integral Yoga approach she teaches.
Moneek Pines has many years of experience in teaching art to children and adults. She currently teaches young children through Art Mt. Airy and believes everyone is an artist. Moneek has a BFA from Moore College of Art & Design.
Julia Podgorsek was born and raised in France and has been teaching French in the US for over 10 years.
Nancy Post, MAc, PhD, has taught health and energy seminars since 1985, is a licensed practitioner of Chinese medicine, executive coach and has taught at Temple, U Penn and the Wharton Schools. She helps individuals and organizations develop their energy.
Clayton Prince is the owner and operator of The Philadelphia Musical History Tours. For more information, see www.themusicalhistorytours.com.
Eric Prine worked as a professional interior and architecture photographer for over 15 years. He began real estate investing and doing property management over a decade ago. As a Realtor®, Eric is able to combine his love of architecture and real estate.
Bea Quindlen learned from her high school art teacher that success can come from the learning process rather than the “perfect finished product.” Those high school “discovery projects” led to a lifetime of crafting – and isn’t life a “discovery project?” Bea is happily retired after a 47-year career at a data company. She attended a MALT class way back in 1994 but not again until 2008! Since then, she has taken over 20 classes. In 2017, she made the switch from student to instructor, teaching a variety of introductory craft classes.
Rebel Potters Studio, newly arrived on Germantown Ave., offers a variety of professionally led classes, workshops and private events, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Karen Rile is a writer, editor, and yoga teacher. She is a practitioner and Level 2, 500-hour certified instructor of the LYT Method, the only yoga system created and mentored by physical therapists. She is also a certified Flexibility Coach, Yoga Trapeze, and Yoga Breathing coach through Yoga Teachers College, where she earned her first 200-hour yoga teacher certification.
Max Rivers is the lead mediator at Two Rivers Mediation where he is a professional couple’s mediator. He is the author of “Loving Conflict.”
Elise Rivers Esq., MAc, has practiced holistic medicine for more than twenty years and is the founder of the Northwest Center for Food As Medicine, teaching people how to prevent and reverse the chronic diseases of our time. Learning from renowned functional medicine doctors, she has studied the benefits of plant-based nutrition since 2013, and is certified by Cornell University’s program in plant-based nutrition.
Sara Robbins, a Mt. Airy native, is an award winning fiber artist who has been weaving baskets for over 30 years.
Marisia Robinson is MALT’s Office Coordinator, an avid urban gardener with 5 years of experience, as well as the secretary for Aspen Farms Community Garden. Marisia brings a wealth of knowledge about vegetable and herb growing and has taught for PHS, PASA, and the Philadelphia Free Library. Her teaching approach is interactive and pragmatic. She is passionate about the transformative power of urban gardening and advocates for its role in fostering community connections and cultivating an abundance mindset through sustainable food and seed production.
Lexie Ruth Mitchell is an end-of-life doula, hospice volunteer, and teacher passionate about living intentionally and dying consciously.
Robert Sadler has been playing chess in casual and tournament settings for somewhere around 60 years. He has been active in Chess Clubs since college, and is currently organizing the chess club at Lovett Memorial Library on Tuesdays at 5 pm. You can find him playing chess at many other venues around the Philadelphia area.
Mindy Shapiro is a papercut, Zentangle® and book artist. Mindy’s love language is her art and she strives to share that with others through her work, teaching, engagement and communication.
Tracy Shearer is an AADP Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, certified Holistic Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Coach, graduate of the T. Colin Campbell Foundation Plant-Based Nutrition certification program at Cornell University. She is a graduate of the yoga teacher training programs at The Kaivalya Yoga Method Academy (Ashtanga), and the Yogamu Global Yoga Teaching Academy (Meditation & Kundalini). She is a 500hr Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and a Certified Meditation Teacher with Meditation Alliance International.
Orr Shtuhl is a James Beard-nominated food writer and educator. He has taught beer classes at Murray’s Cheese, the Bedford Cheese Shop, and with his own beer tours project, The Bestest. He was the Washington City Paper’s first beer columnist, and his writing has also appeared in The New York Times, Gastronomica, Serious Eats, and NPR.
Alan Silverblatt has been a caseworker and an attorney. More recently he’s had a decades long career in information technology, serving as a programmer, technical instructor and writer, and now an independent computer consultant to individuals, small businesses and nonprofits. After retiring from his last day job, he’s enjoying model railroading, hosting a rock and blues show on G-town Radio, playing in a band, and sharing with others his knowledge of technology, car buying and investing.
Cheri Skipworth is the owner of the HandmadeU Studio. HandmadeU inspires creativity in others through offering a monthly craft subscription box as well as craft workshops. Cheri has been an avid crafter for more than 30 years and has been teaching arts and crafts for more than 20 years.
Dr. Jeffrey Sklar has been a chiropractor and educator in Philadelphia and across the country for over two decades. He has spent half of his career treating cancer patients for quality-of-life challenges through their treatment. He has lectured overseas and coast to coast. His Chestnut Hill practice continues to focus on quality of life for all his patients.
Kathleen Smith, JD, is an experienced educator and attorney. She is an associate professor at Chestnut Hill College and has received numerous awards recognizing her contributions to legal education, jurisprudence, civic engagement and public service.
Rick Spector founded Moviehouse Productions in 1983, educating and delighting community groups throughout the Delaware Valley with his multi-media nostalgia programs. His core works includes a multi-part series on the popular history of Philadelphia. His website is www.moviehouseproductions.com.
RowZone Staff The Rowzone Fitness workout is a perfect combination of cardio, strength, and technical rowing training with the use of Concept2 rowing machines. We add in body toning exercises. Our upbeat classes are taught by rowers, rowing enthusiasts and trainers, suit all levels and ages, and will challenge your mind and body while giving you a work out that you will never forget.
Anne Stevenson Smith has been playing ukulele for 15 years. As a music major, with a history of singing and playing other instruments, she found the ukulele to be a perfect fit. She is a leader of the Philadelphia Mainline ukulele meetup group. Anne focuses on sharing basic chords and best practices, and has been teaching and doing uke workshops for years. As part of the duo Ten Strings Two Hearts, Annie is playing professionally with her partner as a member of the Philadelphia Folksong Society’s Musical Artists Cooperative.
Janice Strawder MFA, has been teaching the art of ceramics for over thirty years. She enjoyed a five year artist residency at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, where she continues to teach. Janice is a co-founder of Rebel Potters in Germantown where she manages the studio and teaches clay classes. Janice’s ceramic works include wood and salt fired functional pottery, mosaic, with an emphasis on decorative surfaces.
Noah Teachey is an audio educator with an MA in Music & Music Education from Columbia University Teachers College. He has released 165 hours of audio podcasts and worked with hundreds of students on their own audio creations. Before moving to Philadelphia, Noah worked as a public school music teacher in the Bronx.
Jihan Thomas is a Black visual artist, artivist, Mother, and community/museum arts educator based in Philadelphia,. To Jihan, art can be a conduit for empowerment and self-actualization. She shares her art and creativity wherever art is neededthrough art making and cultural experiences. As an art educator, Jihan believes in the power and spectrum of Black imagination and how it can support classroom student engagement in learning and community empowerment. She been teaching and facilitating arts, cultural and educational programming and courses for over 18 years.
Kaniesha Thomas, MSW has been an entrepreneur for the last four years. The mission of her business is to create art that embodies spirituality, healing and self care.
Lyssa Thompson has worked in kitchens for almost a decade, and has been studying bread since 2019. She apprenticed at San Francisco Zen Center and has worked at PARC, Dead King Bread, L’imprimerie and the James Beard nominated She Wolf Bakery in New York City. Her area of concentration is naturally leavened doughs, however she also has a wide range of experience including yeasted doughs, laminated products, pastry, and, of course, focaccia.
Muyiwa Togun is the Founder and CEO of Roy Urban Kollection (RUK), an African textile, art and fashion manufacturer and brand. He is an artist, textile and fashion designer, pulling inspiration from his Yoruba roots and his lived experience as a Nigerian youth assimilating into a new culture as a recently immigrated resident to the United States.
Nicki Toizer was the Technical Director at MALT for ten years. She has loved photography for more than 25 years and enjoys teaching others how to use their cameras.
Hildy Tow is the Curator of Education at Woodmere Art Museum.
Carolyn Wallace an interpreter, educator, and collections manager with over ten years of experience working with historic sites. In her current role as Education Director for Cliveden of the National Trust, her work focuses on research and interpretation of diverse narratives through sustainable programming for youth and adults and exhibit design. Carolyn is passionate about making connections between past and present and helping visitors to do the same.
Tim Wetzel is a 2nd degree Black Belt in Kenpo karate with a passion for stick training. He is currently the head instructor at Action Karate Mt. Airy.
Michael Wherrity is a lifelong Philadelphia resident who has a passion for Philadelphia’s rich history and how it relates to today’s world. He is a certified tour guide and member of the association of Philadelphia tour guides.
Lynne Williams, EdD candidate, is the executive director of the Philadelphia Area Great Careers Group, which provides online career education and networking. She writes resumes, LinkedIn profiles and company pages, and focuses on keywords. She is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn.
Kim Williams has been teaching drama, dance and creative arts for over 35 years in Philadelphia Area after school programs. She is the artistic & managing director of Mt. Airy Performing Arts and is a theatre director and choreographer in many area schools.
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