Meet Our Current Teachers
Meet our NEW Fall 2024 Term teachers
Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc. 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.
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.
Shawn Alleyne is a multi-talented Creator with a 13-year career that includes work in comics, novels, video game design, and more. He has self-published two anthologies, two novellas, a comic book series, and multiple art books. As an educator, he has taught his Comic Book and Literacy Arts Program for 12 years, collaborating with various institutions, both nationally and internationally.
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.
Pamela (Jaz) Banks is an Award-Winning Published Poet, Performance Poet, Songwriter (ASCAP), Singer, Composer, Theater-Artist, Author, Playwright, and Educator. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry from Goddard College and a BA in Theater from Temple University. Jaz is honored to educate elementary students in the public school system and young adults/adults in independent poetry classes.
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 lead food tours of Chinatown for MALT and this term is also eager to share his food explorations to Northeast 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.
Sophie Bernard has been doing yoga for nearly 18 years. In 2007, she obtained her 200 hour yoga certification in Inner Fire Yoga from Yoga on Main. She is certified in Ericksonian hypnosis to deepen her students’ experiences while following her guided meditations. She is also a Reiki Master. Her website is: www.voilawellness.com. Sophie grew up in the beautiful suburbs of Paris, France before she moved stateside to study International Commerce. She speaks 5 languages and loves to share her love of her beautiful native language.
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.
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 to been given the gift to do what she truly LOVES to do…..choreography and dance and it is her passion!
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 and Free Spirit Gathering.
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.
Patricia Castillo is a certified instructor with many years of experience teaching Zumba, in addition to Zumba Gold and Zumba Kids. She provides moves for every level of difficulty, from beginners to the long term Zumba enthusiast. Her vibrant energy has her students smiling while they sweat.
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.
Leonard Cherry is a Financial Advisor. He works with individuals and businesses, specializing in retirement strategies, investments and estate planning.
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.
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.
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.
Larry Daniels is a financial advisor with more than 20 years in the industry, both as a financial advisor and a manager. He specializes in retirement planning and asset management and is dedicated to helping both individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals.
Dovene Deh has 20 plus years experience in engineering: electrical, software and cloud computing. He got his electrical engineering degree from Drexel University. Dovene is currently working on an EV charging solution and supporting customers in their AI journey.
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 that is trilingual is 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.
June and Audrey Donaldson are educators with over 35 years combined teaching experience. Together they share the joy of dance at a variety of events, such as festivals, dance conventions, school programs, and fundraisers.
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.
Arthur J. Evans began writing for television in 2013 after moving to Los Angeles. He was a producer on the Wendy Williams Show, a staff writer on Ellen, the Carmichael Show and numerous pilots.
Peggy Feerick has taught 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 and has many years of teaching experience. 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.
Lu Flowers helps empower others by helping them build their digital skills! Lu has worked in libraries since 2014 assisting folks with technology of all kinds.
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.
Naila Francis is a writer/poet, grief coach and death midwife. She helps people transform their relationship to grief and loss through one-on-one coaching, workshops, rituals and ceremonies. Her work is often informed by her love of poetry, nature and community. She is also the co-host of Breathing Wind, a podcast about journeying through loss, and the founder of Salt Trails, a Philadelphia collective making grief public and visible through community rituals.
Dalanie Franklin is a retired veteran that uses photography to help himself and others to calm the mind. He has been doing photography for 20 years working with WWP, the Veterns Administration VA, U.S Army, Weworks, Burk Rehabilitation hospital, the Philly Goat Project and other organizations. He founded Photography is Medicine specializes in using imagery as therapy to help people suffering from PTSD, with a focus on veterans of the military. Dalanie facilitates a meet up group with other veterans that visit locations throughout the city.
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.
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 and has taught Japanese language at a Japanese school in Princeton, NJ. 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, at Allens Lane Art Center, 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.
Tyler Hathaway is a singing instructor and musician. He is enrolled in graduate school at Goddard College for a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on expressive arts therapy. His teaching practice is informed by his acting training at the Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca, his experience with different healing practices (including somatic exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy, breath work, and meditation), 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.
Pamela Hetherington is a Philadelphia dancer, choreographer, and internationally-recognized leader in the fields of tap dance and jazz music. View her website at www.pamelahetherington.com
Teri Hislop Clan Mother is a tribal member of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania and Keeper of Traditional Craft. She tells stories through her illustrative beadwork and other traditional crafts such as pine needle basketry. She is also an instructor of the Lenape language.
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. Rebecca loves to share her experience and enthusiasm for collage and to help students tap into their creativity.
Seth Holzman (BA Music, Syracuse University) has been playing harmonica since 1965 and teaching adult harmonica classes since 1975. Seth was inspired to play by (and eventually studied with) the great blues harmonica player Sonny Terry. Seth has played professionally since 1972 and has performed with Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Dave “Honeyboy” Edwards, Ronnie Earl, Roomful of Blues, Magic Slim & The Teardrops and many others. He currently plays with Stevie and the Bluescasters (and occasionally with other musicians).
Gabriella Ibieta holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from the City University of New York and was Associate Professor of English at Drexel University for over thirty years. Of the many courses she created and taught, her favorites are: Caribbean Literature and Culture; Transnational Women Writers; Mural Arts Philadelphia; and Stories of Migration and Displacement. Her articles and essays have been published in academic books and journals, and she’s presently working on a personal history of her Spanish and Cuban family. She started MALT’s Book Club in 2022 and is delighted to share her passion for reading, researching, and discussing literature with the community.
Chelsea Jackson is a writer, editor, and consultant, and the author of the forthcoming collection All Things Holy and Heathen (April Gloaming, April 2024). Chelsea uses their writing to ask hard questions and explore 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 the 2020 Driftwood Press In-House Poetry Contest and Animal Heart’s 2022 Poetry Collection Contest. Chelsea has an MFA in Poetry from Drew University and is the Managing Editor of The Maine Review. After living in Philadelphia for five years, they recently returned to their home state of Virginia and now live in Richmond with their partner and cuddly pitbull.
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. Anne is a graduate of The Sacred Science of Sound Crystal Alchemy Training with Jeralyn Glass. She brings her wisdom and experience from 25 years teaching the Alexander Technique into her explorations with sound healing with her Crystal Alchemy Bowls and her own voice.
Erica Johnson’s passion for plants has roots that extend beyond memory, nurtured by the influence of her mother and grandmother. Since 2019, she has been sharing her horticultural expertise through teaching. Erica also owned a plant store, “Collective Artistry,” located in Maplewood Mall, where she imparted her knowledge to the community. She has also conducted plant care workshops across the city in collaboration with the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Jacqueline Jonas is a storyteller, seamstress and cooking coach. Through her work as The Kitchen Doula, she seeks to empower everyone to cook well and often. To find out more see her website jackiejonas.com.
Marcia Jones, MFA, is a teaching artist in Mt. Airy. Her instruction-based teaching method, which she names 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.
Linda Kish obtained her MS from Temple School of Pharmacy and is a Reiki Level II practioner. 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.
Tony Knighton is the author of a collection Happy Hour and Other Philadelphia Cruelties and two novels, Three Hours Past Midnight and A Few Days Away, all published by Brash Books. Some of his short stories are included in anthologies from Cemetery Dance, Grey Matter Press and Close to the Bone. View his website at www.tonyknighton.com.
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 teaches speech at the University of the Arts and private speech and singing lessons from her home in Germantown. www.conniekoppe.com.
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.
Mickey Leone Offered by the staff of Chestnut Hill Music Academy under director Mickey Leone. CHMA is a full service school in Chestnut Hill providing private lessons and training on all instruments and voice to all ages. Info at www.chestnuthillmusic.com
Nathan Alling 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.
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.” Recently retired at age 56, she pursues “passion projects” such as impact investing, conference hopping, and moving personal and institutional money toward justice. Learn more at www.vllconsulting.com.
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.
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 teaching 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
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.
Anita Nicholson 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, and more! She currently serves as diversity advisor for ImprovUtopia and will offer Improvised Star Trek at ImprovFest Ireland. In the world of dance, she is a certified 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, cymbals, floor routine and assisting beginners in mastering the basics of the dance.
Lisa Norris RD, works with people living with diabetes who are tired of eating bland healthy food and want their A1C and blood sugars in control. She has over 25 years experience as a Registered Dietitian and has strategies to help her clients and students enjoy their favorite foods again and finally get their numbers in normal ranges. Lisa is a passionate cook, baker and instructor that loves to be a part of the moment when her students take a bite out of a meal they’ve cooked together and realize that healthy food can be full of flavor and delicious.
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.
Clayton Prince is the owner and operator of The Philadelphia Musical History Tours. For more information, see www.themusicalhistorytours.com.
Bea Quindlen loves to share what she’s discovered and pass on the joy of crafting. In fact, she’s teaching four of our crafts classes this term.
Gwen Ragsdale is the Executive Director of the Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery. She is a storyteller, novelist and filmmaker. Her novel, Peculiar Relationships, explores the evolving relationships between black and white women from slavery to current day. Her films are award-winning. Lest We Forget won Best Documentary Award from HBO/Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, and My Slave Sister, Myself won both the Toronto and New York Best Documentary Awards.
Nancy Rasmussen has taught non-fiction writing courses at three universities in addition to her long-running memoir class for MALT. She has also written short pieces for several magazines along with personal essays for her writers’ group and online contests. Currently, Nancy edits for and coaches various clients, helping them share their stories with others.
Brianna Redner at Natural State Our Mission Is You: No matter who you are, or how you identify. We are committed to offering a safe and welcoming home for the community, where individuality can flourish and self expression is celebrated. We invite you to use these four walls as a space to showcase your creativity and discover your most natural state.
Karen Rile is a writer, editor, and yoga teacher. She is a certified Flexibility Coach and Yoga Breathing through Yoga Teachers College, where she earned her first 200-hour yoga teacher certification. She is a practitioner and 200-hour certified teacher of the LYT yoga, the only yoga system created and taught by physical therapists.
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.
Max Rivers, the Marriage Mediator, is also an NVC* trainer, an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Practitioner and an Ericsonian Hypnotist specializing in using the unconscious to help empower clients to achieve their healing goals. *NVC and Non-Violent Communication are trademarks of CNVC.org and Marshall Rosenberg.
Marisia Robinson is MALT’s Office Coordinator, as well as an avid urban gardener with 5 years of experience and current secretary for Aspen Farms Community Garden. Marisia brings a wealth of knowledge about vegetable and herb growing. Marisia’s 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.
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. Mindy has taught with MALT for over 25 years!
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.
Barbara Sheehan is a lover of great film and literature. She holds a M.Ed. in Educational Media and MAE in English and has taught at local colleges and in the community.
Ran’D Shine is a versatile magician with a global presence. He’s performed at prestigious events like the South African Arts Festival and two Presidential Inaugurations in Washington, DC. His magic has graced TV screens on the CW network’s “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” and the B.E.T. network’s “Man on the Street” segment. Off-stage, he’s featured in documentaries, including “The Art and Soul of Magic” (2004) and “Quiet Masters of Magic” (2018). As a producer, Rand’D pioneered “Heart & Soul of Magic,” the first all African-American magician ensemble. He’s also a Co-Founder and former President of the International Association of Black Magical Artists, an organization dedicated to preserving the cultural legacy and building community among magicians of color.
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.
Kellen Sines has an extensive background in adult and community education, instructional design and technology, and training design and delivery. The instructor uses bullet journaling to implement and maintain their goal-setting for self-improvement activities. They also have an interest in topics of wellness and wellbeing, which inspires their commitment to bullet journaling. Kellen taught high school equivalency courses for over 10 years in the Philadelphia area and is looking forward to teaching again.
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.
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.
Briana Smith-Torres owner of Growin’ Up Torres, a small family owned plant nursery in New Jersey. In addition, she lives with her family in an apartment, where indoor and outdoor space is extremely limited. However they manage to provide fruits, veggies, and herbs for our entire building. They have been doing this for the last 5 years and have gained the critical knowledge and the practical experience she hopes can benefit so many others.
Kim Staub is the Executive Director of Wyck with over 12 years of experience in historic site management. She holds an MA in History from Virginia Tech.
Anne Stevenson Smith started playing ukulele in 2010, just when the current uke craze began. As a music major, with a history of singing and playing other instruments, she found the ukulele to be a perfect fit. She is the leader of the Philadelphia Mainline ukulele meetup group. Anne focuses on basic chords and best practices, and has also done a wide range of uke workshops for the Philadelphia Folksong society as well as for the Uke Meetup group.
Nancy Sullivan has been knitting for ten years and has worked at a knitting shop where she frequently helped countless customers with their projects. She is always eager to share her love of knitting with others.
Karen Taylor Young is a retired professional dancer with over 35 years of experience who currently teaches and choreographs. She is a founding member of Philadanco, and has performed with Opera Company of Philadelphia, and a former musical theater choreographer at Germantown Friends School. She has been teaching Zumba for 14 years and holds 8 Zumba(R) licenses. Karen is a Ballet Barre and active senior certified.
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. www.revolutionaryratchet.com
Muyiwa Togun is the Founder and CEO of Roy Urban Kollection (RUK), an African textile, art and fashion manufacturer and brand. He is a self-made artist, textile and fashion designer, pulling inspiration from his Yoruba roots and his lived experience as a Nigerian youth navigating poverty, systematic oppression, and assimilation 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 Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Curator of Education at the Woodmere Art Museum.
Carolyn Wallace is 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, 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.
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. Find out more at https://mtairyperformingarts.org
Djuna Wojton a spiritual healer with over three decades of experience teaching reiki, guiding people into their past lives, and doing private sessions for people worldwide. She is the author of Karmic Healing: Clearing Past-Life Blocks to Present-Day Love, Health, and Happiness, and Karmic Choices: How Making The Right Decisions Can Create Enduring Joy.
Marcie Ziskind is an artist who works with animal fibers called “roving” to make felt and items that are created from felt. She always created using various textiles and embroidery because she comes from a family of textile workers and artists. Marcie has studied with fiber artists around the world and has been introduced to many different felting techniques and projects. She has refined her felting skills and is now a full-time artist. Marcie exhibits her work at notable crafts fairs in the Philadelphia area.
Here are our NEW Fall 2024 Term teachers!
Natanya Apfelbaum is a movement explorer, always discovering something new. The past two years, she lived in Sicily studying folkloric dances from Southern Italy and the Romani people. She has a BA in dance from Smith College and has spent countless hours in intuitive movement practice, discovering what is natural, spontaneous, and free. Knowing that dance is an integral part of culture-making, she is excited to be facilitating community movement classes.
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.
George Boudreau is a public historian who specializes in historic house museums. He holds a Ph.D. in American history and has held post-doctoral research fellowships at Monticello, Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, and Jamestown. His 2012 book Independence tells the story of the historic spaces around Independence Hall. He joined Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion in 2023 as executive director.
Rivkie Brownstein is a certified advanced Nurtured Heart Approach Trainer and Relationship Coach. She has been teaching classes for a long time and has gotten wonderful feedback in how this approach has benefited people greatly!
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.
Anne Fadullon, Former Deputy Mayor and Director of Planning & Development, City of Philadelphia (2016 – 2023) and Founding Principal, MAKE Advisory Services, LLC. Ann has 40 + years of experience in the planning, community and real estate development fields in the public and private sectors, encompassing both market-rate and below-market development across commercial, residential, and facilities sectors.
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.
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.
Steve Kendall, Board President, West Mt. Airy Neighbors President (WMAN)
Mike Landers has been a bartender for 10 years. He has worked in fancy cocktail bars, tiki bars, wine bars and currently works at Forest & Main brewery in Ambler, PA. He incorporates seasonal ingredients with spirits sourced from local and far-flung locales. He ran the draft cocktail program at Martha when it was nominated for Outstanding Bar by the James Beard Foundation. He loves batched cocktails for parties!
Becky Libourel Diamond is a food writer, librarian, and research historian. Her latest book, The Gilded Age Cookbook, blends Gilded Age details and celebrity stories with historic menus and recipes updated for modern kitchens. She is also the author of The Thousand Dollar Dinner and Mrs. Goodfellow: The Story of America’s First Cooking School. Her current project is The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook, slated for a fall 2025 release.
Lexie Ruth Mitchell is an end-of-life doula, hospice volunteer, and teacher passionate about living intentionally and dying consciously.
Eric Moore, Realtor, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, is an experienced real estate professional who has sold houses for the past eight years. Before that he was a co-founder and chief technology officer at TLA Video for 32 years. He loves Philadelphia with a passion.
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.
Taylor Morgan received her BFA in Acting from West Virginia University in 2017. She moved to Philadelphia in 2018 to pursue acting and has worked with numerous companies in the area since and has taught for several years at a summer arts camp in Wilmington, DE.
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.
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.
Dara Silverman is a trained playwright and the Founder and Artistic Director of Agile Rascal Theatre, a unique ensemble theater company that combines her two passions: theater and cycling. The collision of these two disparate worlds introduces a range of constraints and considerations that guide the creative process. As playwright, Dara leads collaborators through the process of collective theater-making, commonly called “devising.” This approach involves integrating the creative contributions of all participants into a cohesive whole, resulting in innovative and unexpected theatrical works.
Rick Spector founded Moviehouse Productions in 1983, educating and delighting community groups with his multi-media nostalgia programs. His core works includes a multi-part series on the popular history of Philadelphia.
Jo Anna Turner holds a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy and is a Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist specializing in geriatrics. Her thesis focused on the daily challenges faced by caregivers of adults. Since 2012, Jo Anna has worked as a caregiver consultant, offering education, guidance, and support to those in need. She has maintained a parallel career as a dance teacher and performer on both national and international stages.
Jo Winter, Executive Director, West Mt. Airy Neighbors President (WMAN)
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