Course Listing - by Instructor

Join us for one of our classes! Early registration is encouraged. Have a question about a class? Call us at 215.843.6333 or email us at info@mtairylearningtree.org.

NOTE: Mt. Airy Learning Tree has a non-refundable $6 registration fee that is applied once per term, per person, regardless of how you register. This fee is automatically added to your registration.

MALT accepts Visa or Mastercard only online.

Name	Biography
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!
Beth Adelson	teaches mediation because it makes people happy and effective in everyday life. Her work on the happy aspects of meditation was recognized with a Harvard Centennial medal and endorsed by the Dalai Lama. Early on, Beth was a dancer in NYC where she also began practicing yoga and Zen. She was then trained as a cognitive scientist at Harvard. This brought her to study the effects of meditation and then to training in Buddhist meditation & eventually to be asked to teach. She is the founding teacher at 24th St. Sangha. Her current daily sitting meditation & movement practice focuses on both joy and equanimity.
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.
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 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. FRENCH: 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.
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.
Deborah Burns	has been a medical transcriptionist for more than thirty years, operates a large medical transcription biz and has taught for many other programs. You’ll enjoy her warmth, humor and practical advice.
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.
Leonard Cherry	is a Financial Advisor. He works with individuals and businesses, specializing in retirement strategies, investments and estate planning.
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.
Antoinette Coward-Gilmore	Danse4Nia Conservatory, the official performing arts training program of Danse4Nia presents Umfundalai X with Master Umfundalai teacher Saleana Pettaway who is a graduate and former faculty of dance of Temple University as well as Eastern University. An accomplished dancer, choreographer, and dance educator, Saleana is a residency artist with Stockton University and Bryn Mawr College.
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.
Jeremy DePrisco	is a Pennsylvania musician, composer, performer, and sound artist with over twenty five years of recording and performing experience. Jeremy is a founding member of The Philly Maker Faire Podcast which celebrates the creators, builders, inventors, and artists that bring their visions to life at the Philly Maker Faire. The podcast features interviews and announcements about the maker community in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Learn more at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/phillymakerfaire
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.
Judy Dobbs	has over 20 years' experience in the healing arts, and brings to life the multiple uses of many essential oils she has studied for years. She also teaches Foot Reflexology and Better Peepers. Judy has been using essential oils since 1998, and teaching with MALT since 1995.
Tasha Dugan	Philadelphia born and raised with military affiliation, Tasha currently resides in Germantown, and loves spending time with her family and two grandchildren. Tasha has been a Licensed Funeral Director for 14 years and currently works with Laurel Hill Funeral Home. Her passion for assisting families with the preparation of their loved ones for burial and for themselves, is what keeps her motivated.
Nicole Dupree	is a Mount Airy based natural materials artist, educator, and producer/host of nature-based art and craft show, Indigo in Green. You can find Ampersand Textile & Design botanical inks made by Nicole in the museum shops of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. 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
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.
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.
Lynsey Farrell	is the co-Founder and Executive Director of the Grandmother Collective, a non-profit organization focused on catalyzing older women as agents of positive social development. She has taught or participated in grant writing for 15 years, ever since she was the Director of the American University study abroad program on Sustainable Development in Nairobi, Kenya. She loves helping people define what impact they'd most like to see in the world!
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.
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.
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! Find Mindy online at www.mindyflexerart.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.
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.
Stacia Friedman	has taught travel writing at Arcadia University and magazine writing at Temple University, in addition to teaching private writing workshops. Since 1996, her travel articles have been published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Style, Intermezzo, The Hunt Magazine, Chestnut Hill Local, NYCityWoman.com, etc. In addition, she is a frequent contributor to HiddenCityPhila.org, RoxboroughPA.com and has written for the Chestnut Hill Local for over 15 years.
Martha From	was a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner at Abington Jefferson Health and did this work with patients and families for more than ten years.
Kathleen Furin	is a dance instructor at Flaco's Dance Factory
Joy Gadson	has over sixteen years experience as a licensed insurance agent with Colonial Penn and Bankers Life in PA, NJ, DE, and MD. She has a Certification for Long Term Care (CLTC) and has helped hundreds of families understand how long-term care works, specifically as it relates to Medicare, health insurance, and retirement.
Tracy Galek	, PT, DPT, graduated from Thomas Jefferson University in 2017 with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. I specialize in orthopedic and neurological conditions and am LSVT BIG certified for people with Parkinson’s disease. She strives to empower her clients to have an active role in their health and wellbeing to achieve 100% of their goals. Visit her website at http://www.realecare.com, and on social media @therealept
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.
Susan Gobreski	is a long-time policy advocate with extensive experience in public policy and civic engagement; she leads a strategic consultancy business, working with non-profit organizations engaged in democracy advocacy at the state and federal levels. She also currently serves on the state board of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania as the VP for government policy. She has served as director of several policy organizations, including Education Voters of PA, which she founded.
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, 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.
Libbie Hawes	has been the Preservation Director at Cliveden for 13 years. She has a Master of Science in Historic Preservation at the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. As the chief steward of the buildings and grounds at Cliveden, Libbie oversees capital projects from historic restoration to cyclical maintenance.
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	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 Teri Hislop 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. 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.
Karla Holland-Moritz	is a retired San Diego Symphony cellist with a Master of Music Performance degree from Yale. She loves the cello! She has many years of experience teaching children and adults of all ages. Karla and her students play at shelters for the unhoused, soup kitchens, nursing homes, hospitals, and in-patient hospice facilities. Karla has recently moved to Philadelphia, where she loves living!
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.
Gabriella Ibieta	holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from CUNY, and was Associate Professor of English at Drexel U for over thirty years. Of the many courses she created and taught, her favorites are: Transnational Women Writers; Mural Arts Philadelphia; and Leaving Home. She’s editor of Latin American Writers: 30 Stories, and co-editor of Inventing America: Readings in Identity and Culture.
Chelsea Jackson	is a writer, editor, and literary consultant, and the author of the poetry 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 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.
Dora Johns	is a realtor with Keller Williams Realty and an avid analyst of the real estate marketplace. Her classes help the consumer make informed decisions about their real estate needs. Dora has been a registered nurse for more than thirty years and uses her science and math skills in her cold process soap making classes. Dora has been teaching soap making to Mt. Airy Learning Tree students since 2014!
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	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.
Shannon Johnson	is a certified educator in business and math. She learned jewelry design through classes and her own experimentation. Her knowledge of gemstones comes from years of research and personal relationships with those who have studied in this arena for years.
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. She presented a one-person show at Center On The Hill in February, 2020. Her work can also be seen at Le Bus in East Falls, and in private collections.
Eileen Kelsall	has been practicing, studying, and teaching Qigong for the past eight years. She finds immense joy in sharing this special practice and inspiring others to make Qigong a way of life!
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.
Katrina Kopeloff	is an illustrator and art educator. She's been teaching pre-college high school classes at Temple University as well as college level courses at Moore College, La Salle University, and elsewhere. She loves connecting with the community and getting people excited about drawing.
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. She has been teaching singing for MALT for 19 years. www.conniekoppe.com. SEWING: has been sewing since she was seven! Along the way, family members, home economic teachers, research, trial and error and many theater costumes have taught me many hand sewing and embroidery stitches. It is time to pay it forward and teach others these skills.
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
Steve Levick	has many years of paddling experience and is certified by the ACA to teach recreational kayaking.
Jessica Liddell	Bella Mosaic Art is the only studio in Philadelphia dedicated to the ancient art of mosaic. Artist run and operated, we offer classes, facilitate community art projects, and create commissions.
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.
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.
Bradley Maule	s the Friends of Cresheim Trails (FOCT)'s President of the Board, serving in that role since 2022. A photographer by trade, he’s also worked with Friends of the Wissahickon, Mt. Airy CDC, and Chestnut Hill Conservancy. You've definitely seen him at McMenamin's.
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.
Shane McMahon	is performance style is both personal and timeless, blending together the sounds of many genres. He is an advocate for local open-mic culture and enjoys sharing his craft through teaching guitar lessons. As a musician, teacher and mentor, Shane has something special to offer everyone who appreciates music!
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
Marcia Moore	Owner, Lead Choreographer/Instructor, launched KaribbeanKraze in 2018, She is a certified group fitness instructor. Marcia has taken her journey, love for dancing, and her Jamaican culture and created a fitness program to promote health and wellness for all fitness needs and levels.
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.
Barbara Ochester	, EdD, MSN BSN, RN, began her professional career as a Registered Nurse over 48 years ago. Building a foundation in bedside nursing in the medical/surgical, intensive care, and emergency departments, she continues active clinical practice doing cannabis counseling, wellness clinics, and immunization nursing. Barbara currently works at the Pacific College of Health and Sciences, teaching in the medical cannabis track.
Bonnie Ostrofsky	is in private practice as an attorney, concentrating in estate planning and probate, real estate law and business law.
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.
Saleana Pettaway	Danse4Nia Conservatory, the official performing arts training program of Danse4Nia presents Umfundalai X with Master Umfundalai teacher Saleana Pettaway who is a graduate and former faculty of dance of Temple University as well as Eastern University. An accomplished dancer, choreographer, and dance educator, Saleana is a residency artist with Stockton University and Bryn Mawr College.
Lindsay Pinter	earned a master’s in clinical mental health counseling, is a board certified coach (BCC), and became a certified hypnotist (CH) after having her own amazing experience with hypnosis. Her work has focused largely on people experiencing anxiety, feeling “stuck”, and general life dissatisfaction. Hypnosis has helped Lindsay in ways that other remedies did not and she hope to teach others all the ways hypnosis can help them too.
Robyn Polk	has a passion for health, fitness and maintaining an active lifestyle. She is an avid runner and racer from 5Ks and obstacle events to ultramarathons. Robyn is a certified personal trainer and Xtreme Hip Hop Step Instructor, group exercise instructor (ACE), and a RRCA Run Coach. Her goal is to get people excited about exercise and help them find joy in movement.
Clayton Prince	is the owner and operator of The Philadelphia Musical History Tours. For more information, see www.themusicalhistorytours.com.
Joel Prushan	has 15 years of disc sports experience, playing and coaching ultimate frisbee and disc golf. In ultimate, he has played at the high school, collegiate, club, and professional levels. As a coach, he has coached at the college, club, and professional levels. In 2024, he is an Assistant Coach for the Philadelphia Surge in the Premier Ultimate League, a semi-pro women's and non-binary ultimate league. In disc golf he has competed in the Recreational, Intermediate, and Advanced divisions before cashing for the first time as a Professional in October of 2022.
Bea Quindlen	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.
Genie Ravital	, LCSW, is an Integrative Mental Health Provider, working for over 20 years at Mt. Airy Psychotherapy & Wellness. She just completed Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training and is eager to share this relaxing and rejuvenating practice with the community.
Brianna Redner	and Coette Heard are the co-owners of Natural State. 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.
Pamela Rich-Wheeler	This class is taught by experts from The Business Center for Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise. The Businesss Center has been providing consulting, educational workshops and business support services to deserving small businesses for over 20 years. The mission of the Business Center is to equip adult and youth small businesses with the necessary tools to start, sustain and expand their operations. Since 1999 the center has provided small business workshop training, teaching small business owners how to design and implement a business plan and scale. To date the program has served over 3000 clients.
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.
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 and has taught for PHS 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.
Nicole Rodriguez	is an exercise therapist and adult dance teacher with a Master of Dance Education from Temple University. She teaches weekly adult dance and fitness classes at MovementRx Studio in Wynnewood and is the owner of Pain Free Philly, (painfreeinphilly.com)
Liese Sadler	has been an oil painter since 2012, learning to paint outdoors thru workshops, classes and 9 years of weekly "paint outs" as a member of the Plein Air Painters of Salisbury, NC. She is also a studio painter of still life and portraits. Her goal is to spark interest in outdoor painting and to help make the artform approachable for everyone.
Beth Savastana	Friends of Laurel Hill will assign an experienced tour guide for this walking tour. Registered students will be provided with the guide's contact information prior to the tour date.
Roger Schrading	is a long time member of the Philadelphia Canoe Club. He is a Certified Instructor in Stand Up Paddleboarding by the American Canoe Association. Certification includes Wilderness First Aid and CPR. Roger has taught many students this introductory course. Students will be required to sign a waiver issued by the American Canoe Association to participate in this course.
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! Check out her art www.mindyshapiro.com
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, an attorney, and most recently a software developer for a large social services agency. His interests include helping others solve problems and avoid pitfalls in technology, car buying, and investments. A resident of Chestnut Hill, he's now happily retired and devoting more time to model railroading, hosting a rock and blues show on G-town Radio, and playing and singing in a band.
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.
Victoria Smiley-Robinson	has worked in the floral industry for over a decade, starting as an apprentice in retail floristry and then as lead designer at both Reading Terminal Market and Rothe's Florist. Her freelance business specializes in intimate weddings and events. She is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
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.
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.
John Stanchak	A professional journalist and magazine editor concentrating on historical subjects, John was on the editorial staff of American History Illustrated and British Heritage, was the editor of Civil War Times , and is the founding editor of Historic Traveler. He was an associate editor of The Historical Times illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War and is the author of The Visual Dictionary of the Civil War and the children's book Civil War - originally published by Dorling-Kindersley.
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.
Christopher Switky	is a certified dog trainer, founder of Positive Canine Concepts, and a graduate of the Masters' Program in Dog Training at CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. For more information about Chris and his philosophies on dog training, please visit positivecanineconcepts.com.
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 Ballet Barre and active senior certified.
Melissa Terrels	learned how to weave in college many decades ago and hasn't looked back. She loves the interaction of color in the weaving process. She also knits, spins, dyes and loves to sew her handwoven fabric into bags, accessories and clothes.
The Business Center	The Business Center for Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise has been providing consulting, educational workshops and business support services to deserving small businesses for over 20 years. The mission of the Business Center is to equip adult and youth small businesses with the necessary tools to start, sustain and expand their operations. Since 1999 the center has provided small business workshop training, teaching small business owners how to design and implement a business plan and scale. To date the program has served over 3000 clients.
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. View his website at https://www.royurbankollection.com/post/roy-urban-kollection-spotlight
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. Follow on Instagram.
Hildy Tow	is the Curator of Education at Woodmere Art Museum
Looie Voorhees	This course will be taught by ACA (American Canoe Association) Instructor Looie Voorhees. She has a lifetime of paddling experience and is certified by the ACA to teach both flatwater and whitewater canoeing and kayaking and beginner Stand Up Paddleboard.
Laila Wah	, OMD, is a Doctor of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine, Feng Shui Practitioner and Space Clearing Master with more than 35 years experience. She has a private practice and serves the tri-state region.
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, 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. Libbie Hawes has been the Preservation Director at Cliveden for 13 years. She has a Master of Science in Historic Preservation at the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania
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.
Rae Whatley	is a certified Jikiden® Reiki teacher and has been a Reiki practitioner for over 25 years, most recently studying with Mr. Tadao Yamaguchi, Head of the Jikiden Reiki Institute in Kyoto, Japan. A long-time environmentalist and holistic wellness advocate, Rae has been actively involved in teaching people to take control of their health and their environment for almost 30 years. She is the founder of Sinclair’s Soothing Minute Massage and Firefly Healing.
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/
Helen Wilson	began playing table tennis during her college years, and has been on staff at the Trolley Car Table Tennis Club since it opened in 2011. She won the women's singles and women's doubles events for her age group at the 2018 U.S. Open Table Tennis Championships.
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.
Pilar Yeakel	The tour is lead by an guide from Chanticleer
Mostafa Younesie	is an independent scholar of classical Greek philosophy and currently reside with his family in Philadelphia. For 14 years, he taught bilingually MA and Ph.D. students in Tehran about the master thinkers of classical Greek philosophy. Additionally, during his seven-year stay in Philadelphia, Mostafa has been studying and researching Persian gardening.