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.
| Name | Biography |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Rochelle Brenner | is a Black Belt in karate and a 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. |
| Troy Bynum | , owner of TB Wildlife Photography LLC, is not only an enthusiastic birder but also a passionate wildlife photographer from Philadelphia, PA. Troy’s work focuses on capturing and showcasing the remarkable colors, intricate patterns, and rich textures that are abundant throughout the natural world. In his work, Troy draws attention to the oftentimes overlooked naturally occurring beauty found in the wild. Troy is on a mission to accentuate and celebrate the inherent magnificence of nature. |
| Maegan D'Amato | is a licensed mental health therapist and registered 500-hour yoga therapist. She has been using mindfulness meditation to help herself and others heal for nearly a decade. As a part of this, Maegan has been guiding Forest Baths in urban settings since 2018. |
| Denise Daniels | , a teacher by trade, is a certified Reiki III energy healer, an angel card reader, and a spiritual life coach, holding degrees in metaphysical sciences, among other areas of study. She is a lifelong learner who follows her soul’s intuition in creating courses, inspirational videos, and guided meditations. She brings a wealth of knowledge, enjoyment, and enthusiasm to her workshops. |
| Mike Finnell | is a Philadelphia-based IT professional with over 20 years of experience working with emerging technologies. An avid Geocacher for nearly two decades, he has found over 1,000 caches and hidden more than 70 of his own, including some of the highest-rated caches in the Philadelphia area. In 2022, his curiosity about 3D printing led him to start designing and publishing his own models—many inspired by his Geocaching adventures. He brings a unique blend of technical expertise and hands-on creativity to both his 3D printing and Geocaching classes. |
| 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. |
| Brian Foley | Stand-Up Comedy Class - Brian Foley started stand up later in life. He's a trial lawyer and law professor but rose fast and has performed at the world famous The Comedy Studio in Boston; as part of Florida’s Funniest; in Seoul, Korea; and Flemington, NJ. He’s opened for Joe Matarese, Joe Conklin, John Kensil, The Legendary Wid, Chris Rich, and others. He is the author of A New Financial You in 28 Days! A 37-Day Plan (Gegensatz Press). Brian also teaches public speaking and consults with attorneys regarding storytelling and trial. Law-focused classes- Brian Foley, Esq. practices law in Philadelphia (Mt. Airy), focusing on employment (wrongful termination, discrimination) and defamation. After graduating from Dartmouth College and Berkeley Law, he clerked for a federal judge and practiced at leading Philadelphia firms. He is a Lecturer at Rutgers Law, teaching Evidence and Employment Law; he won the teaching award at Drexel Law. Brian is a trial lawyer and member of the Board of Directors for the Eastern PA Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association. He also consults with lawyers about strategy, persuasive storytelling and speaking, and evidentiary issues. Find out more at www.BrianJFoleyLaw.com. |
| Lynne Franks-Meinart | , Head Coach of the Philadelphia Flying Phoenix Dragon Boat Team, has coached breast cancer survivor, women’s, mixed, and club crews across North America. She has led paddling and steering clinics throughout the U.S. and Canada and has proudly represented Team USA in seven world championship cycles. |
| Paige GoldMarche | received a breadmaker as a gift in 2018, and has found joy in the last year of making challah for the Mt. Airy community. She runs Kol Koleinu, a teen feminist fellowship, by day and is the Mt. Airy Challah Fairy (and mom) by night. |
| Dora Johns | For Listing Your Home For Sale: Dora is a realtor, associate broker 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. For Soap Making: 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! For Greeting Cards: Dora is a self described "crazy crafter." She has a passion for all things paper arts. With a wealth of experience in crafting stunning greeting cards using the quilling technique, she has turned her love for creativity into a thriving venture. Beyond quilling, her repertoire includes enameling, stained glass, wood turning and more. |
| Anne Konowal | is a member of the Philadelphia Flying Phoenix/Against The Wind Dragon Boat Team. |
| Steve Levick | has many years of paddling experience and is certified by the ACA to teach recreational kayaking. |
| Vanessa Lowe | can be heard on G-Town Radio and the Spotify podcast, Vanessa's Money Hour. She spent 21 years in federal service supporting access to capital for underserved communities. Retired at age 56, she continues that work by leading Invest for Better circles – Impact Investing Learning Circles for Women, and financial coaching via VLL Consulting and Financial Education. She’s committed to moving personal and institutional money in pursuit of justice. |
| Natalie Mancini | teaches Japanese conversation, Japanese calligraphy, as well as fusion bellydance classes at MALT. She grew up in Japan and is a native speaker of Japanese. Natalie holds a master’s degree in Japanese linguistics and state teaching licenses. Since 2009, she has been teaching Japanese at various institutions across the U.S., from middle school to universities, and has developed curricula ranging from introductory to advanced levels. In addition to language instruction, she practiced calligraphy throughout her school years in Japan and enjoys sharing this traditional art form with her students. For belly dance, Natalie began her dance journey over 20 years ago. She has taught and performed extensively throughout Hawaii and California, appearing at a wide range of events and shows. She has trained primarily with renowned bellydancers such as Zoe Jakes, Kami Liddle, and Kalae Kaina, and she has further expanded her skills through workshops with dancers and musicians from around the world. She was also a member of Shakti Dance Movement, a Hawaii-based troupe known for its dynamic fusion-style choreography. |
| Ericka Neville | has been a financial educator for 20+ years and she is dedicated to empowering individuals through financial literacy. She simplifies complex financial concepts, making wealth-building accessible. She helps her students master budgeting, investing, and financial confidence to take control of their futures. |
| Clayton Prince | is the owner and operator of The Philadelphia Musical History Tours. For more information, see www.themusicalhistorytours.com. |
| Bea Quindlen | learned from her high school art teacher that success can come from the learning process rather than the “perfect finished product.” Those high school “discovery projects” led to a lifetime of crafting – and isn’t life a “discovery project?” Bea is happily retired after a 47-year career at a data company. She attended a MALT class way back in 1994 but not again until 2008! Since then, she has taken over 20 classes. In 2017, she made the switch from student to instructor, teaching a variety of introductory craft classes. |
| Christopher Ridenhour | is a lifelong Germantown and Mt. Airy resident and founder of The Welcome Home Collective, which produces concerts, theatre, and cultural events at Annunciation Church BVM. He is also a member of Playback for Change, an improvisational troupe focused on building community through theatre and shared cultural understanding. |
| Bekka Schultz Thorpe | Tours are led by our knowledgeable guides of both garden highlights as well as an exclusive tour of the first floor of the Chanticleer House. |
| Cheri Skipworth | is the creative behind Handmade U Studio, a craft space in North Philadelphia where crafting and community come together. Cheri has over 20 years of experience teaching arts and crafts to others. Additionally Cheri is passionate about exploring the intersections between creativity and technology. Cheri has utilized Google Suites since 2006 and is a certified AI consultant. |
| 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 | is 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 their 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. |
| Rick Spector | has more than 40 years experience lecturing and producing videos about Philadelphia nostalgia, and the history of television, radio, movies, and sport. |
| MALT Staff | celebrates the diversity of Northwest Philadelphia, bringing together neighbors to share a wide variety of ideas, information, and skills in informal learning environments. MALT operates as a community-based non-profit corporation, with a small part-time staff and volunteer board. We are committed to the value of life-long learning, contributing to the welfare of our community, and providing a good deal of fun along the way. We welcome your ideas, your involvement as students and teachers, and your financial support. |
| Muyiwa Togun | is the Founder and CEO of Roy Urban Kollection (RUK), an African textile, art and fashion manufacturer and brand. He is an artist, textile and fashion designer, pulling inspiration from his Yoruba roots and his lived experience as a Nigerian youth. |
| 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. |
| Lynne Williams | , EdD candidate is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Area Great Careers Group, which provides online career education and networking. She writes resumes, LinkedIn profiles and company pages, and focuses on keywords. She is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn. Connect on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnewilliams |
215-843-6333