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 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Dorothy Bauer | spent most of her adult life in Berkeley, California where she was able to take classes at Living Light Culinary Institute and study with world renowned raw chef and author, Elaina Love. |
| Stephanie Ben-Salem | holds a BA and MA in piano performance , as well as a MA in education, and has been teaching students from all ages, abilities and backgrounds for the past 44 years. Besides the piano, she is very proficient in violin, cello, sitar, darbouka, santoor, and tabla as well as a plethora of other instruments. She has been a performing artist for over 50 years throughout the US and Europe. |
| Glenn Bergman | is the former Executive Director of Philabundance, and previously served for 11 years as the General Manager of the Weavers Way Co-Op. He has led food tours of Chinatown for MALT and this term is also eager to share his food explorations to Northeast and Southwest Philly. |
| Lynn Berkowitz | , MFA, BFA, with a career in art museums and online learning, has developed an array of award-winning gallery tours, experiences, and apps aimed at helping audiences of all ages and abilities engage with a diversity of art ‘isms and approaches. |
| Marck "Flaco" Best | is a native of Mt. Airy. As a master teaching artist, he holds roster artist positions with such prestigious arts education agencies as Young Audiences of NJ & PA, AIE, and Arts Horizons, and has a long-standing relationship with The Painted Bride Art Center, where he appears frequently. His passion lies in teaching men to dance with the women in their lives. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Sara Castillo | runs marketing and distribution for an indie film company when she's not working on wreaths or collaborating as Beth Uzwiak's partner-in-art. |
| 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. Prior to her years in Philadelphia, she was the Director of the Gainesville Ballet Junior Company and an Instructor for the Gainesville School of Ballet for eight years. Christina received her BA in Dance from Point Park University. She was an apprentice at the Colorado Ballet where she choreographed Cafe con Leche for the Colorado Ballet Studio Company. She has trained with Laura Alonzo at Centro Pro Danza Havana Cuba, Minnesota Dance Theater, and Milwaukee Ballet Summer Intensive. 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. |
| Rodney Chonka | has toured wineries throughout Europe and the US and has led wine tastings at MALT since 2009. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Anna Dayle | is an educator who teaches Pre-Kindergarten and also leads our CPR/First Aid classes. Teaching CPR/First Aid is one of her favorite subjects to teach because emergencies can occur at a moment's notice and it is important to be prepared! |
| Megan Do Nascimento | is a Mt. Airy resident who in 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. |
| Nicole Dupree | is a teaching artist and founder of Indigo in Green--a Mt. Airy-based creative workshop producing artisanal, natural art supplies and educational resources. You can find botanical inks made by Nicole in the museum shop at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and in the Welcome Center at Bartram's Garden. For more nature art projects, field trips to green spaces, and plant portraits, watch Nicole on Indigo in Green, Saturdays @ 9AM on PhillyCAM. Connect, create, and collaborate with Nicole on instagram @ampersandtextile and @indigo.in.green |
| Andrea Elovson | is the founder of Colorful College Essays, LLC, a coaching practice that combines premier essay writing guidance and support with empathy and evidence based stress reducing techniques for adolescents. Andrea is a freelance writer, a professional writing tutor at Penn State Abington, and co-facilitator of the Kick Start essay writing workshops for rising seniors. Her training and experience includes a B.A. in creative writing from UCLA, an MFA from Temple University, a background in adolescent development, completion of the UCLA College Essay Writing Boot Camp, and the mother of three. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Marty Foley | is a long time educator and history teacher. Since retiring from Greene Street Friends School in 2022, he has been working as a professional tour guide for WeVenture Philadelphia, as well as a volunteer tour guide at Laurel Hill East Cemetery. Marty regularly hosts visitors from around the world on Old City history tours, South Philadelphia public art tours, and day trips to Valley Forge, Longwood Gardens and Lancaster County, in addition to weeklong tours from Virginia to Maine. |
| David Freeman | is a lawyer and educator. His thirty years of legal experience includes work as a prosecutor, defense attorney, zoning board counsel and private general practice. He currently focuses on education law, representing children and their parents. He is also a full-time educator in the Criminal Justice curriculum at Community College of Philadelphia. |
| Paul Gannon | , ND, is a naturopathic doctor in practice for over twenty years, helping clients reach and maintain their health goals, tailoring the most effective cutting edge natural treatment protocols. He specializes in women’s health, cancer co-management and post-treatment thriving, gastrointestinal health, acute and chronic illness, as well as allergies and rheumatism. |
| Jojo Gass | The Glitz & Glam Girls! Two visionary Sis-Stars Christina Sharay and Jojo Gass join forces to guide you through a transformative vision board experience. With their combined expertise in manifestation and creative expression, they'll empower you to amplify your intentions, unlock your potential, and manifest your wildest dreams. |
| Amelia Geiser | has been crocheting for five years and has experience in a variety of other crafts. She is a full time high school science teacher, and has taught crochet as an elective and an after-school activity to elementary, middle school, high school, and adult students. She has found great success in teaching crochet to all ages by teaching basic skills that can apply to many projects, then assisting students while they create a product of their choice. |
| Makiko Goto-Widerman | is a graduate of Showa Women's University in Japanese literature and language. She has organized award winning homestay tours to Japan, is a graduate of UMass Amherst's Arts Interdisciplinary Studies program, offers workshops in floral design, including Ikebana, and champions the art of traditional Japanese cooking. |
| David Grauel | comes to MALT by way of NYC where he was a Technical Support and Training Specialist in Microsoft Office products for such companies as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. As part of the Human Resources Administration, he trained supervisors and staff, worked the Help Desk, and performed network troubleshooting. |
| David Greenberg | has been writing screenplays professionally for over twenty-five years. He teaches screenwriting at Drexel University and has also taught at University of the Arts, Temple University, Moore College of Art, Arcadia University and Montgomery County Community College. His book Screenwriting for Micro-Budget Films has been called one of the greatest screenwriting books of all time by bookauthority.org. His feature writing-directing debut, Stomping Ground, is distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures. |
| Himasha Gunasekara | 's love for dance began in 2010 in Sri Lanka when she took Latin dance classes with her sister. After moving to New York in 2013, she fell in love with salsa and continued dancing after relocating to Philadelphia in 2019. At Flaco’s Dance Factory, she found a welcoming community and now enjoys teaching, sharing her knowledge, and inspiring others with the joy of dance. |
| Jason Hellmann | lives in Chestnut Hill with his family, and is a self-taught knitter with seven years experience. His favorite things to make are textured sweaters, and he enjoys helping several Philadelphia-based fiber companies with their digital marketing and media through his company Local Thread. |
| Janice Henderson | was an educator for 34 years, and used Canva during her teacher career to create worksheets, displays, and instructional resources. She now uses those same skills to design images for tumblers, t-shirts, and party favors. Her passion has always been crafting, whether it is scrapbooking, creating balloon displays, or designing digital images. Janice has a Masters degree in Instructional Technology and is Google certified. |
| 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. Gina teaches this online class while she is traveling all over the USA & worldwide. Check out www.goglobalinc.com for more info. |
| Rebecca Hoenig | has been an artist and art teacher for several decades. She is particularly inspired by nature and begins most of her work with drawing and observation from life. |
| Karla Holland-Moritz | is a retired San Diego Symphony cellist with a Master of Music Performance degree from Yale, and many years of experience playing professionally and teaching. Last year she started an ongoing cello teaching project in Suriname, South America to teach students not only to play, but to also train them to become teachers since there were no cello teachers in this small country. |
| Chelsea Jackson | is a writer, editor, and writing coach, and the author of the poetry collection All Things Holy and Heathen (April Gloaming). Their work has been featured in Fatal Flaw, Coffin Bell Journal, and Beyond Queer Words among other publications, and they were a finalist in Animal Heart's 2022 Poetry Collection Contest. Chelsea has an MFA in Poetry from Drew University and is the Co-Editor of The Maine Review. They live in Richmond with their partner and cuddly pitbull. You can learn more about Chelsea and their work at chelsea-jackson.com. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. Visit http://www.naturalbodyessentialsshop.com. |
| Shannon Johnson | is a certified k12 teacher, aromatherapist, and jewelry designer who uses essential oil education and jewelry making to support emotional wellness. As a licensed loan broker, she believes emotional and mental well-being for all ages is essential to building a strong foundation in financial literacy. She is a native Philadelphian but now resides in Atlanta, GA, and has been teaching with MALT for over 9 years! |
| Alexandra Jones | is an award-winning writer and cheese educator. Her work has appeared in publications like Food & Wine, Epicurious, Civil Eats, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Alexandra's first book, Stuff Every Cheese Lover Should Know, was published in 2020. She received the Daphne Zepos Research Award in support of research on cheese and climate change in 2023. View her website: https://www.alexandrajones.net/ |
| Marcia Jones | , MFA, is a teaching artist in Mt. Airy with 50 years experience teaching art to all ages, in art centers and art schools. Her instruction-based teaching method, which she named Making Art Makes Us Smarter (c.2010), represents her passionate belief in the regenerative power of creative art. Marcia’s primary mediums are watercolor and pastel. Her work can also be seen at Le Bus in East Falls, and in private collections. She was awarded MALT's Barbara Bloom Teacher Award in 2022. |
| Jessica Kohn | is a licensed social worker and certified End-of-Life Doula for humans and companion animals. She currently works at Special Equestrians, an equine therapeutic riding center in Bucks County, and is a mental health worker serving clients in Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery Counties. She has always been passionate about nature and animals, spending the majority of her life living adjacent to Wissahickon Park. She is an avid hiker, and enjoys backpacking, camping, kayaking, and more. As a social worker and outdoor enthusiast, she seeks to help others find their own path to healing, utilizing nature as an inspiration and guide. |
| Connie Koppe | has been finding joy in singing since she was 6. She has been teaching actors, singers and CEOs to build and use their voices more effectively for over 30 years. She has taught at the University of the Arts and gives private speech and singing lessons from her home in Germantown. Connie has taught singing for the Learning Tree since 2001. She is particularly interested in promoting confidence in students of all ages to use their singing voices for their own joy. www.conniekoppe.com. SEWING and CRAFTS: Many of you know Connie Koppe as a singing teacher, but in addition, she has been a seamstress and crafter almost all her life. She learned sewing skills from her mother, her Great Aunts, Jr. High Home Economics and reading the patterns. Connie has always loved to craft and follows her mother’s and father's example of reusing cards and other items to make gifts and home decorations. These dodecahedron ornaments were taught to her by her father when she was about 12. |
| Capt. Peter Lacey | brings extensive boating expertise, piloting power, and sailboats across diverse waters, including the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean, and more. With a U.S. Coast Guard Master License, Sail, and Towing Endorsement, along with certifications as a USCG AUXILIARY and US Power Squadron Certified Instructor, he's a seasoned mariner. Lacey's professional background includes sales of Marine Equipment for West Marine, and he also served in the US Navy. |
| Becky Libourel Diamond | is a food writer, librarian, and research historian. Her most recent book, The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook, blends Gilded Age details and celebrity stories with historic holiday menus and recipes updated for modern kitchens. She is also the author of The Gilded Age Cookbook, The Thousand Dollar Dinner and Mrs. Goodfellow: The Story of America’s First Cooking School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Rider University and a master’s of library service degree from Rutgers University. She has worked as a business librarian at Rutgers–New Brunswick since 2020. Her current project is a history of Philadelphia's famous City Tavern restaurant. She lives in Yardley, Pennsylvania. |
| Jessica Liddell | is the owner of Bella Mosaic Art. It is the only studio in Philadelphia dedicated to the ancient art of mosaics. Artist-run and operated, we offer classes, facilitate community art projects, and create commissions. |
| Lori Litchman | is a freelance writer and poet. She's also a former high school English teacher who loves sharing her passion for the written word with anyone interested. She enjoys creating safe writing spaces that help people unleash their inner muse. |
| Nathan Long | grew up in rural Appalachia, earned a BA in literature and an MFA in 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. Nathan Alling Long has been baking bread for 30 years. He has worked at a commercial bakery as well as cooked at an organic restaurant, a commune, and for a meditation retreat. During the pandemic, he took on making sourdough when he was gifted a 15 year old starter, which he will share with the participants. |
| 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. She teaches Japanese conversation, Japanese calligraphy, as well as fusion bellydance classes at MALT. Natalie holds a master’s degree in Japanese linguistics. Since 2009, she has been teaching Japanese at various institutions across the U.S. and has developed curricula ranging from introductory to advanced levels. Additionally, she practiced calligraphy throughout her school years in Japan. Bellydance: Natalie Phoenix began her belly dance journey over 20 years ago. She has taught and performed extensively throughout Hawaii, appearing at a wide range of events and shows. Her primary training has been with renowned dancers such as Zoe Jakes, Kami Liddle, and Kalae Kaina, and she has further expanded her skills through workshops with artists from around the world. Natalie was also a member of Shakti Dance Movement, a Hawaii-based troupe known for its dynamic fusion-style choreography. |
| Denisha Marriott | has over 17 years of experience in the entertainment industry. She began her acting journey in theater and later transitioned to working in TV and film; and soon began training actors. She has worked with actors that have booked work on Disney, Hulu, HBO, Comedy Central, Universal Studios, Netflix, and more. She is a huge believer that every actor in the world can reach their goals by being grounded in their faith and putting the work in to excel to new heights. |
| 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. |
| Bradley Maule | is executive director of Friends of the Cresheim Trail, after serving three years as Board President. 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. |
| Melissa McDermott | serves as the Prevention and Education Director at Women In Transition, an organization that empowers people to move forward in their lives free of domestic violence and substance abuse. She brings a unique and empowering perspective to self-defense training, combining over a decade of experience in victim services and trauma-informed care with a background as a Registered Yoga Teacher and group facilitator. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Thomas Jefferson University and a Certificate in Trauma Studies from Lakeside Global Institute. |
| 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. |
| Anne McNiff | has been a Mt. Airy resident for a little over 19 years. She has been making food look appetizing and special on boards and tables long before it became all the rage. A self proclaimed "foodie", Anne enjoys discovering all the ways she can utilize many local products in her charcuterie boards and grazing tables. |
| Lexie Ruth Mitchell | is an end-of-life doula, hospice volunteer, and teacher passionate about living intentionally and dying consciously. |
| Paul Mladjenovic | is an educator, national speaker and author of Stock Investing for Dummies and the owner of RavingCapitalist.com. He has taught with MALT for over 25 years |
| Susie Moore | is a licensed therapist, 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. Susie is also teaching Journaling. She is a lifelong journal writer, and is eager to share her knowledge and experience with others. |
| Daniel Nemer | , L.O.M. is the owner of G-town Acupuncture with over 20 years experience 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 Sets 1 and 2. |
| 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. |
| Sarah O'Connor | has been writing since childhood, making little chapbooks, and leaving them on public transit for others to find. She loves sharing the experience of writing with others through an in-person connection. Sarah has led writing workshops for women living in shelters due to family violence, and in doing so, discovered the inspiring power of poetry. She has studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and recently completed a diploma in creative writing at the University of Oxford. |
| Desmond O'Donovan | is a USATF-certified track & field coach and a certified personal trainer. He coached track and cross country at Juniata College and Abington Friends School, and currently coaches independently. He ran track and cross country for Science Leadership Academy and Juniata College, and is still training as a competitive distance runner. |
| Moneek Pines | has many years of experience in teaching art to children and adults. She currently teaches young children through Art Mt. Airy and believes everyone is an artist. Moneek has a BFA from Moore College of Art & Design. |
| Julia Podgorsek | was born and raised in France and has been teaching French in the US for over 10 years. |
| Clayton Prince | is the owner and operator of The Philadelphia Musical History Tours. For more information, see www.themusicalhistorytours.com. |
| Eric Prine | worked as a professional interior and architecture photographer for over 15 years. He began real estate investing and doing property management over a decade ago. As a Realtor®, Eric is able to combine his love of architecture and real estate. |
| Bea Quindlen | learned from her high school art teacher that success can come from the learning process rather than the “perfect finished product.” Those high school “discovery projects” led to a lifetime of crafting – and isn’t life a “discovery project?” Bea is happily retired after a 47-year career at a data company. She attended a MALT class way back in 1994 but not again until 2008! Since then, she has taken over 20 classes. In 2017, she made the switch from student to instructor, teaching a variety of introductory craft classes. |
| Jaime Renman | Jaime Renman is the founder of Pickle Me Queer, an inclusive pickleball community in West Philadelphia that centers queer players and welcomes allied players in the neighborhood of all ages. Since picking up a paddle just two years ago, Jaime has taught countless beginners, both kids and adults, with a passion for growing the game and creating space for connection and joy. |
| 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. TOUR OF TOURISON: has worked in the field of historic preservation as Assistant Director of Preservation Worcester in Massachusetts and Executive Director of Landmark West, an historic preservation non-profit advocating for the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Her passion for beauty in architecture has never waned, and she was inspired to put together this walking tour, after living in, and loving, her own Tourison home. |
| Sara Robbins | , a Mt. Airy native, is an award winning fiber artist who has been weaving baskets for over 30 years. |
| Marisia Robinson | is MALT's Office Coordinator, an avid urban gardener with 5 years of experience, as well as the secretary for Aspen Farms Community Garden. Marisia brings a wealth of knowledge about vegetable and herb growing and has taught for PHS, PASA, and the Philadelphia Free Library. Her teaching approach is interactive and pragmatic. She is passionate about the transformative power of urban gardening and advocates for its role in fostering community connections and cultivating an abundance mindset through sustainable food and seed production. |
| Robert Sadler | has been playing chess in casual and tournament settings for somewhere around 60 years. He has been active in Chess Clubs since college, and is currently organizing the chess club at Lovett Memorial Library on Tuesdays at 5 pm. You can find him playing chess at many other venues around the Philadelphia area. |
| Carin Sauerwein | is a natural dyer, artist, and educator with over 25 years of experience in botanical dyeing. After leaving the corporate fashion world, she founded Dye on the Side to reconnect with nature, creativity, and community. Her teaching practice is rooted in sustainability, sensory play, and creating calm through color. |
| David Schaaf | is a retired local architect and former director of the Urban Design Division of the City Planning Commission. Mr. Schaaf was a member of the City's Historical Commission for more than a dozen years. He has lived in Mt. Airy for nearly 40 years and has led this very popular MALT tour since 1992. |
| Mindy Shapiro | is a longtime challah baker and loves teaching this class through MALT. Mindy is a papercut artist, Past-President of the Guild of American Papercutters and a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT). Mindy's love language is her art (which includes challah baking) and she strives to share that with others through her work, teaching, engagement and communication. |
| Christina Sharay | The Glitz & Glam Girls! Two visionary “Sis-Stars” Christina Sharay and Jojo Gass join forces to guide you through this transformative vision board experience. With their combined expertise in manifestation and creative expression, they'll empower you to amplify your intentions, unlock your potential, and create your wildest dreams. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. Cheri is passionate about helping people achieve their crafty goals. After a career in higher education, Cheri opened Handmade U to offer crafters a place to learn, create, and grow their handmade business. |
| Dr. Jeffrey Sklar | has been a chiropractor and educator in Philadelphia and across the country for over two decades. He has spent half of his career treating cancer patients for quality-of-life challenges through their treatment. He has lectured overseas and coast to coast. His Chestnut Hill practice continues to focus on quality of life for all his patients. |
| Kathleen Smith | , JD, is an experienced educator and attorney. She is an associate professor at Chestnut Hill College and has received numerous awards recognizing her contributions to legal education, jurisprudence, civic engagement and public service. |
| Tyson Smith | has over 30 years of experience as both an educator and 5 as a pickleball player. I appreciate that people play pickleball for different reasons and bring different strengths and abilities to the game. It is a game in which people from various backgrounds mix and play together for fun and some friendly competition. |
| 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 | founded Moviehouse Productions in 1983, educating and delighting community groups throughout the Delaware Valley with his multi-media nostalgia programs. His core works includes a multi-part series on the popular history of Philadelphia. His website is www.moviehouseproductions.com. |
| MALT Staff | which has had years of active training in similar time-saving devices. |
| Janice Strawder | , MFA, has been teaching the art of ceramics for over thirty years. She enjoyed a five year artist residency at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, where she continues to teach. Janice is a co-founder of Rebel Potters in Germantown where she manages the studio and teaches clay classes. Janice’s ceramic works include wood and salt fired functional pottery, tile and mosaic, all with an emphasis on decorative surfaces. |
| Noah Teachey | is an audio educator with an MA in Music & Music Education from Columbia University Teachers College. He has released 165 hours of audio podcasts and worked with hundreds of students on their own audio creations. Before moving to Philadelphia, Noah worked as a public school music teacher in the Bronx. |
| Denise Thomas | has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources, and has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and fostering growth. She is a computer enthusiast with over 30 years of hardware and software experience. She prefers spending a day at Micro Center or Best Buy rather than at the mall. |
| Jihan Thomas | is a Black visual artist, artivist, Mother, and community/museum arts educator based in Philadelphia. To Jihan, art can be a conduit for empowerment and self-actualization. She shares her art and creativity wherever art is needed through art making and cultural experiences. As an art educator, Jihan believes in the power and spectrum of Black imagination and how it can support classroom student engagement in learning and community empowerment. She's been teaching and facilitating arts, cultural and educational programming and courses for over 18 years. |
| Kaniesha Thomas | , MSW has been an entrepreneur for the last seven years. The mission of her business is to create art that embodies spirituality, healing and self care. www.revolutionaryratchet.com |
| Lyssa Thompson | has worked in kitchens for almost a decade, and has been studying bread since 2019. She apprenticed at San Francisco Zen Center and has worked at PARC, Dead King Bread, L’imprimerie and the James Beard nominated She Wolf Bakery in New York City. Her area of concentration is naturally leavened doughs, however she also has a wide range of experience including yeasted doughs, laminated products, pastry, and, of course, focaccia. |
| 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.
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| Hildy Tow | is the Curator of Education at Woodmere Art Museum. |
| Beth Uzwiak | is an artist and anthropologist living in G'town. Sara's partner-in-art, she makes wacky things with plants both fake and real from headdresses to your next party flowers. |
| 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. IG @feltedsones and FB Marcie Mehrman Ziskind |
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