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 |
|---|---|
| B-Luv | , a Choreographer/Instructor is a 32 year pioneer, trailblazer in the line dance community. She has won a plethora of awards including 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards, Choreographer of The Year and Philadelphia Dance Legend! She has worked with several artists in the music industry which include Grammy Award Winner Peabo Bryson! She has been given the gift to do what she truly LOVES to do.....choreography and dance and it is her passion! |
| Xiente | (formerly the Norris Square Community Alliance) has for 45 years partnered with Philadelphia families to build pathways from poverty to prosperity through education, housing, workforce development, and financial empowerment. Xiente is thrilled to be partnering on this food and cultural tour of their community. For more information, visit https://www.xiente.org. |
| 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 10 years. |
| Natanya Apfelbaum | has been studying the frame drum for the last five years. She has studied with a number of master teachers. She spent two years living in Sicily, studying frame drumming and dance. Most recently, she lived in Turkey for three months, where she learned traditional Turkish frame drumming. |
| Ananda Archambault | has been a Kundalini Yoga teacher for 22 years, and has practiced for more than 30 years. Originally learning the practice and teaching in Massachusetts, Ananda moved to Philadelphia in 2012 and began teaching at Yoga on Main and the Salvation Army Kroc Center. She finds this form of yoga provides a technology that yields the greatest results, and can address all areas of being human. |
| Stef Arck-Baynes | is a mission-driven communications professional with over 20 years of experience developing strategy, relationships, and compelling content for nonprofit brands and socially responsible for-profits. As the founder and CEO of Achieving Good Communications Co., clients have included: The Conferences for Women; Bucks County United Way; Atlanta Habitat for Humanity; and The Jewish Relief Agency. Prior to Achieving Good, she directed in-house communications at organizations such as Philabundance and Brooklyn Public Library. A born-and-bred Philadelphian, Stef attended Central High School (251!) and lives happily in Mt. Airy with her husband, their daughter, and dog. Learn more on her website: achievinggood.co |
| Itohan Asemota | is a size-inclusive alteration specialist and creative based in Germantown. She's also the founder of HNI Collective, a sustainable fashion service agency that provides production, consulting, and pop up event services. Her ethos is that clothing repair is an act of resilience and everybody deserves to have clothes that they actually enjoy wearing for a long time. |
| 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 his popular food tours for MALT to Chinatown and Northeast Philly. |
| 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. www.studioflaco.com |
| Kamal Bostic-Smith | is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and an award-winning independent filmmaker who has written, directed, edited, and served as cinematographer on five film projects: A Girl Named Blank, Out There, Safe Distance, Holiday, and Flipped. In addition to filmmaking, Kamal teaches drama classes connected to his productions, helping aspiring actors develop their craft on set and in the classroom. He is also a drama and tap dance instructor. Kamal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Community Engagement from Temple University. |
| George Boudreau | is the executive director of the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion. A public historian who specializes in historic house museums, Boudreau holds a Ph.D. in American history and has held post-doctoral research fellowships at Monticello, Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, and Jamestown. |
| 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. |
| M'Jae Brown | is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, author, and founder of Midlife Wellness, Elevated. Trained through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she helps women better understand and navigate perimenopause and menopause using practical, holistic approaches that support everyday well-being. |
| Karen Bruhin | is a 3rd degree initiate within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel (ASW), a Wiccan syncretic tradition. She is the High Priestess of Tenders of the Earth Temple founded in 2011 based in NW Philadelphia. A practitioner of a variety of esoteric disciplines, Karen has been active in Wicca and the local Pagan community for the past 20+ years and has been reading tarot for 45+ years. She is a past board member for Philadelphia Pagan Pride and has previously taught at Spring Magick, Autumn Magick, Philadelphia Pagan Pride, South Jersey Pagan Pride, Sacred Space/Between the Worlds, and Free Spirit Gathering. |
| Ben Buono | has a B.S. in Astrophysics from Mount Union College and 7 years with NASA in Greenbelt MD working with the unmanned spacecraft attitude and orbit determination sections. |
| Troy Bynum | , owner of TB Wildlife Photography LLC, is not only an enthusiastic birder but also a passionate wildlife photographer from Philadelphia, PA. Troy’s work focuses on capturing and showcasing the remarkable colors, intricate patterns, and rich textures that are abundant throughout the natural world. In his work, Troy draws attention to the oftentimes overlooked naturally occurring beauty found in the wild. Troy is on a mission to accentuate and celebrate the inherent magnificence of nature. |
| Cynthia Byron | is a Licensed Professional Counselor, therapeutic horticulture practitioner, and owner of Ujima Life Services in Cheltenham. Her work focuses on the connection between nature, creativity, wellness, and emotional well-being through community-centered programming and therapeutic horticulture experiences. She enjoys creating accessible workshops that encourage relaxation, learning, and meaningful connection. |
| Llana Carroll | holds a BA in Literature from Purchase College/SUNY and an MA and PhD in English: Cultural and Critical Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Llana has taught non-fiction and essay writing at several colleges and universities and is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor of English and Philosophy at Drexel University. Her own writing has been published in several academic journals. |
| Christina Castro-Tauser | is the founding director of Expansions Contemporary Dance Ensemble and Executive Director of International Ballet Exchange. She earned her MFA at Temple University and was the recipient of the Rose Vernick MFA Choreographic Achievement Award. Christina is an adjunct faculty at Temple University and Teaching Artist for Taller Puertorriqueno. 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 | (Wine Bio:)has toured wineries throughout Europe and the US and has led wine tastings at MALT since 2009. (Spanish Bio:)speaks and has taught many languages and is a frequent traveler to México where he enjoys la playa, la cocina y el tequila! |
| 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 who has taught for MALT for over two decades. His classes are influenced by martial arts study, Buddhism and various healing modalities such as acupuncture and Ayurveda. |
| 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. |
| DHCC | This class is offered through the Deaf-Hearing Communication Center, Inc. (DHCC), an organization dedicated to communication access, education, and advocacy for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. In addition to learning ASL, students will be introduced to key ideas, stories, and aspects of Deaf culture and history. |
| 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. |
| Simone Davis | is an herbalist, gardener, educator, and founder of Nommo Apothecary. As a practicing herbalist of 9 years, she has run a Brooklyn Apothecary for 3 years and oversees a free Community Herb Clinic. Her work takes on many forms and particularly upholds sharing plant wisdom with marginalized communities to foster empowerment through collective well-being. She is guided by regenerative practices that focus on seasonal attunement. |
| Jeremy DePrisco | is a technologist and multimedia artist with more than 30 years of experience in recording, performance, and digital media. He helps individuals, organizations, schools, and nonprofits make the most of technology, with a current focus on AI tools. |
| Barbara Delp | , a retired attorney, has been teaching Mah Jongg for almost 20 years. She enjoys introducing new players to the intricacies of the game and the basic rules of the National Mah Jongg League as well as teaching the finer points and strategies of this challenging game to players looking to advance their skills. |
| Judy Dobbs | has experience in reflexology since 1975. After being paralyzed for a week from a slip and fall in 1972, she was carried into her first reflexology session, and walked out! She has helped countless clients deal with a wide range of health issues over the years. |
| June and Audrey Donaldson | are educators with over 35 years combined teaching experience. Together they share the joy of dance at a variety of events, such as festivals, dance conventions, school programs, and fundraisers. |
| Frances Emberley | is a dancer, instructor, and researcher with an interest in early twentieth-century American social dances originating in Black communities, such as the Lindy Hop and Charleston. She has been teaching dance for the past twenty years and is a second-year PhD student in Dance at Temple University, where her research focused on both historical and ethnographic perspectives to explore the culture, aesthetics, pedagogy, and preservation of Black American social jazz dances. |
| Nina Epstein | is known as the Digital Diva and has been an information technology instructor and consultant for over 25 years, helping individuals and small business owners use technology to solve their computing problems. |
| Kirsten Erwin | has studied T'ai Chi since 1982 and is a senior student of the late Sibok Robert Kassof. She has taught regularly for MALT since 2002, and has experience in adapting practices for limited mobility and chronic conditions. Related areas of training include long and short Yang T'ai Chi forms, Qigong, Reiki, Kung Fu, and meditation. She is a Certified Instructor of T'ai Chi for Arthritis. |
| Peggy Feerick | has taught traditional and digital photography for over 40 years including iPhone photography since 2017 for The Smithsonian Associates Studio Arts Program. She retired from George Mason University as Associate Professor and Coordinator of Photography in 2016 with prior teaching at various institutions including the University of New Mexico, Georgetown University, and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she was the photo archivist and curator for the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art photographic collection from 1988 to 1994. |
| Yvonne Ferguson-Hardin | has been in the fitness industry for over 25 years. She is a degreed Fitness professional with certifications in Cancer Exercise, Gerontology, Physical education and more. Changing lives through specialized programming aimed to improve functional fitness in the 55 and over population is her goal. |
| Jelissa Figueroa | began her Salsa dance studies at a young age at the now famous former Philly dance studio, Salseros Intl. Coincidentally, she studied there at the same time as MALT board president, Rene Vargas. Her energy and passion for dancing is always a part of her classes, as is her sense of humor. She truly makes learning fun! |
| Kurt Findeisen | studied T'ai Chi Ch'uan with Maggie Newman since 1979 until her retirement. With her consent, he began his own teaching in the late 1980’s through the auspices of Mount Airy Learning Tree. He is a retired physician who believes his T'ai Chi instruction is as valuable as any drug he ever prescribed. |
| 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. |
| Matt Fitzsimons | of Moonlight Leather is a mechanical engineer living in Roxborough. He has been leathercrafting for three years; his biggest achievement is making a full leather suit of armor that he has worn to many Renaissance Festivals. He is excited to open the door to this fun and rewarding craft to others. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Naila Francis | is a writer/poet, certified grief coach, interfaith minister 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 spiritual practice. She is also a founding member of Salt Trails, a Philadelphia collective honoring grief through community rituals and gatherings. |
| 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. |
| Paul Frenkiel | is a retired banker who managed investment portfolios totaling more than $1.5 billion over his career. He enjoys helping others better understand investment returns, risk, and financial decision-making. A longtime Mt. Airy Learning Tree participant, Paul is excited to share practical knowledge that empowers neighbors to become more informed investors. |
| Jojo Gass | is a burlesque enthusiast and MALT instructor with over 23 years of experience, creating bold, playful, and memorable creative workshops from chess for women to the ultimate clay par-tay. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Kendrick Gymnastics | The mission of Kendrick Gymnastics is to provide a genuine and dedicated commitment to the sport of gymnastics, enabling young athletes to attain their fullest potential while cultivating a sense of self confidence that empowers children to challenge physical, mental and emotional limitations in the gym, at school and across social settings. |
| Tienn Harris | is the creative designer and proud owner of Fire Red Designs LLC. Taking inspiration from her creative grandmother, she has been crafting jewelry for over a decade. Fire Red Designs has been featured in Nina Cheyenne's Fashion Show and The Baldie Con Expo, and some of her pieces have been showcased at the gift shop at the African American Museum. Tienn believes making jewelry can be therapeutic and looks forward to sharing her skills with the community. |
| 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. |
| Theresa Henderson | began her journey at Kendrick Gymnastics as a gymnast in her adolescent years. She competed for the City Tumbling team for several years. She started coaching at Kendrick Gymnastics in 2015. She demonstrated great pride in her position as an assistant coach in our recreational classes. In 2019, Theresa accepted a coaching position on our USAG-sanctioned Junior Olympic Team, Kendrick Kippettes. Theresa participates in program events and annual clinics and obtains yearly educational & safety certifications. |
| 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. With her many years of professional playing and teaching experience, she delights in introducing people to the wonders of the cello! |
| Allison Houghton | is an author, educator, and soil nerd who is passionate about soil health, ecological design, and climate resiliency. She runs The Sparrow Underground: a business that works with gardeners and land managers to strategically build local ecological resilience. She has served in various leadership roles including at the Northeast Organic Farming Association, The Food Project, and the Mt. Airy Ecolab. |
| Mo Ivory | is the owner of Wick it Wax, creating immersive candle-making experiences that blend creativity, atmosphere, and hands-on artistry. |
| Guerdy Jerome | was born and raised in Haiti and spent years running her own catering business, cooking for weddings, parties, corporate events, and celebrations of all kinds. Together with her daughter, Leila, she is excited to share her family recipes, stories, and a little taste of Haiti with you. |
| Leila Jerome | learned everything about Haitian cooking right beside her mother in the kitchen. Today, she is an artist and educator who loves hosting community dinners that bring people together through good food, meaningful conversation, and Black culture. Together as part of a mother-daughter duo she is excited to share their family recipes, stories, and a little taste of Haiti with you. |
| William Jiggetts | has been collecting art for over thirty years and is the founder of the Museum of African American Art Collections. William is an active and engaged participant in the art world here in Philadelphia, and internationally. Currently, he serves as a trustee, board member, and advisor for several arts and community organizations. |
| 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 https://www.naturalbodyessentialsshop.com. |
| 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. She was awarded MALT's Barbara Bloom Teacher Award in 2022. |
| Corinne Karon | graduated from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a BFA in Modern dance. She has tap danced on all the continents in the world, including Antarctica! Corinne performs throughout the country with Tap Team II for Young Audiences and has begun performing with Germaine Ingram. She teaches on a regular basis at the University of the Arts, Rowan University, Bryn Mawr College, Wissahickon Dance Academy, Chester Valley Dance Academy, Calabrese Center For Dance, and for Men on Tap. |
| Kathleen Kellett | completed her Ph.D. in Childhood Studies from Rutgers University-Camden in 2023, where her dissertation involved developing and facilitating a monster book club for teenagers. She has multiple years of undergraduate teaching experience as both a graduate instructor at Rutgers and a lecturer at Stevens Institute of Technology, including courses about monster stories and childhood. She hopes to build a community of people interested in monster media, cultural beliefs about childhood, and political rhetoric. Support youth knowledge and youth rights, always! |
| Linda Kish | E-RYT 200 plus hours, obtained her MS from Temple School of Pharmacy and is a Reiki Level II practitioner. For over fifteen years Linda has led and taught various yoga classes including vinyasa, Hatha, restorative and chair yoga. She is a registered Yoga Alliance instructor (200 plus hours) and for over twelve years has also been a helpline volunteer for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. |
| Neil Kitrosser | has been studying and performing magic for more than 50 years. Although he spent most of his career as a trial lawyer, his enthusiasm for magic has never waned. He has performed in many venues, including elementary schools, hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, neighborhood block parties, birthday parties, and community events. Since retiring from law in 2018, Neil has been performing even more and enjoys sharing his knowledge of magic with others who want to bring joy and wonder to audiences through this unique performance art. |
| 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). |
| Malkah Binah Klein | is a rabbi who has been studying and teaching qigong and other practices for transforming energy, including sacred chant, for many years. She has trained with Daisy Lee to teach RLWQ (Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong). |
| 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. |
| Anne Konowal | is a member of the Philadelphia Flying Phoenix/Against The Wind Dragon Boat Team. |
| 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 most of her life. She learned sewing skills from her mother, her great aunts, junior high home economics, and from reading the patterns. |
| Rachel Kriger | and Nick Corso have cooked many meals on open fires in their backyard over the past 10 years. Before living in Philadelphia, they lived at Heathcote Community in Maryland, where they shared community meals every night, and Nick's famous cob oven pizza (perhaps a future cob building class is in order to get that experience here!). They cherished the connections they had there and want to share that experience with you. So come cozy up by the fire and let's nourish ourselves. |
| Emily Kutz | first discovered Nia in 2018 when a friend invited her to a class. By the end of the class she knew something had changed and she would never be the same. In 2019 she attended her first training and hasn't looked back since. Now 6 trainings later, she is blessed to be able to bring other people that life-changing experience, just as she had at her first class. With over 5 years of experience leading and guiding people into their bodies, she is beyond grateful for all Nia has taught her and her participants. |
| 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 |
| Maya Lerman | is a longtime member of Kendrick Gymnastics. Her involvement started at a young age on the City Tumbling Team. She later became a member and a competitive gymnast on the Kendrick Kippettes USAG Team. At the young age of 16 Maya trained to become a Junior Coach working her way up to a Head Coach just a couple years later. Maya also has a background in dance and theater. |
| 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. |
| Abby Link | is a lifelong maker with decades of experience in sewing, quilting, and textile arts. She has a particular passion for finishing vintage quilt tops from the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s, honoring the original maker’s hand. She believes textiles carry memory, meaning, and emotion. She believes Mending Matters! |
| Nathan Alling 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. They have worked at a commercial bakery as well as cooked at an organic restaurant, a commune, and for a meditation retreat. During the pandemic, Nathan took on making sourdough when they were gifted a 15 year old starter, which they 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. She’s committed to moving personal and institutional money toward justice. |
| Debra Lynn | is a yoga instructor and body therapist. She practiced as a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist for 25 years. Debra studied privately with a Kripalu yoga teacher for ten years and completed a rigorous yoga teacher training program with Francois Raoult and daily training at the Iyengar Institute of Manhattan. She continues extensive training in yoga, meditation, and mindfulness including pain management, and trauma sensitive yoga. She has an innate ability to enable students to connect with their bodies to cultivate peace and joy. Debra is a well-seasoned yoga teacher adapting her teaching to the needs of the students in front of her. |
| Barbara Macauley | Interior Design: Barbara is an architect with over twenty years teaching experience, and both drawing and design have been passions throughout her life. She taught grad and undergrad interior design at Thomas Jefferson University for ten years, as well as at Moore College of Art and The Rhode Island School of Design. She also taught architectural design classes at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. Drawing: Barbara is an architect with over twenty years teaching experience, and the art of drawing has been a passion throughout her life. She coordinated and taught freshman drawing classes at Thomas Jefferson University for ten years, and currently teaches freshman drawing class in the interior design department of Harcum College. She’s also taught at Moore College of Art, The Rhode Island School of Design, and Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Jen May | has been practicing yoga for 20 years, and she is sure that yoga has helped her balance her physical body, create a more resilient nervous system, and be more present for all the moments of life. A background in biology research and high school teaching provided skills for teaching about movement in an understandable way and teaching with individual variability in mind. Jen has a 250 hr. certification in Vinyasa yoga from Wake Up Yoga; a 300 hr. Yoga Wellness Educator Training from Yoga U. Online; and a 50 hr training in myofascial release from Yoga Medicine. Connect with Jen at jmayyoga.offeringtree.com or jmay300 on instagram |
| Henry "Hank" McCoullum | is a retired Master’s Class Table Tennis Instructor from Pennsylvania State University. He is a credentialed coach and umpire for table tennis events. Currently, he is an active tournament participant and enjoys competing as a lifelong member of the United States Table Tennis Association (USTTA). Hank has also served on the National Governing Body of Table Tennis as Vice President of Collegiate Affairs. In this role, he coordinated and organized national competitions for the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Association of College Unions International. |
| 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. |
| Vicki Mehl | has studied T'ai Chi since 1995. She enjoys T'ai Chi because of its innumerable physical and mental health benefits, and because there is always more to learn. |
| Paul Mladjenovic | is an educator, national speaker and author of Stock Investing for Dummies and the owner of RavingCapitalist.com. He has taught with MALT for over 25 years. |
| Susie Moore | is a licensed 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. |
| Yahya Moore | spent 27 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. While in prison, he facilitated a restorative justice education program, became a legal reference aid in the prison, and helped countless people earn their freedom. With the help of the Abolitionist Law Center, Yahya won his own freedom in July 2023, when his life sentence without parole was vacated. He is now a paralegal at the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. He is the co-founder of Way Moore Justice Support, a nonprofit supporting wrongfully convicted court petitioners, and co-author of The Little Book of Listening. |
| Carcia Morris | is a jewelry artist and maker specializing in handcrafted polymer clay earrings. Her approach to teaching focuses on clear instruction, creativity, and practical skills. She is excited to combine real-world experience with a passion for sharing knowledge in an encouraging, beginner-friendly environment. |
| Karl Morris | , Ph.D., is a professor of computer science at Temple University. He studies software development, smart systems, and education. He also has over 20 years of experience as a technologist and consultant in private, public, and non-profit sectors. |
| David Murphey | plays multiple stringed instruments and has taught both groups and individuals of all ages. As a historian, David has pursued family genealogy for 15+ years, in the process of which he discovered links with many of the first immigrant settlers of Germantown. A published author of social history, his aim is to make the past come alive for others. |
| Meena Nandlal | is a 4th degree black belt, has been training for the past twenty years and has been teaching for over 15 years. She has been in many tournaments and has many medals and trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Meena's teaching goal is to give back what her instructors imparted to her for many years. |
| 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. |
| An Nichols | is an established performer in the Philadelphia community. For improv, she trained at Philly Improv Theater, the Magnet and performed with the PA Ren Faire, NJ Ren Faire, Bright Invention Ensemble, Philly Improv Theatre Conservatory, Lancaster Improv, ComedySportz, and Philly Fringe Festival. She served as the diversity advisor for ImprovUtopia and directed Improvised Star Trek for ImprovFest Ireland.
For dance, she is a certified BellyQueen bellydance instructor who studied under June Seaney (Turkish Dance), Tessa Myers (Belly Set Go), Habiba, Kaeshi Chai (BellyQueen), Oreet (Bellydancer of the year, 2007) and Zoe Akili. She has taught at the Philly Free Library branches, FDR Park, and performs in various local festivals. |
| 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. |
| Nya Patrinos | , MFA, is an artist and textile designer whose work explores history, material culture, and the stories carried by cloth. Her practice draws on botanical painting, natural dyes, pattern, and process to connect making with memory, labor, and place. Her recent collection, Vanishing Blooms, explores extinct and endangered flowers and was shown at the Botanical Gardens in Marnay-sur-Seine, France. |
| Grace Perkins | developed the chair yoga class at the request of the Chestnut Hill Senior Center in 1985. She has created a unique program that integrates posture, metaphors, poetry, seasonal energetic awareness and stories to enhance the basic Integral Yoga approach she teaches. |
| Moneek Pines | has many years of experience in teaching art to children and adults. She currently teaches young children through Art Mt. Airy and believes everyone is an artist. Moneek has a BFA from Moore College of Art & Design. |
| Julia Podgorsek | was born and raised in France and has been teaching French in the US for over 10 years. |
| Nancy Post | , M.Ac., Ph.D. worked closely with the cardiology department at Temple University, and together with cardiologist Dr. David Becker, created an integrative approach that she and Dr. Becker employed while treating patients. In recent years, she has studied and incorporated new methods of neuro-motor acupuncture and brain health in her practice in order to help her patients age with the best function possible. Dr. Post won the 2024 City and State Healthcare Trailblazer award for her breakthrough work in healthcare. |
| Cat Powell | is a writer and teacher who has taught writing to students of all ages in a wide range of settings for nearly twenty years. She has degrees in English literature from Harvard University and the University of Cape Town, and an MFA in fiction from Columbia University. Her short fiction has appeared in The Fairy Tale Review, Action, Spectacle!, The South Dakota Review, New Contrast, and The Missouri Review. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Sheeron Ma'at Randall | began his dance career while working promotion and security for Philadelphia nightclubs. He was discovered by the founders of JustSole: Street Dance Theatre and studied the foundations of House dance and Hip-hop social dance while touring as a founding member. He continued his education via workshops and the MOPTOP Universal program in NYC's Peridance Center, and continues to develop his own unique style of dance. |
| 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. Currently, Nancy edits for and coaches various clients, helping them share their stories with others. |
| Laura Richlin | , a life-long student of the mysteries, is a practicing cranial therapist, Reiki practitioner, certified teacher in the School of Integrative Energy Healing, and a university professor of psychology and communications. |
| 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. |
| Karen Rile | is a writer, editor, and yoga teacher with over 800 hours of certification training. She is a Level 2, certified instructor of the LYT Method, the only yoga system created and mentored by physical therapists, and a certified Roll Model trainer. She is also a certified Flexibility Coach, Yoga Trapeze, and Yoga Breathing coach. |
| Elise Rivers | Esq., M.Ac., 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. She is honored to share the transformation that is possible with this lifestyle choice. TOUR OF TOURISON: Elise worked in the field of historic preservation in the 1990's 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. She is grateful for the extensive archives of Historic Germantown, without which this tour would not exist. |
| Lya Rodgers | is the Curator of Education at Woodmere Art Museum. Tour will be led by a member of Woodmere's Education Department. |
| Sati Rose | is a highly trained and seasoned yoga teacher with nearly twenty years of experience guiding students through grounded, spiritually informed practice. Rooted in traditional philosophy and modern application, Sati blends movement, breathwork, meditation, and subtle energetic awareness to create classes that are both accessible and deeply transformative. Known for her calm authority, clarity of instruction, and heart-centered teaching style, Sati creates space for students to grow at their own pace while connecting to something deeper within themselves. |
| Sondra Rosenberg | is a local artist and art therapist. She studied visual art at Oberlin College and earned her MA in art therapy at NYU. Working in a range of media and subject matter, she creates art for personal expression, private commissions, and in support of organizations that promote social justice and community development. Her art practice has been informed by her work as an art therapist for women with eating disorders and related mental health struggles. Learn more: www.sondrarosenberg.com. |
| 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. |
| Stacie Sawyer | , M.Ed., is a business educator with more than 30 years of teaching experience in and around Philadelphia. An award-winning educator and IRS-certified tax preparer, she has helped hundreds of students and community members develop practical business, technology, and financial skills. As the owner of SMS Philly Financial Services LLC, she regularly uses Google Workspace tools to manage documents, collaborate with clients, and operate her business efficiently. |
| 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. |
| Zipora Schulz | has been a drawer of line, shadow and light since she was little. She has been teaching kids and adults for over 20 years in schools and art centers, and co-hosts a weekly sketch club in East Falls. She welcomes all levels on the drawing journey and believes drawing is just another way of thinking. |
| Mindy Shapiro | 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 and she strives to share that with others through her teaching. |
| 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. |
| Alan Silverblatt | has been a caseworker and an attorney. More recently he's had a decades long career in information technology, serving as a programmer, technical instructor and writer, and now an independent computer consultant to individuals, small businesses and nonprofits. After retiring from his last day job, he's enjoying model railroading, hosting a rock and blues show on G-town Radio, playing in a band, and sharing with others his knowledge of technology, car buying and investing. |
| Cheri Skipworth | is the 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. |
| Cyndi Skripak | has volunteered as the Costume Designer and Wardrobe Manager for Houston Elementary School musicals for the past several years. She is a retired church minister, and also spends her time volunteering in the library at Houston. |
| 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. |
| Moon Smith | (she/they) is a retired nurse midwife who has been studying qigong with several master teachers for many years and integrates qigong practice into the support and healing of the female body. She has trained with Daisy Lee to teach RLWQ (Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong). |
| Tyson Smith | has been an educator for more than thirty years and has played competitive pickleball for more than five years. He appreciates how people play pickleball for a variety of reasons and how they bring different strengths and abilities to the sport. As a social game, pickleball brings people from various backgrounds together for fun and 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. |
| Jo Song | ’s passion for floral design starts from her roots as an artist. Her career in floral design starts in Maryland– where she had been working as a professional florist before starting her studies at Drexel University in Graphic Design. Her work as a floral designer spans from heartfelt gifts for a loved one to wedding ceremonies. You may also find some of her work as a graphic designer featured in MALT’s special events, photos, and promotional content from this past summer as a part of her Drexel Co-op experience! |
| Lori Spadaro | has had a gazillion hobbies over the years, and this one has stuck! She has spent time perfecting each of the beginner macramé techniques so they can be taught with ease and confidence. This is her first time teaching with MALT. |
| Rick Spector | has more than 40 years experience lecturing and producing videos about Philadelphia nostalgia, and the history of television, radio, movies, and sport. |
| Daniel Spicer | , a passionate home winemaker for more than a decade, has refined techniques through years of experimenting with fruit, flavors, and fermentation. He enjoys introducing others to the craft in a relaxed, welcoming environment and helping beginners discover a creative and rewarding new hobby. |
| 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. |
| RowZone Staff | are rowers, rowing enthusiasts, and trainers. |
| Kim Staub | is the Executive Director of Wyck with over 12 years of experience in historic site management. |
| Christopher Switky | has been a certified dog trainer since 2014. He is the founder of Positive Canine Concepts LLC, 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. |
| Eric Tillberg | studied Art History in college and International Relations in graduate school. He has been interested in politics, culture, and history for years. Eric ran a history book club in Durham, NC from 2019 to 2024, which was well-loved. |
| 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. |
| 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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| Mittal Trivedi | is a polyglot scholar studying languages through a cultural lens. She speaks six languages including Italian and Spanish, and has had different experiences in learning all of them. Her passion for Italian developed when she spent three years in Italy for her doctorate on Sanskrit. Her background in language research means she was able to employ pattern recognition in grammar and use immersion techniques to get into the mindset of speaking Italian. |
| Carolyn Wallace | is an interpreter, educator, and collections manager with over fifteen years of experience working with historic sites. In her current role as Education Director for Cliveden of the National Trust, her work focuses on research and interpretation of diverse narratives through sustainable programming for youth and adults and exhibit design. Carolyn is passionate about making connections between past and present and helping visitors to do the same. |
| Aisha Waters | is a yoga instructor and founder of Space & Grace Yoga and Wellness, a woman-owned, Black-owned studio. She is passionate about creating a welcoming space where students can slow down, build confidence, and grow through yoga while feeling empowered and free to be their authentic self. |
| Richard Wattenbarger | holds a Ph.D. in historical musicology from the University of Minnesota and has taught at La Salle University, Temple University, and Delaware Valley University. He has written program notes and articles for both scholarly and general audiences and enjoys helping people discover new ways to listen to and appreciate classical music. |
| Tricia Way | has been teaching in prisons and higher education institutions for over two decades and currently teaches about restorative justice and wrongful convictions at Chestnut Hill College. She is the co-founder of Way Moore Justice Support, a nonprofit supporting wrongfully convicted court petitioners, and co-author of The Little Book of Listening. |
| Tim Wetzel | is a 3rd degree Black Belt in karate and a martial arts instructor for children and adults. He has been training with sticks for 5+ years and has a passion to teach this amazing martial art. |
| Shelly White | has taught classes for national gyms, nonprofits, churches, and schools for more than 20 years. She teaches a wide range of formats, including PILOXING®, Body Works Plus Abs, cycling, jump rope, cardio kickboxing, BOSU, cardio hoop, swing, Kwando, and line dancing. |
| Ann Wilcox | has taught at least sixteen people how to play canasta in the past several years. After taking a canasta class to brush up on her skills several years ago, she first taught a group of seven to play in Sarasota, FL. More recently, having moved back to Chestnut Hill two years ago, she taught a group of four who now are regular weekly players. Her background is teaching, library and foundation work. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Marcie Ziskind | is an artist who works with animal fibers called “roving” to make felt and items that are created from felt. Marcie has studied with fiber artists around the world and has been introduced to many different felting techniques and projects. She is a full-time artist exhibiting her work at notable crafts fairs in the Philadelphia area. IG @feltedstones and FB mmziskind |
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