Our People
Since its very first days, Art With Impact has been blessed by the contributions of incredibly talented, motivated, and fun people.
Since its very first days, Art With Impact has been blessed by the contributions of incredibly talented, motivated, and fun people.
Joseph Kumph (he/him) is an entrepreneur and software engineer living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Rudi Lion is a psychotherapist specializing in individual, couples and family therapy with a private practice in Santa Barbara, CA. She loves working with couples of all configurations. Learning to speak our truth...
Vermonte Wong is a registered clinical counsellor for young adults and youth, as well as LGBTQ+ population, who is passionate about helping to break the stigma of mental health.
1990s Chris (he/him) is a queer, working class poet and filmmaker from Hereford, England. Writing primarily for film and audio, Chris has made work for BBC arts and Channel 4’s Random Acts, Art...
Dale John Allen (he/him) is a Brighton based filmmaker, writer and editor, currently studying BA (Hons) Moving Image at the University of Brighton. Through visual arts and film, he aims to explore themes...
Jennifer spent her formative years in rural South Carolina and had the opportunity to work amongst film in college. As a student forming her opinions of the world, she became interested in this...
Victoria Anderson-Gardner (they/them) is a queer Ojibwe filmmaker from Eagle Lake First Nation in Ontario. They are currently based out of Toronto, Ontario where they recently completed their thesis film for a Bachelor...
Daksha Arora is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist and CEO of Serene Therapy & Wellness Center located in Downtown Rockville, MD. Dr. Arora has over 25 years of experience in mental health services,...
Nikita is a recent graduate from Queen’s University with a major in sociology, who attended one of Art With Impact’s M4MH events last year while in school. Currently working as a legal assistant in...
Gabriela Bazán is a data analytics consultant from El Salvador but has been living in Chile for the past 6 years. She has a degree in Computer Sciences and a Masters in Public...
Ari Bird is a California-born visual artist who has a passion for combining mental health/healing with the arts. After receiving a BFA at UC Santa Cruz in 2010, Bird moved to San Francisco,...
Rebecca Blakey (she/her) is a Masters of Counselling student based in Edmonton, Alberta where she also co-owns a local LGBTQ+ retail shop called The QUILTBAG. She has an MA in English from the...
Luba Botcheva PhD (she/her) has more than 20 years of experience in applied research and evaluation with a focus on mental health and wellness. As Research Director at the Center for Dignity, Recovery...
Maya is equal parts artist, therapist, and activist, and is so thrilled to get to satisfy all of them while working with Art With Impact. She grew up a third culture kid, being...
As a fundraising professional, Megan (she/her) brings practical experience in strategic fundraising, event planning, sponsorship, donor relations, grant writing and direct marketing. Before transitioning into fundraising, Megan worked as a Journalist with Global...
Amanda is a contractor for startups in San Francisco. Amanda received her Master’s Degree in Art History from Christie’s Education in London. She started volunteering with Art with Impact because she believes in...
May Chan (she/her) is a designer, teacher, and advocate from Brooklyn, New York. After teaching in France, she returned home to embrace her passion for the arts and now has eight years of...
Michael Charlton is pursuing a major in Liberal Arts which entails minors in Environmental Analysis & Policy, Business Administration and Africana Studies at The University of Cincinnati. Before attending UC, Michael pushed pause...
Keith Chau (he/him) currently works as a Senior Analyst at the Anti-Racism Secretariat at the Department of Canadian Heritage. Keith is a dedicated public servant who has held progressive positions advising the government...
Skye is a Community Facilitator and Digital Media Consultant harnessing media arts to facilitate collaborative community programs within diverse communities. Focusing on participatory culture, Skye engages various stakeholders on interpersonal, strategic and organizational...
Lisa has 25 years of experience in the behavioral health field, earning her bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of California Santa Cruz and her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch...
Deb Cuny, M.Div., is a storyteller activist, trainer, restorative justice practitioner, and consultant at Deb Cuny Consulting. Deb also serves as a spokesperson and advisory member for the #BornPerfect Campaign to End Conversion Therapy. Deb has shared her...
Richard D’Angelo, A New York based filmmaker and educator, founded RDA Productions, a full service production services company, in 2001. A lifelong film devotee, he received his BFA in Film Production from LIU...
Natalie is the driving force behind Art With Impact Canada and is responsible for facilitation, programming, outreach, fundraising and partner relationships for our programs north of the border. She also engages students and...
Hamed Dar has worked in the health and social service industry for nearly a decade. He started by building youth and recreation programs for city-wide and provincial programs and then transitioned into the...
Olivia DePaul (she/her) is a mental health advocate currently pursuing her clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis. While earning her BA in Psychological Science, Olivia became involved with...
As a woman born and raised in Accra, Ghana, to parents of Indian and Sri Lankan descent, and now based in the east bay of California after spending time in 5 other states,...
Joanna works in accounting at Farallon Capital Management, LLC, a San Francisco based private equity firm. Joanna brings to AWI her experience combining creativity with economic savvy to fuel community development and awareness...
Jonathan Elliott (he/him) is a Tuscarora filmmaker from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. Since attending York University’s Film Production program, he has worked as a director and cinematographer on a variety of...
JANE V. FARLEY, MFT (46468) Jane is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS), Training Consultant and Expressive Artist with over fifteen years of experience...
Kirsten (she/her) is a Juilliard-trained actor with a PhD in depth psychology working in private practice in Santa Monica, CA. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, she balanced careers in stage, television, and film...
Rachel Fusco, MA has spent the last decade building and managing programs that promote tangible social change for teens and college students. Rachel is passionate about intergroup dialogues, team-building, diversity and inclusion, racial...
Drawn to the creative and eclectic, Katie powered her way through a B.S. in Computer Science by taking art history classes at UCSB. After a few bouts with engineering companies and living abroad,...
Nolan Golden is a queer, charismatic college student based in sunny California. They have a well-rounded background in leadership and community activism, and have been a mental health and LGBTQ advocate for over...
Cami is a San Francisco-based arts educator with experience in program management, nonprofit consulting and research and data analysis. Cami graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a Bachelors degree in History of Art...
Deborah L. Sandoli Greenslit, Psychotherapist/LMHC, RN/Wellness Specialist Deborah is a seasoned, licensed psychotherapist and a registered nurse with advanced degrees in psychology, education and health &wellness and has over thirty five years of...
Kate is a collaborative educator, non-profit leader, and storyteller who has worked in higher education, served as Executive Director for a leading Native American rights organization, and played leadership roles in the fields...
My name is Jacqueline and I’m a UCI student with a Psychology and Social Behavior degree. I have a history working with various ages of children, as I have a strong passion for...
A recent transplant to San Francisco from New York City, Ali began her career working in progressive theater at the Lincoln Center Studios, @45Below, the Culture Project and with Fractured Atlas. She made...
I am a recent college graduate from SDSU. I have worked with children diagnosed with autism for a little under 2 years and have a great interest in the population. I am currently...
Paula is passionate about mental health and is delighted to be furthering Art With Impact’s mission through strategic grant writing. With over 16 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Paula brings a...
From a young age, arts education has helped Tia develop a sense of lifelong learning, along with museum positions and volunteering. Her monotone voice might catch you off guard or imply otherwise, but...
Morgan is a practicing social worker and aspiring journalist who is passionate about activism and systemic oppression. She is a lover of live music, dancing and artistic expression. Morgan decided to partner with...
I’m a pharmacy graduate with a love for the arts: from playing the alto saxophone to improv to card-crafting. I may not be the best at any of them but I certainly enjoy...
Jennifer comes to Art With Impact with a deep appreciation of mental illness, along with a passion to help others and make a positive impact on the world. She hopes that by marketing...
Christopher is a senior at Claremont McKenna College, hoping to pursue a career in policy work following the completion of his undergraduate studies. As evidenced by his dual majors—Philosophy & Public Affairs, and...
Jesse Jimenez is currently going into his sophomore year at NYU, where he majors in Applied Psychology and Global Public Health. He previously lived in Mission Viejo, California with his parents, three siblings,...
Matthew interned at Art With Impact during the summer of 2011. Thank you, Matt for your hard work, mad biking skills and unfailingly positive attitude! Matthew is, like most folks here in San...
Mikilah Johnson (she/her) is a lover of food, theatre and children. In 2014, Mikilah graduated with a B.S in Psychology with a minor Drama/Theatre for the young from Eastern Michigan University and in...
Esther worked at Art With Impact during our very first days… the winter of 2011 before we lost her to Los Angeles. Thank you, Esther for all your fabulous writing skills, your competence...
Aurora currently studies Latin American/Latino Studies, with a focus on Media Studies, at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is an active member of the UCSC Fashion Team and has enjoyed leading...
Ryan (he/him) believes in the power of artists to speak directly with their audiences and to create emotional journeys that involve the viewer in a way that is deeply personal, yet universally understood....
Randy Kelly (he/him) is an award-winning film and television director, editor and cameraman based in the Ottawa/Gatineau area in Canada. For over 22 years, Randy has worked on dramatic TV series, lifestyle series,...
Kerven (he/him) is the Chair of the Filmmaking Department at the New York Film Academy. His career began with the debut of his short film, “Candy Store,” which won an Academy Award for...
Beth Killian (she/her) is a Rhode Island based songwriter, youth worker, mentor and advocate. Having recently completed an MSW program at Smith College, Beth is committed to creating and supporting spaces where therapeutic...
James Kim is a filmmaker and playwright based near Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Dartmouth College. His short film “After Her” won the monthly Art With Impact short film contest in 2014 and...
Andrew (he/him) is a jack-of-all trades digital strategist with a background in community management, graphic design, and content creation, and a laser focus on building lasting relationships with audiences. At Art With Impact,...
Abbie Kopf is a writer, editor and nonprofit consultant who has worked for some of the nation’s finest arts, social justice and education organizations. She is exceptionally passionate about cause-based communications, because a...
Jeff has a background in photography and multi-media production, graduating with honours from Seneca College’s Audio Visual & Multi-Media Techniques program many, many years ago. His career has taken him into all sorts...
Dr. Kristin Kosyluk received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Illinois Institute of Technology’s Rehabilitation Counseling Education program in December 2014. She is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Mental Health Law &...
Laurie was born and raised in Tampa, Florida receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from University of South Florida and her MBA in Marketing from Florida Institute of Technology. She worked in Digital...
Carlyn (she/her) was born on the West Coast, went to elementary school on the East Coast, middle school in the South and graduated from high school in the Midwest. Carlyn graduated from Loyola...
Andrea LaMarre is a writer, speaker, researcher, and filmmaker-in-training based in Guelph, Ontario. She has spent the past 4 years working on a PhD at the University of Guelph, studying eating disorder recovery...
Stephanie Landes is a recent college graduate that is in her first year working. She has loved art as long as she can remember. She is interested in entering the field of art therapy because she believes...
Lori has intimate experience with mental illness and is passionate about stigma reduction. Her message is simple. Everyone has mental health and the focus needs to be more on preventative action to stay...
Meg is the Vice President and Managing Director at the Gochnauer Foundation, a family run foundation that primarily supports organizations and programs that promote spiritual, medical, cultural, and educational growth or provide essential...
Kara is an Edmonton, Alberta-based health promotion professional specializing in mental wellness. She earned a Bachelor of Kinesiology and Master of Business Administration from McMaster University. Kara spent seven years in marketing &...
Jade is an artist and advocate residing in sunny SoCal. Jade likes to talk about neurotic charts they make to show their therapist, how The Read is the best podcast ever, their passionate...
Angelo is a freelance filmmaker, editor and photographer from Oakland. His artistic interests focus on time, minimalism, and metaphysics. Working with AWI is important to Angelo for several reasons; having been a teacher,...
Amanda Lipp, 26, is a filmmaker and consultant in the fields of mental health care, non-profit development, and social entrepreneurship. Since age 19, she has given over 150 speeches across the U.S., and...
Joanna Mattson, RN (Josie) (she/her) has been a registered nurse for 13 years, working in both the acute hospital setting and in community health. For the last 5 years she has worked with people...
Aisha (she/her) is an expert in Marketing Strategy and Communications with 10 years of experience in the the food and beverage industry. She has led big national brands at companies like Mars Canada...
Laurie McFarlane is an organizer, relationship builder and fundraiser with a passion for arts programming and social services. She is responsible for helping AWI with communication, outreach and fundraising efforts to support inspiring...
Dawn McGuire (she/her) is a physician who is board-certified in Neurology and Psychiatry. She trained at UCSF. She is also a poet, whose most recent collection, The Aphasia Cafe, received the Indy Book...
Carl McQueen is a Saint Louis, Mo based data scientist for a major financial institution. He has an Information Systems degree from Calvin College in Michigan and a passion for problem solving inside...
Cary (she/her) is the founder and executive director of Art With Impact and a firm believer that art is the answer (and it doesn’t even matter what the question is). She considers mental...
Aidett has spent the last ten years of her career in the non-profit sector serving diverse groups throughout California and Hawaii. She is passionate about working with and advocating for underserved populations and...
Jen is a recent graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy, and a heavy concentration in indoor and beach volleyball. She currently provides technical support at Demandforce,...
Laura brings over twenty-five years of experience in non-profit program management and fund development and her wry sense of humor to the Art With Impact team. Her experience ranges from serving as the...
Erin’s passion for helping others in the non-profit world drew her to Art With Impact. She found herself connecting with AWI’s mission and vision as a way to continue her journey in helping...
Helena is an educator and social advocate, who has been involved with grassroots work for over 10 years. Her long-term passion for human rights has drawn her to the heart of many conflicts...
My name is Neha and I am a BAS student at the University of Guelph. My minors, Psychology and Neuroscience, involve using both arts and science to better understand issues in society. I...
Xena (she/her) has a background in Psychology with heavy roots in neuroscience, clinical psychiatric disorders, and human development. She has a passion for teaching, learning, and preventing disorders holistically. She has worked and...
Sharon Nyarko (she/her) is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto, and an advisory board member for monthly film competitions. As a former winner of AWI’s monthly film competition, she has been...
Cleo recently graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. with Honors in English. She is from New Haven, CT but will be staying in the Bay Area to complete her Master’s in English...
Born in Nigeria, Victor Frank Okoye (a.k.a Victor O’Frank) is one of Nigeria’s most promising upcoming film directors. Coming from a science background and a trained medical doctor, Victor has defied all odds...
Andrea is former Executive Director of the Center on Media and Child Health (CMCH), a research partnership of Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University. CMCH’s flagship research study, VIA, designed by Michael Rich,...
Mariana Osuna Perez, (1981, Mexico) has always been inclined to tell stories. She started working as a radio host at a very young age, eventually moving to T.V and film while in university....
Brent (he/him) is a mental health therapist. For eight years, Brent was Clinical Director of Utah Health and Human Rights: a nonprofit agency that provides holistic mental health services to refugees, immigrants and...
Lisa Pan recently graduated from University of San Diego School of Law with a concentration in International Law. Her experience with nonprofit organizations focuses on international justice and human rights issues. She is...
Vandana specializes in creating and implementing scalable models for social impact and organizational growth. In her current engagement with Sutter Health-Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Innovation Center, Vandana leads strategy, program deployment, operations and...
Kiran Patel is passionate about preventing and healing violence through empathy, spirituality and self-expression. Weaving together Eastern and Western psychological and spiritual traditions, Kiran has served crisis hotline callers, survivors of communal violence...
Natalie Patterson (she/her) is a highly acclaimed African American poet and teaching artist. Over the last 15 years, she has traveled the country teaching and performing at universities, colleges, and high schools. Natalie...
Gayle Pazerski is Pittsburgh, PA-based writer, actor, and teaching artist who holds and a BFA in acting from the University of Kentucky and studied in the MFA acting program at Rutgers University. Her...
Josh has been involved in the arts and social causes for 20 years. He taught acting for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked as an Artist in Residence for LEAP in...
Amanda is committed to helping children and youth with a mental health diagnosis recognize their potential and the tremendous impact that the arts can have on their lives. With her background in Psychology,...
After earning a BA in Early Childhood Psychology and Education from Tulane University and attending UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, Jennifer Pliner worked in tech sales for 12 years. She has recently...
Since entering her first writing program intensive at age 10, Leslie has been a true believer in the ability of words and images to evoke healing and inspiration. A second generation Angeleno born...
Olivia left sunny San Diego to join the fog in San Francisco to pursue a degree in Communication Studies at SF State. She spends her time avoiding homework in bookstores, convincing her friends...
Everyone has a story to tell. Through her many years of experience Pattie has learned the importance of people sharing their story in creative ways. Her PhD dissertation utilized a photo-voice method to...
My name is Ilana and I am a non-traditional college student who is perusing a B.S in Psychology. I was born in Berkeley, CA and raised in Oakland, CA. I love nature, reggae...
Faryl Reisman is a Toronto based digital marketing and design coordinator at the award winning real-estate firm Great Gulf. With a BA in film studies from Queens University and a diploma in sound...
Alex (they/them) is a Midwest USA native. They grew up studying theatre and completed the High School Repertory program at the Theatre of Western Springs. They attended Columbia College Chicago as a film...
David is a nonprofit professional with a passion for education equity and boiled peanuts. Graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in English-Film/Media Studies, he spends most of his off hours...
Caroline Rhoads has two favorite quotes: “Until further notice, celebrate everything” and “comedy equals truth plus spontaneity.” She has resided in the city of brotherly love (Philly) for over 8 years and has...
Eric is a yoga teacher and the Founder & Chairman of ForWorld Thinking, a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting cultural exchange through international volunteerism and supporting local initiatives in developing countries. He has...
Katherine’s passion is empowering mental health non-profits to thrive with greater abundance and efficiency: “helping great people do great things.” She brings 15 years of financial and organizational expertise from a variety of...
Nic (he/him) comes to Art With Impact as a social impact professional, having worked at education nonprofits across California. Most recently, Nic led fundraising for LA Promise Fund, an organization serving Black and...
Always active in social issues, as well as the Bay Area’s art and film communities, Jennifer has been involved with many small start-ups and co-ops and understands the need to create cohesion between...
Megan Rose (she/her) is a visual designer specializing in user-focused interactive design. After earning a BFA in Graphic Design from Northeastern University, she began her career in Los Angeles, working at a digital...
Adam Rosenberg is a student currently Majoring in Media Studies at Pomona College in Claremont California. He loves film and theater, especially when they create a platform for discourse about contemporary issues. Adam...
Homegrown out of the hills of Eastern Kentucky, Brian left the bluegrass state in 2004 to pursue a career in film and television. He attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts...
Asha Rudrabhatla (she/her) studies Psychology at Colorado College with a minor in Spanish. She’s passionate about social justice, mental health advocacy, and sharing art with her community. She has a particular interest in...
Paul Sanbar has spent a lifetime in pursuit of nudging others towards their goals and dreams, whether it be through therapeutic means, powerful coaching questions, or merely by performing inspirational poetry. Through the written word,...
Kelly is a program specialist at a Crisis Center in the east bay, which focuses on providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention assistance and awareness within the Contra Costa region. She is a...
Pooja Shah is a junior in Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, CA. An avid musician, Pooja has been playing the violin and piano for over 10 years. When she is not...
As a Public Health Major and Gender and Women Studies Minor third year student at the University of California, Berkeley, Summer is interested in how our multi-faceted society influences health and vice versa....
Iqvinder is a seasoned veteran in market planning and creative solutions. He has served some of the biggest retailers in the country providing solutions in marketing, creative strategy, project management, and process improvement....
Alanna completed her BA Honours in English, Sociology, and Psychology at the University of Guelph. During this time she volunteered at The Homewood Health Centre for mental health and addiction; assisting in the...
Catherine Steblaj (she/her) is a fourth-year student at McGill University and is completing a Joint Honours in Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies. Having first found Art with Impact...
Known in schools as Ms. B., Beli Sullivan is a freelance teaching artist and digital media instructor currently working with Oakland’s Attitudinal Healing Connection’s ArtEsteem program as an Artist In Residence within the...
Sherry is a digital media technology executive, a film arts enthusiast and arts education advocate. While completing her master’s degree in Arts Education from San Francisco State’s Creative Arts School, she joined the...
Josh Thompson-Persaud is a fourth year student at Western University taking an Honours Specialization in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature alongside the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities...
Eryn Tonaj’s mental health story starts when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 22. Through her journey, she learned the power self-resilience, emotional awareness and family support. These were...
Hawa is a public health professional with experience working with projects in academic and nonprofit settings. She was born in Tanzania and raised in the Middle East. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from...
Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Toronto, Tanya Turton is a Black Femme artist, entrepreneur and educator. With a focus on wellness, Tanya has committed her practice to using art as a medium for...
Lila Tyler, a recent graduate of UC Davis, is excited to have the opportunity to work with such an inspiring company that combines both her major (Psychology) and minor (Film Studies). Growing up with...
Katherine (she/her) is passionate about mental health and believes in the transformative power of film and media. She brings her personal experience with mental health along with professional expertise in social psychology and...
Catherine is passionate about art and education – and the intersection between the two. She completed a theatre degree at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC) and then pursued acting in New...
Calvin J Walker (he/him) is an award-winning filmmaker based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Calvin has been active in the independent film world since 2012. During that time, he’s written for producers from...
Courtney (she/her) is an Arts and Humanities student at Western University, but she was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. She is a voracious reader and avid writer who is passionate about the...
Samantha (Sam) Wechsler is a non-profit consultant specializing in group facilitation, executive coaching, leadership and personal development, fundraising, and board development. She also develops and leads workshops on building healthy organizational cultures. Sam...
Carly D. Weckstein (she/her) is a director, sex educator and intimacy choreographer living and creating in Los Angeles. She is the Artistic Director & Founder of The Illyrian Players (est. 2011), a nurturing...
Arianna is a Mental Health Professional and Theatre Artist from Los Angeles. She is dedicated to changing how we have conversations around mental illness, using creativity and the arts to build stronger communities....
Jamari is a Buckeye-born and raised social worker, healer, and creative with a passion for working with diverse youth and young adults. He graduated from The University of Chicago with an A.B. in...
Rob Whitley (he/him) is the Principal Investigator of the Social Psychiatry Research and Interest Group (SPRING) at the Douglas Hospital Research Center. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry...
Amy (she/they) is a multi-disciplinary artist and activist, based in Tkaronto in the Dish with One Spoon Territory. As a descendant of indentured labourers, she recognizes the importance of nuanced, inclusive mental health...
Kareem worked with Art With Impact in winter and spring, 2011. Thank you, Kareem for all the incredible camerawork, outreach, editing, good humor and fun! Kareem experienced his early artistic endeavors as a...
Megan Young is a senior at the University of Cal State, San Marcos working towards a baccalaureate in Psychology with an emphasis on mental and physical health. She is a part of multiple...
Miinkay hails from Houston, Texas and brings southern hospitality everywhere she goes. She is a bike enthusiast, yoga instructor and lover of the outdoors. Her journey to better mental health began by getting...
Stay connected with our monthly round up of interesting things at the intersection of art and mental health. Here’s an example.
We are all in this together.
Why hello there, resilient human!
For the safety of our communities Art With Impact has moved all our workshops online. Please check individual workshop pages for updates on events you were planning to attend. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need mental health support right now, text HOME to the crisis text line at 741 741 or call the national suicide prevention hotline at 800-273-8255 (U.S.) or 833-456-4566 (Canada).