Since its very first days, Art With Impact has been blessed by the contributions of incredibly talented, motivated, and fun people. Be sure to check out the past pages: if it weren’t for every person who has contributed along the way we wouldn’t be here now.
Deepika Mittra is a therapist, stress expert and self-care advocate. She is a certified practitioner through the Center for Mind Body Medicine, and a trained practitioner of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming (EMDR)....
As a fundraising professional, Megan 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 Television’s...
Joseph Kumph is an entrepreneur and software engineer living in San Francisco, CA.
Dale John Allen 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 surrounding...
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...
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,...
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...
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’s passion to work within mental health stems from her own experiences and challenges, which has continually translated into a strong personal advocacy on the topic. She’s inspired by resiliency and the courageous...
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...
Trina, Psy.D., C.Psych. is a psychologist working with children, adolescents, and their parents in Toronto, Ontario. She obtained her doctoral degree in School Psychology from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She worked for over...
Brett is a combination of front-end developer and magician. No matter how many projects he’s working on, he relentlessly churns out flawless code at lightning speed. Brett is also a thoughtful problem solver...
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 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 while...
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,...
Joanna Mattson Gonzales, RN (Josie) has been a registered nurse for 7 years, working in both the acute hospital setting and in outpatient community health. Her professional experience with mentally ill patients allows...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Kerven 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 Best...
Bethany Killian is a Providence, RI based songwriter, youth worker, mentor and advocate. After earning a degree in Public and Community Service Studies from Providence College, she spent two years teaching in Dar...
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...
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 of Rehabilitation Counseling at The University of Texas at El...
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...
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...
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...
Sara Leonard was born and raised in San Diego County. She is privileged to work as the Principal of a small high school (with a big name) located on a community college campus....
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...
Dawn McGuire 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 Award...
Cary 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 health...
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...
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,...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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 design...
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...
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...
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...
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 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 executive...
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...
At 18 years old, Courtney is an Arts and Humanities student at Western University, but she was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. She is a voracious reader, a collector of tattoos, an...
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...
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...
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...
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...