Management
Program Manager
Helen “Homefries” Matthews
A long-time volunteer and KA advocate, Homefries worked her way from a Teachers Assistant in 2007, to a Teacher and later Site Coordinator at KidsArts! After a brief hiatus (during which she served on the KA Board of Directors), Homefries rejoined the staff in Summer 2011 as Program Manager. She brings a love for music, dance, multicultural/multimedia art, social justice, children, and Jamaica Plain that are visible in the engaging and original programming at KidsArts!
Operations Manager
Stan Marmysh
For more than three years, Stan has been enchanting KidsArts! students as a Teacher and Site Coordinator. With a BFA form the Museum School, Stan has also contributed his illustration, music, and printmaking skills. In Summer 2011, he became our Office Manager, holding down the administrative end of KidsArts! He brings a very friendly attitude to KidsArts! that is appreciated by all (and kids love that he still teaches one class per session). Make sure to see Stan with questions about registration and billing.
Staff
Site Coordinators:
Eli Pinto
Eli first joined KidsArts! as an intern from Wheelock College and decided to stick around! He has been a teacher at KidsArts! since 2009. His skills in Dance Choreography and Illustration have impressed children and adults alike throughout his tenure at KidsArts! We’re thrilled to have Eli as site coordinator for this school year!
Teachers:
Angela Martinez
Angela has been a teacher at KidsArts! since its inception in the former Jamaica Plain Multicultural Arts Center over 17 years ago. She has taught painting, sewing, woodwork, fabric arts and a multitude of multicultural crafts to countless children at KidsArts! and brings a vibrant and expressive spirit to all of her work.
Maia Laperle
This will be Maia’s third year at KidsArts! She’s a JP resident and experienced artist with a knack for sculpture, fabric arts, illustration, and multimedia art. She has a friendly and peaceful attitude that many kids love.
Tom Morf
Tom is our resident Theater expert. He has directed two KidsArts! plays and helped coordinate last Summer’s performances. You may recognize him from neighborhood productions at the Footlight Club. He’s currently preparing for a role in an off-Broadway production. Kids love his constant enthusiasm.
Jean Connolly (Teaching Assistant)
Jean is a skilled watercolor artist with a kind spirit and a strong sense of humor. As a grandmother of four, she has decades of experience with children.
Board of Directors
The KidsArts! Board reflects the Jamaica Plain and greater Boston community. While the majority of board members are current and past parents of student participants, KidsArts! welcomes artists, activists and socially-minded citizens who care about creativity in children to join our board.
We serve on the Board because we value the fact that this program is based on a parent-directed model, and we want it to be as successful as possible for our students, families, and staff. As Board members, we take leadership in organizing other parent and community volunteers, bringing in resources, and acting on ideas and concerns.
If you would like to volunteer, know a source of donations, or have ideas or concerns you would like to share, please email one of our board co-chairs at jpkidsarts@gmail.com!
2010-2011 KidsArts! Board of Directors
Co-Chairs
María Christina Blanco
Julie Smith-Bartoloni
Treasurer
Samantha Overton Bussell
Clerk
Jennifer Taub
At-Large
Guido Bartoloni
Kathy Brown
Harneen Chernow
Steven Clinkenbeard
Zora Garcia
Rebecca Hunt
Jennifer Goddard
Homefries Matthews
Julian Roquet
Roy Thompson
Steffi Wright
