Ray-ray Farrales

Executive Director

Pronouns: they/them

I joined KidsArts in 2013 as a performance art teacher and fell in love with the magic of after-school hours. Since then, I've grown with our community—creating new roles, building stronger systems, and establishing fair-wage, sustainable positions for our teaching artists. My path has been shaped by expressive arts therapy, nonprofit leadership studies, and the wisdom of incredible mentors—but most of all by the young people who have taught me so much over 18 years of working with different age groups.

As a musician and performance artist with a background in healing arts, I know that creative spaces have the power to transform when everyone belongs and can be fully themselves. Together with our remarkable team of artist-educators, we're creating the brave space in Jamaica Plain I always dreamed of—where young artists and practicing artists feel at home, where wild creativity flourishes, and where we discover what's possible when we play and explore together. I'm grateful every day to have the honor of leading this creative, impactful community.
ray-ray@jpkidsarts.org
617-524-0818

Jenna Figueiredo

Director of Operations

Pronouns: she/her

I first discovered KidsArts as a parent and was immediately drawn to its creative and unique arts program. Impressed by the impact it had on my child, I eagerly joined the board of directors to help support the organization. In July 2023, I was honored to join the leadership team, where I’ve focused on setting organizational standards while working closely with our talented teaching artists. It’s been both rewarding and fun to witness the passion and creativity they bring to inspire the children in our program.

Though you’ll mostly find me in the office working on spreadsheets and managing the behind-the-scenes details, I always make time to play with the kids during freetime – it’s my favorite way to recharge!

jenna@jpkidsarts.org

617-524-0818

Lara Brennan

Program Manager

Pronouns: they/them and she/hers

I am a theatre-maker and educator based in Jamaica Plain. I’ve been thrilled to be part of the KidsArts community since the fall of 2018; previously in the roles of teaching artist and site manager. I love learning and growing alongside kids and educators in this creative and empowering community. I deeply believe in the power of theatre (and after school!) as spaces to bravely explore new ideas and parts of ourselves, and as an outlet for group processing, question-asking, and reflecting. Outside of KidsArts I am part of a theatre cooperative and sing in a community choir. I also enjoy knitting, reading and journaling, and walking around JP!

lara@jpkidsarts.org

617-524-0818

Carly Lazarus

Teaching Artist

Pronouns: She/They

Working with youth has been second nature to me since I was a kid myself. Being raised by two artists, I’ve been given many opportunities to explore my creativity and dabble in many art forms. In many ways being a teaching artist here is a dream come true for me. I have a degree in social work, and I know it is my purpose to incorporate emotional wellness, understanding identity, and having compassion for our peers into the art work I do with young people. In my personal life I am a performing spoken word artist/creative writer and I also enjoy working on theatre productions, acting, dancing, and staying involved in community art spaces. In the 2.5 years I’ve been at KidsArts this place has already been a huge expander and source of happiness in my life and it only gets better and brighter as time goes on.

Liv Becker

Teaching Artist

Pronouns: They/Them

Hi, my name is Ollie Becker but I also go by Liv. I’m a musician and artist who’s worked at KidsArts since summer 2022, and before that I have a wide range of experience in education from assistant teaching at a middle school, to running an art program in a prison, to working as the activities coordinator at a day center for adults with developmental disabilities. I love teaching classes that provide material support for kids to explore their own creative ideas, whether that’s sound design, printmaking, planning parties, or making their own newsletters. When I’m not at KidsArts I’m most likely writing music — I play in a couple of bands and also compose chamber music. I studied at New England Conservatory and I am an assistant engineer at New Alliance, a recording studio in Somerville. I absolutely love music and art and being an active part of the local scene and I hope to encourage kids to pursue their own creative projects with each other.

Casey Layne

Teaching Artist

Pronouns: She/They

I came to Boston a decade ago but still feel like a Midwesterner at heart. I love making all kinds of art but my favorites will always be collage and watercolor. When I’m not making art I love to hike, bike, and travel.

Briahna Henderson

Teaching Artist

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

I always loved working with kids, they can teach you different things and you can teach them things the way you know how to do then seeing the outcome of it is just amazing to see and witness. I started at Kidsarts through another work program called ABCD and after working a few weeks with Kidsarts I got offered a position at Kidsarts and that was the best decision I’ve made because I got to experience so much and learn a lot from other teaching artists and now I get to teach kids different art skills. I enjoy drawing, painting, making things out of nothing, I watch anime, play video games, and etc. Kidsarts is the best place to be and I’m very grateful and excited to be part of it.

Ev Wilson

Teaching Artist

Pronouns: They/Them

I’m a firm believer that every child deserves an adult who won’t give up on them. As a teacher, my pedagogy revolves around the art of play and expressing yourself exactly how you want to. As an artist, I believe there is nothing better in your practice than what you can make right now.I was thrilled to be placed at KidsArts in the early winter of 2024 for my teaching internship through Massachusetts College of Art & Design during my BFA in Art Education. Since then, It’s been an honor and a privilege to work, laugh, create and grow alongside the students we have in JP as a Teaching Artist. I have always gravitated towards the arts, from my first scribbles of Pokémon in my childhood sketchbook to currently running an independent art & merch business out of my apartment in Boston. From ages eight to eighteen I put myself on stage for theatre, and afterwords in my twenties for dance and playing bass guitar. Every medium has a love and important history behind it, and being able to facilitate a space to teach what I love to do is a dream come true.