About the Museum of the City of New York

The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis. It engages visitors by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future.

Learn more about the museum HERE!

HannaH Allen is Brooklyn based performer, choreographer and teaching artist and the Access Success Program Associate for Atlantic Theater Company. She received her BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch where she studied at the Atlantic. Her work in educational programs around the city focuses on participant driven theater, writing and movement exploration. As an interdisciplinary artist, HannaH approaches her work with a focus on community building, collaboration, and equity. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Social Work at Hunter College.

Linda Carlton: My name is Linda Carlton, I’m an actress and also a CO/LAB Leader who has done musical theater, musical theater production, and puppetry! And I have done other auditions outside of CO/LAB for productions like Beauty and the Beast and The Most Miserable Christmas Tree. I do volunteer service at a senior center home in Short Hill, and I work at a coffee shop part-time.

Valentín Concha-Núñez is the Manager of Education, Professional Learning at the Museum of the City of New York, where he is responsible for all aspects of programming and content development for educators, supporting teachers as they engage with the Museum and the stories of New York City through a wide variety of lenses, from history to the arts, fashion to social justice, technology to the environment, civil rights to cultural celebrations. Prior to the Museum of the City of New York, Valentín has worked at the MoMA, where he served as an educator for Community Partnerships and Adult Programs, years of working as the Access Programs Manager at El Museo del Barrio, and was a Bilingual educator for The Brooklyn Museum, The High Line and the New York Botanical Garden. He received his Master’s degree in Art History from Universidad de Burgos, Spain, where he researched the Ibero-American artistic and cultural policies and how they shaped the contemporary Spanish-speaking world and Latinx identity. Valentín believes that participation in the arts and cultural activities has the potential to strengthen our communities, mobilize activism, and empower people to act as agents of social change for a greater society.

Stephane Duret: Most recently seen in the Tony Award-winning musical KINKY BOOTS on Broadway, Stephane began his Musical Theatre training at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Fl. He then moved to Chicago, Il. and holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Roosevelt University. 

In 2009 he accepted the role of Scout, The Boy Scout in a production called RED KITE: ROUND UP! A multi-sensory show specifically designed for children on the autism spectrum, and was ever changed.

Stephane then moved to NYC in 2011 after performing both locally and abroad and was given another life-altering opportunity: To make a difference in a little boy’s life by joining the playroom of his parent-run Son Rise program. There were many games played, many concerts performed and many car washes built, and through experiencing acceptance, appreciation, affection and love from this child, Stephane was quickly inspired to spring into action and use the tools he’d earned from his years of performing to help the autism community at large.

With these experiences constantly in mind and by merging his two passions, Stephane is committed and honored to introduce KAISER’S ROOM to the world!

Aliza Greenberg is the Project Leader for Supporting Transitions with the Museum, Arts and Culture Access Consortium (MAC), a project to increase cultural opportunities for adults with autism, and the Arts Enrichment Coordinator at the LearningSpring School, a school for students on the autism spectrum, where she teaches the arts and coordinates cultural partnerships. In addition to experience teaching and designing curriculum in the K-12 and adult learning settings, Aliza is a teaching artist with CO/LAB Theater Group and an Adjunct Professor at City College of New York teaching Inclusive Practices for the Arts. Aliza also serves as co-chair of Continuing the Conversation for the Arts in Education program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is an active consultant in arts accessibility and education. Previously, Aliza was a Program Manager at the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Education Program Manager at Roundabout Theatre Company, on the faculty for the Project Zero/Silk Road Ensemble’s Arts and Passion Driven Learning Institute, and participated in the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s Leadership Institute (CAELI). Aliza earned a B.A. from Bryn Mawr College, an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Tamara Jefferson: Hello. My name is Tamara Jefferson. I am a musician and artist, who proudly represents Brooklyn, NY. My family is very important to me, which includes my mother, two sisters, one brother, and a cat named Bee Ba. I currently attend AHRC Brooklyn Day Hab Without Walls. Before that, I attended the AHRC Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program at Kingsborough Community College. All my life I have been interested in the performing arts, especially music, theater and art.

For about six years, I worked at an art supply store in Brooklyn. Being around other creative people was very exciting. Helping them find the tools they need made me happy. Unfortunately, that is on hold due to the threat of COVID, but I hope to return in the future.     

It makes me happy practicing and collaborating with other artists. Twice a week, I attend music classes with Samario, my teacher and mentor. I play bass guitar and drums. Recently I have been learning to make beats using GarageBand and Soundtrap. It is a lot of fun.

I belong to two art groups that focus on sketching, painting, and cartooning. With each week, I feel I am becoming a better artist. In the future, I would like to attend music school, in hopes of becoming a sound engineer. Surrounding myself with all different types of artists from around the world would be great.   

Kendall M. Johnson-Smith, Iyawo Ifasewa Osundamilola Ifasola Ifayemi Akanbi Child of Teena and Preston, LMSW-IFOT. Kendall is a spiritual being having a human experience. She has worked and trained as a psychotherapist to help herself and others better understand their human experiences toward adaptive ways of being. Kendall is able to hold authentic and transformative space for your healing in the world. She uses various therapeutic approaches including: Trauma-Informed CBT, Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy (IFOT), Spiritual divination, and healing the impact of racism and oppression. She works with individuals, groups, couples, adults and adolescents, with a specialization in the dynamic relationship between adolescents and their families. Kendall has over 20 years of experience providing mental health services. She is a licensed Social Worker and an IFOT graduate. She completed a yearlong certification program in Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy in 2017. Kendall is a vocalist, visual & craft artist, and dancer. She recently traveled to Nigeria and was initiated into priesthood of Ifa and Osun. Kendall is a true believer in the power of the imagination and the auspicious ways in which the universe manifests our intentions.

Coco Killingsworth: As vice president, creative social impact,  Coco Killingsworth leads BAM’s education, community engagement, and expansive programming, as well as acted as co-president, where she will helped oversee and re-open the institution during its search for new leadership.

Killingsworth joined BAM’s executive team in December 2016. Previously she served as the deputy director/director of programs for Global Kids, Inc., where she managed school-based and afterschool global education programs in 35 New York City public schools and started a small public high school, the High School of Global Citizenship, in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights. Killingsworth was a board member and co-chair of the board for the Sadie Nash Leadership project – a program for young women and gender expansive youth – where she also designed the core leadership seminar. She was a Charles H. Revson Fellow at Columbia University in 2010—11 as well as a principal dancer at the ASE Dance Theater Collective, a Brooklyn-based dance company. Killingsworth holds a BA in history and African studies from UCLA, and a MA in education from Harvard University.

Becky Leifman is the Executive Director of CO/LAB Theater Group. She is also a Teaching Artist for CO/LAB, and is currently the Treasurer and a Steering Committee member for the Museum, Arts, and Culture Access Consortium. Becky is the Director of Community Engagement for the Broadway-bound musical, How To Dance in Ohio – a musical about seven autistic young adults preparing for their first community dance, and was a TEDxBroadway speaker in 2020. She has previously worked at The Keswell School and was a direct service provider for two individuals with disabilities. Becky has a variety of professional experience at arts organizations; she founded Two Lights Theatre Company (Chicago) in 2007 and worked for The Acting Company and The Play Company in their respective development departments. She has independently consulted with SUMMERTIME Gallery, the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, and multiple budding non profits. Becky has a BFA from Syracuse University, and is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Traci Lester joins The Center for Fiction as Executive Director after a 25-year career in the nonprofit sector. Most recently she was Executive Director of National Dance Institute (NDI) an arts education organization founded by legendary dancer Jacques d’Amboise in the belief that every child should have access to learning in and through the arts. Prior to NDI, she held other leadership roles most notably as the Executive Director of Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, an early literacy, school readiness program. Traci has been recognized by the Manhattan Borough President as a Cultural Leader in New York City. She is the recipient of the American Association of University Women’s Selected Professions Fellowship, the National Association of Health Service Executive’s Community Service Award, and was named to TheGrio’s 100 List as an African-American history maker and industry leader in the field of education. She is also a member of the Greater New York Association of Fundraising Professionals and the American Society for Public Administrators Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society.

Toya Lillard is a theater artist, arts educator, and facilitator living/working in Brooklyn, NY. Toya currently serves as Interim Executive Director of 651 ARTS, a nationally renowned arts presenting organization. Before joining 651 Arts, Toya was Executive Director of viBe Theater Experience, an arts education organization and theater company in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to her role at viBe, Toya was Director of School Programs for The New York Philharmonic’s Education Department, where she helped develop its nationally recognized School Partnership Program. Toya is part-time faculty at The New School, where she teaches Collaborative Theatre Practice. Toya serves on the Board of the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable, and co-chairs the TaskForce on Equity and Inclusion, and also on the Board of viBe Theater Experience. Toya holds a B.A. from Vassar College, and an M.A. from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

Orlando Pazol Mendoza is a educator and musician residing in Brooklyn, NY. As the Teen Programs Coordinator at the Brooklyn Museum, he works with an amazing team to facilitate our four paid internships, Museum Apprentice Program, Teen Night Planning Committee, InterseXtions: Gender & Sexuality and Work-Study. Having joined the Brooklyn Museum in 2014 as a teen staff, Orlando is committed to elevating the excellence of youth of color, and strives to put marginalized youth in the forefront, amplifying youth voice and impacting urban youth in cultural programming in Brooklyn. Orlando has also taught math in NYC public school, having a BS in Mathematics and Secondary Education from The City College of New York.

Denise (D-Nice) Nalibotsky is an internationally-ranked competitive and professional beatboxer residing in New York City. Her main goal with beatboxing is to break the gender stereotypes about female beatboxers and encourage more women to join the beatbox community, especially through promoting her all-female a-cappella group VICE. She has been teaching beatboxing with BEAT Global since 2020, and aspires to be a music executive and entrepreneur.

Zareta Ricks, a native New Yorker, has a deep knowledge of and passion for public education and its ability to provide opportunities for young people to realize their potential and actualize their dreams. Her relentless commitment to creating environments that provide youth with educational equity, meaningful opportunities, and intentional experiences has impacted the lives of thousands of students across the city.

Zareta comes to Opening Act from Change for Kids, where she served as the Senior Director of Programs and Innovation responsible for leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of their full portfolio of programs. During her tenure, Zareta served in various leadership roles and was a key contributor to the organization’s unprecedented growth and deepening of its capacity to deliver exemplary programs with an innovative approach. Under her direct leadership, programs expanded to include Graduating to Greatness – a program to prepare students for middle school – and a corporate social responsibility volunteer model to create symbiotic partnerships between their partner schools and corporations throughout NYC.

Having attended public school all of her life, Zareta vividly remembers the joy of being introduced to arts education while in elementary school. When she is not trailblazing the youth development path, Zareta loves spending time with her three children and using them as “prototypes” for all of her program ideas.

Zareta studied Organizational Management at Mercy College in NYC, holds a professional certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership and Management from Fordham University and is a member of the American Express Leadership Academy cohort for Emerging Nonprofit Leaders.

Saim Sarwar is a disability advocate and disability consultant trying to provide a better accessible environment for all disabled people. Saim has Cerebral Palsy and has worked in cultural accessibility. Saim has worked at the Whitney Museum where he made image descriptions for people who are blind or have low vision.

Shanta Thake is the Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Prior to Lincoln Center, she held the position of Associate Artistic Director / Director of Artistic Programs at The Public Theater, overseeing the growth and development of Public Works, Mobile Unit, Under the Radar, Joe’s Pub, The Shakespeare Initiative and Public Forum.  Previously, she spent 10 years as the Director of Joe’s Pub, the intimate cabaret venue which hosts over 700 shows annually and is consistently hailed as one of New York City’s most prestigious venues for both emerging and established artists. In addition, Ms. Thake is the co-director of GlobalFEST, North America’s world music festival and non-profit organization whose mission is to foster cultural exchange and to increase the presence of world music in diverse communities nationwide, and in this role received the William Dawson award for Programmatic Excellence.  Thake has served as the co-chair for The Association of Performing Arts Professionals conference in 2019 and 2020.  Ms. Thake received a BA in theater as well as a degree in management from Indiana University and currently lives in Brooklyn.