Author: Janelle Davis
1. How did you come to be the lead instructor for Le Moyne College’s Summer Arts Institute musical theater camp? I went to school for musical theater at Nazareth College in Rochester. After college, I worked as the educational coordinator at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, which is now known as The REV Theatre. I was also directing and choreographing musicals at Westhill High School. After leaving that position is when I started to work for Le Moyne in their Visual Performing Arts Department. That’s where I got my connection with Le Moyne College and the chance to meet the managing director…
1. You are the education coordinator for Redhouse Arts Center. Can you tell us more about it? Redhouse Arts Center is a non-profit organization located in downtown Syracuse that offers yearly mainstage theater productions for local audiences and a plethora of educational programming in-house and off-site at several Syracuse City School District schools as well as other non-profit organizations, in a nutshell. We strive to bring professional quality theater performances and arts education programs to the local community. Redhouse is known for its two pillars of strength: the artistic department and the education department. Both contribute equally to the success…
1. What is your educational background and where are you currently teaching? My educational background and path to get here were not traditional. I went to St. John Fisher College and got my bachelor’s degree in communications. I worked for a bank for a few years and realized that it was not my calling. So, I decided to go back to school and focus on what I always wanted to do: teach! I went back to school at Le Moyne College and received my master’s degree in childhood education and special education. I am currently certified as a regular and…
1. Can you share a little about your educational background and where you are currently teaching? I grew up in the small town of Watkins Glen on the south end of Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. I always had a passion for being outdoors, growing up in the country fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and camping. I learned fairly young that I really liked teaching earth science. I went to a community college in Corning and then transferred to Cornell University for my undergraduate degree in the Science of Earth Systems program, with a primary focus…
1. Can you explain what Girls Inc. is? Girls Inc. offers support to girls ages 5-18. Our mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. We use research-based curriculum to support that with lessons under each of those pillars. Strong signifies having a healthy mind and body, so we teach coping skills and healthy nutrition, and introduce them to sports. Smart is in relation to education, so we emphasize academic work. We expose the girls to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities and introduce them to traditional, as well as non-traditional roles. Bold is related…
1. As the Director of Youth Enrichment Programs at WHOLE ME, can you share what the organization is about? WHOLE ME Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves Deaf individuals and their families. WHOLE ME has a variety of programs, such as our after-school program, preschool program, teen program, transitioning and workforce development, Deaf senior care services, care coordination, and many other things. 2. Can you tell us about the WHOLE ME Enrichment Programs? WHOLE ME Enrichment Programs provide activities that focus on enhancing everyday interaction, literacy, and daily living skills. In order to help families understand their child’s…
1. Food Bank of Central New York is a very well-known organization. Can you tell us a little about it and who you serve? Lynn Hy: The Food Bank has been around since 1985 and works within 11 counties. We are the distribution center that works behind the scenes for the emergency food network: food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters. We acquire and distribute nutritious food to our partner programs. There are more than 400 emergency and non-emergency programs that we work with throughout the year. During our last fiscal year, we distributed more than 17.4 million pounds of…
1. What is your background and what school are you currently a nurse at? I kind of took the long route to nursing. My first undergrad is from Miami University in Ohio as an education major. I realized I didn’t love it, so I transferred and got my bachelor’s degree in family psychology with a minor in gerontology. While deciding my career path, I worked at Chase Bank while my now husband finished his master’s degree in Ohio. He encouraged me to give nursing a try, so I shadowed at McCullough Hyde Memorial Hospital in Ohio, and I loved it.…
1. What is your background and how did you end up at BASCOL? Angela St. Laurent: I came to BASCOL 13 years ago. Previously, I was running the art department for a newspaper. After some personal experiences, I decided to stop working. A woman at my church suggested that since I like children, I should work with them. So, I started working at BASCOL. I started as a teacher. After two years, I became a site director, and now I am Program Manager. I’ve come full circle because I love my job so much, and I honestly love getting up…
1. What is your art/education background and what are you doing now? Growing up, I was a classically trained painter and sculptor. I spent time studying at the Art Students League in Manhattan. I learned a lot from my mother, who was a professional portrait painter while raising me. I got my undergraduate degree in sculpture at California College of the Arts. After two years, I took a break from my studies and backpacked throughout Asia and the Middle East. This experience really helped to inform my practices as an artist, an educator, and a person. Part of that time…
