Executive Director, Rebekah Greenwald Speck
Bekah Speck came to RiverzEdge in 2009 from human rights advocacy and the environmental arena. Speck holds a B.A. from Barnard College in creative writing, and has completed graduate work at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and at Rhode Island College. Speck sits on the boards of the Woonsocket Main Street Riverfront Initiative, Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living, EcoRI and Fund for Community Progress. She brings to RiverzEdge over 15 years experience with non-profit programming and management in Rhode Island, New York and Washington, D.C. Prior to RiverzEdge, Speck served, from 2002-2008 as Director of Education at the Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living.
Program Director, Brad Fesmire
Brad Fesmire received an MFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2005. Fesmire has been at RiverzEdge for the last 6 years teaching painting, supervising the YouthArts program, organizing exhibitions, and overseeing the Woodshop. As Program Director, Fesmire is responsible for the training and development of staff and participants as teachers and mentors, and he has consistently played a key role in helping our graduating seniors gain acceptance to prestigious undergraduate programs and win merit-based artistic scholarships and awards. He is also a high caliber artist in his own right, keeps an active studio life, and has had numerous exhibitions in New York, New England and Europe. Fesmire is listed on the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts roster, a competitive and juried process that demonstrates the caliber of his art.
ScreenWorks Director, Tom West
Tom West received an honorable discharge from the US Navy and holds an Associate in Fine Arts degree from CCRI. He is a war veteran turned professional artist. His personal work tackles issues of war and politics. West has maintained many positions in some of the top clothing companies in the country, including: embroiderer, sign-maker, printer, designer, floor supervisor and manager. He has a clothing line of his own, which he sells both at local boutiques and art openings throughout Providence. West is on the board of Wooly Fair, volunteers at the Steel Yard and is a long-time supporter of the AS220. He is working with the ScreenWorks participants to succeed in the clothing industry by showing them how the combination of competitive prices, high quality craftsmanship and social enterprise creates an unstoppable formula for success.
MobileStudio Director / GreenWorks Director, Cara Blaine
Cara Blaine received her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design in Furniture Design. She comes to RiverzEdge with a background in public programming at The Museum of Art at RISD. Cara oversees our MobileStudio program, bringing RiverzEdge to the road, through off-site youth and professional-led art classes and workshops. She is also our new GreenWorks Studio Director, working with youth to create environmentally-friendly products and public art installations in the community. Blaine’s studio work integrates writing, sculpture, and painting.
DigitalWorks Supervisor, Chan Xankoun
Chan Xatkoun began at RiverzEdge as a painting studio assistant/participant, with aspirations to attend Rhode Island School of Design. He later took on an involved role with staff, from assisting in the Youth Arts program, administrative work, and planning for events. As an artist he has exhibited and sold numerous paintings. Later receiving his GED, Chan applied to the Rhode Island School of Design and was accepted as of Fall 2008. He has returned to RiverzEdge, fulfilling the role of DigitalWorks Supervisor.
ArtWorks Assistant, Justin Dubois
Justin is a former participant who attended RiverzEdge for 5 years. He is now currently on staff as the Painting Studio Assistant. He is enrolled in CCRI as an art major and plans on furthering his career as an artist. He is working toward an associate’s degree at CCRI, with plans to transfer to Mass Art where he will major in animation and minor in game design.
GreenWorks Assistant, Rachelle Crosby
Rachelle is a ceramic artist and currently studying Landscape Architecture at RISD. In addition to ceramices, she comes from a background in history and Africana Studies from the University of New Mexico. She began her interests in community arts in a youth arts organization back home in New Mexico. In the Green Studio, Rachelle combines her past experiences and current knowledge of LandArch to facilitate a learning environment that is creative, socially sustainable, and buildable.
ELO Coordinator , Caroline Doherty
cdoherty@woonsocketschools.com
Caroline Doherty is an interdisciplinary artist and educator who comes to RiverzEdge with over ten years of experience working with youth. Since earning a BFA in Sculpture at MassArt in 2004, she has worked in museum education, run her own craft-based small business, and used art as a tool for teaching adults with developmental disabilities. In addition to maintaining a steady studio practice, Caroline designs costumes for adult and children's theater, and is a member of Providence-based performance collaborative Awesome Collective.
AmeriCorps VISTA/ ELO Program Assistant, Latasha Johnson
ljohnson@woonsocketschools.com
Latasha has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with concentrations in Human Resource Management and Financial Services from Johnson & Wales University. She is currently serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA as the Program Assistant for Expanded Learning Opportunities. Latasha is a life long resident of Rhode Island and strives to improve her community. Dedicated to community service Latasha is very involved in the community and continues to make a difference day by day.
Americorps VISTA, Kyla Foster
Kyla received a BA in Art History and Art from Ohio University in 2010. After working as the Education Program Curatorial Asst. at the Kennedy Museum of Art in Athens, OH, she comes to RiverzEdge as an Americorps VISTA and as our Corporate Partnership & Volunteer Coordinator. She will build capacity for volunteer programs that harness specific talents in the community to meet acute need among the participants at RiverzEdge Studios.
DesignWorks Assistant, Dionte Noble
Dionte is one of our newest member to RiverzEdge Arts. A graphic designer assisting in our DesignWorks Studio, he has received his BA degree from Johnson & Wales University in Computer Graphics and New Media. Currently, he is attending Northeastern’s Masters/College of Professional Studies program for digital media, with a concentration in video. Originally from Long Island New York, Dionte is an entrepreneur who started his own clothing brand. With his heavy involvement in the Providence community, he was an artist mentor for two years at New Urban Arts and just recently a media consultant for South Providence Neighborhood Ministries. As he continues to give back, he hopes to grow not only as a designer, but also as a person.
Founder & Director Emeritus, Michelle Novello
Currently Program Director, Providence Community Library and Consultant, Michelle Novello Consulting. Previously Owner and President of Riverside Printers. Novello holds Masters Degrees from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and the Maharishi University of Manangement.