Educational Projects:
My background as an Art educator has provided me with various opportunities for leadership & project management in many community initiatives, events, and projects. I have a traditional background in Fine Art, but also designed online learning experiences for the LMS environment to facilitate virtual instruction. I was responsible for designing the user experience of each learning module, sourcing & creating visual graphics, and supporting resources created in very short time frames. I enjoy researching key concepts to create engaging, student-centered activities for physical and virtual environments. I am interested in the intersection of the Arts, community engagement, and ways in which human beings come together to create meaningful experiences. Here are samples of a few of the projects & learning products of which I have either led or played a leadership role.
Community Initiative
"It's a Beautiful Day in the
Neighborhood"
Role: Grant Writer, Project Manager, & Website Contributor
Objectives:
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To provide a mosaic mural in an area of the City of Austin where there is little to no public art.
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To project manage the scope, schedule, stakeholder management, construction needs, material management, & cost of a City of Austin Public Works project.
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Encourage public art that enhances the pedestrian environment and helps create destinations within the neighborhood by adding character as outlined in the South Austin Combined Neighborhood Plan.
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Project addresses neighbors’ concern for safety by adding lights and increasing visibility at night for pedestrians.
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Understand and align stakeholder expectations for the mural within community through active communication & stakeholder management.
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Facilitate art-making & market 31 community workshops with neighborhood stakeholders.
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Commemorate project in a website that captured the stories & experiences of the community who participated
Description:
"It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" is mosaic which covers a 140-foot retaining wall and utilizes two tons of clay and 600 pounds of glass in the Southern Oaks Neighborhood in Austin, Tx. This project required a sizeable 90K cost-sharing grant and was completed in partnership with the City of Austin’s Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) of the Department of Public Works. Solar lighting was also a part of the project added to improve egress along the curve of the roadway. The mural brought together more than 200 volunteers, who worked over 2,500 hours to complete the project. The artwork is a result of 32 community volunteer sessions.
Educational Product
"Ocean Habitats: Exploring the World's Largest Ecosystem"
Role: Curriculum Designer, Graphic Designer
Objectives:
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Develop an engaging presentation tailored for 5th-grade students, introducing them to open water and coastal habitats, highlighting notable ocean trailblazers, and sparking a conversation on ocean conservation.
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Design a presentation from scratch, showcasing a cohesive and original style without relying on pre-made Canva templates.
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Demonstrate mastery of the presentation design process by creating an educational resource aimed at effectively communicating complex topics to a public audience.
Description:
"Ocean Habitats: Exploring the Earth's Largest Ecosystem" is a graphic design project showcasing expertise in integrating curriculum design with original graphic elements. This presentation, created entirely from scratch using Canva, demonstrates the ability to craft visually cohesive and educationally engaging content.
Community Event
"Little e.a.s.t."
Role: Project Manager, Event Organizer, & Graphic Designer
Objective:
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To enhance the relationship between community & market the Fine Arts programming on campus as a part of the efforts to increase enrollment among neighborhood stakeholders.
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To foster a relationship between the East Austin Studio Tour/Big Medium & school community for continued support of school through Big Medium fellowship for 'Happenings'.
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To provide fundraising opportunities in support of Fine Arts programming outside of the Title 1 funding structure.
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To provide a showcase for Fine Arts programming & performances.
Description:
"Little e.a.s.t. is fun, arts based "Happening" in collaboration with the East Austin Studio Tour held at Blackshear Elementary. "Little e.a.s.t." showcases student artwork, booths hosted by community partners, performances, and much more! "Little e.a.s.t." started in 2013 and has been held every year since (excluding 2020 due to the pandemic)! It has become the school's largest fundraiser helping to support the school's Fine Arts programming.
For more information please visit:
(Soundbite @ 0:57)
Mentorship Program
Little Artist, Big Artist of Chula League
Role: Cooperating School Lead
Objectives:
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To provide additional Arts mentorship opportunities for students in a Title 1 setting.
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To foster relationships between professional artists & students creating a network of connected multi-generational Austin artists.
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To provide leadership, guidance & support to "Big Artists" & act as a liaison between Chula League of Cherrywood & student families.
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To mentor young artists while offering a view into the commercial aspects of an art-based career.
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To add additional fundraising opportunities for Title 1 schools in coordination with Cherrywood Art Fair.
Description:
Little Artist, Big Artist of Chula League is a unique mentoring experience that pairs professional artists with fifth and sixth graders from East Austin elementary schools. BIG ARTISTS provide their time and professional experience as working artists to guide their Little Artists to envision, plan, and create at least two pieces of artwork during their 10 week one-on-one collaboration culminating in a professionally hung art exhibition at galleries in Austin.
For more information about the program please vist:
STEAM LAB
FUSE Studio
Role: Grant Writer & Program Facilitator
Objectives:
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Write COMPTIA Fuse Studio grant for the creation of a STEAM lab at Blackshear Elementary.
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To oversee facilitation of online curriculum challenges using open source software with students.
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To maintain material management, supply, & budget of FUSE STEAM lab.
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To maintain and oversee the operation of 3-D printers, vinyl cutters, & LED light components.
Description:
FUSE is a STEAM Lab curricular program initiated by Northwestern University designed with equity in mind to support 21st century learners. FUSE facilitates learning through ‘making,’ and builds collaborative, youth-centered learning communities. This project involved a grant of 25K of materials & online curriculum to support the creation of a STEAM lab at Blackshear Elementary. The program utilized 3-D printers, open source online programs (such as SketchUp), and vinyl cutters. Students completed choice based, modular courses designed through gamification to complete various STEAM related challenges.
For more information please visit:
AIA Conference
"Fair Fight, Restoring Equity in Architecture & the Arts"
Role: Curriculum Designer & Co-Presenter
Objectives:
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To collaborate with SME's in creating engaging architecture-based enrichment program.
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To provide exposure of architectural concepts & carrers to students in a Title 1 setting.
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To align project goals for display at community arts-based events.
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To create fun, unique sister enrichment unit: "Fairy House Workshop" to engage young learners in the process of architecture & place making.
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To present findings & experiences with SME's at TxA '17 Conference in Austin.
Description:
This project involved a community partnership with Diana Su, of Page Architecture, to create an enrichment class focused on bringing architecture into a Title I school. Classes followed a typical architectural design process from ideation to build. Professors of Architecture from the University of Texas in Austin were guest speakers who presented information on various aspects of the design process including material selection and functionality. Students designed and built their own Fairy Home which were installed on the campus grounds afterwards. This project involved the coordination of guest speakers, curriculum design, collaboration with SME's & the ACE mentorship program. Once finished, the project was presented (to which I was a co-presenter) at the annual AIA conference in Austin under the title "Fair Fight, Restoring Resource Equity in the Architecture & the Arts".
For more information please visit:
Prompting Critical Thinking
Yinka Shonibare
Role: Curriculum Designer
Objective:
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Research key academic content aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills state standards.
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Introduce students to the artist, Yinka Shonibare.
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Facilitate discussion on the artist's connections to various cultures and his use of imagery & materials to create conversations around identity, multiculturalism, and race.
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Use Bloom's Taxonomy questioning to prompt authentic discussions about the artist's purpose.
Challenges:
Asynchronous & Synchronous Environments
Using Bloom's Taxonomy to create high level questioning
Short time frame
Tools:
Canva, Google Slides, SlidesGo
Educational Product
LMS Course Tour
Role: LMS Course Creator & Visual Designer
Objective:
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Creation of Canvas LMS course for K-5 aged learners.
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To provide usability & functionality of course by using easily interpreted using visual cues, embedded content, & immersive reader.
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To engage learners visually who may be emergent readers.
Challenges:
Asynchronous & Concurrent Environment
Simple course navigation
Appeal to varied learning styles (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, etc.)
Low technology skills of students
Short time frame
Tools:
Blend (Canvas Instructure LMS), Canva, Google Slides, SlidesGo, YouTube
Educational Product
Objective:
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Introduce students to the topic of interactive drawing through the work of a Brazilian artist, Victor Nunes.
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To teach essential vocabulary to interactive drawing lesson.
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To engage or hook the learner for upcoming activity.
Challenges:
Asynchronous & Synchronous Environments
Learner's lack understanding of essential vocabulary
Short time frame
Tools:
WeVideo, Canva, YouTube