Athena Sabaria has been a part of the ArtEsteem team since 2021 as Workforce Development Coordinator, Office Associate, and now as the Oakland Legacy Project Coordinator integrating environmental concepts into arts curriculum.

Their approach centers community empowerment and education with Bay Area BIPOC youth, providing compassionate and culturally relevant leadership. Through professional and personal growth, their approach to environmental justice has been centered around interspecies ecologies, indigenous knowledge, and intersectional solidarity.

Although they have been doing visual arts since they were a kid, only recently have they been sharing their animist art publicly. Their art has been featured at SOMArts, Bindlestiff Studios, and other queer Filipino gallery exhibitions across the US.

Adam is excited to be back in the Legacy classroom for his second year, one day per week!

Adam recently joined ArtEsteem’s staff and previously served on the Board.

Prior to working with ArtEsteem, Adam worked at Autodesk on education, sustainable design, and community projects. He’s lived in the Bay Area since 2006 and is a father of two.

Adam is excited to share his skills, experience, and interests with the class, including:

• Design & business

• Visual thinking

• Social & environmental justice

• Community building

• Mixed media art, painting, drawing, photography, poetry

Etty's upbringing is a tapestry of diverse experiences. Born in Honduras, then at a young age she migrated to Belize City and was raised in the culturally vibrant Belize. Her journey then took her to the Midwest and across 25 US states which landed her in the Bay area, adding layers to her rich cultural background.

Etty is currently a teaching artist at West Oakland Middle School. She imparts her knowledge of Textile Arts to grades 6th through 8th, reflecting her interest in engaging youth with environmental and social justice via artistic practices. 

Etty's role in the Legacy Project is one of collaboration and dedication. Drawing from her experience as a former Legacy teacher, she plays a crucial role in shaping a comprehensive and robust curriculum. Working closely with Athena and Jamiani, she brings her unique perspective to the table, ensuring the highest-quality curriculum development for the year.

Phyllis has an extensive background in educational administration. Formerly, she was an instructor at Bay Area Community Resources, teaching general wellness and nutrition. From 2013-2016 she was the family and community site coordinator at Westlake Middle School.

Phyllis coordinates the increasingly large number of individuals and organizations connected to ArtEsteem. As Associate Director, she is the lead organizer for all sites, and the primary liaison between school staff and our teaching artists, providing key partnership building with our school sites and support to youth and families.