The Team
Charlena Wynn
Teaching Artist
they/them
Charlena Wynn is an arts educator, fine arts curriculum designer, art historian, and collage artist and painter exploring the Black queer Atlantic, death, and memory. They hold an MA in Liberal Studies (NC State University) and BA in Studio Arts (University of North Carolina Greensboro). They began their arts education career working with young children on art making skills focused on their social emotional well-being before venturing into the public school systems in Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC bringing high quality arts instruction to under-resourced children. Before joining The Center for ArtEsteem, Charlena held several positions with museums such as Visitor Experience Manager at the Museum of the African Diaspora and teaching artists with youth arts nonprofits in hopes to make art more accessible.
Elaine Ponce
Assistant Teaching Artist
she/they
I am living and making art within the territory of xučyun (Huichin), on the unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people past and present. (Oakland, California) I have a deep connection with nature and our environment and aim to make art with honor and gratitude to our natural world. My work aims to excite others about our outside world and all its wonder. I believe that while systems of inequality and inequity directly affect us and our earth, creating art is a way of fostering hope and empowering change.
Athena Sabaria
Oakland Legacy Project Coordinator
they/them
Athena Sabaria has been part of the AHC team since 2021 as Workforce Development Coordinator, Office Associate, and now as Oakland Legacy Project Coordinator. They continue to support data systems, community engagement, and program operations.
Prior to their work in nonprofits, Athena was involved in animal behavior and environmental laboratories, building skills in data analysis and research development of the natural sciences. Majoring in Gender & Women’s Studies and Conservation & Resource Studies at UC Berkeley, Athena developed their framework of environmental justice through an interspecies and intersectional lens. After the pandemic hit, they decided to refocus their efforts towards community empowerment and education with Bay Area BIPOC youth, providing compassionate and culturally relevant leadership.
Phyllis
Hall
Hall
ArtEsteem Program Director
she/her
Phyllis Hall has an extensive background in educational administration. Formerly, she was an instructor at Bay Area Community Resources (BARC), teaching general wellness and nutrition. From 2013-2017 she was the Family and Community Site Director for Westlake/EVYFS. Hall coordinates the increasingly large number of individuals and organizations connected to ArtEsteem. As program manager she is the lead organizer for all sites, and the primary liaison between school staff and our teaching artists. She also provides support to youth and parents.