Program Director

• Oct 2020 - Present

As the Program Director, my role involves envisioning and actualizing Art Starts' arts-based programming and organizational objectives in close collaboration with the Art Starts team, partner organizations and community members. I take the lead in guiding and mentoring the team to develop and implement compelling, meaningful, and exceptional artistic initiatives that align with Art Starts' mission of fostering vibrant Toronto communities through community-building arts projects.

Program Manager

• Oct 2019 - Oct 2020

As the program manager at Art Starts, my primary responsibility was to create impactful arts programs that aim to enhance the lives of children and youth. Focused on the Lawrence Heights and Oakwood and Eglinton areas of the city, my objective was to engage and inspire young individuals, helping them recognize their own potential and significance in the world. I firmly believe in the transformative power of art and I find it fulfilling to meaningful challenge the imaginations of young learners. My ultimate goal is to provide my community with an opportunity to grow and flourish in their own unique journeys. Show less

Visual Artist (Painter)

• Jan 1982 - Present

Currently a professional independent painter as well as a muralist. Currently a professional independent painter as well as a muralist.

Arts Educator

• Sep 2010 - Oct 2019

My journey as an educator started when I was a teenager, when I began teaching arts and crafts at the University Settlement in Toronto. This early experience as a mentor and leader sparked my passion for communicating with young people. When I graduated from York University I decided to travel to Botswana, Africa, where I had the privilege of teaching art classes in the quaint village of Mochudi. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to teach art programs in schools across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as an Artist in Education with the Ontario Arts Council. Additionally, I have served as a Gallery Instructor at prominent institutions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. With an extensive background in teaching, I felt compelled to establish my own organization called Art Heroes. Through this initiative, I provide after-school and lunchtime art programs in schools within the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board. In these classes, students were encouraged to express themselves artistically and they were introduced to a diverse range of exciting mediums, including clay, painting, and print making. Running Art Heroes was a remarkable period in my life as I was able to touch the lives of numerous eager, enthusiastic, and heroic students along the way. Show less

Community Outreach and Training Coordinator

• May 2017 - May 2018

In my role as the Outreach Coordinator at Theatre Ontario, my primary responsibilities included organizing, arranging, and introducing a diverse range of workshops to the theatre community. I took great satisfaction in our efforts to reach out to underrepresented communities, providing equal opportunities for everyone to collaborate with theatre professionals. One of my key objectives was to establish a platform for open discussions on the systematic obstacles faced by individuals from marginalized communities, particularly people of colour. Together, we aimed to identify the most effective strategies to dismantle the barriers that hinder this community from expressing their voices more powerfully within the realm of theatre. Show less

Director and Writer - New School Remix Your Thoughts

• Jan 2015 - Jan 2018

In February of last 2015, Nicole Peña and Debbie Deer Productions presented a captivating live performance titled "New School: Remix Your Thoughts" for high school students in the Toronto District School Board. This trans-media play revolved around the lives of five ethnically diverse high school students who were given an assignment that challenges the notion that we are currently living in a post-racial society. Through their stories, the play delved into the profound impact of race and racism in our contemporary society. It also tackled thought-provoking themes such as cultural appropriation within popular music, the legalization of interracial marriages and the treatment of individuals with mixed heritage. Furthermore, "New School" shone a spotlight on the remarkable contributions made by people of African descent in the realm of sports, while also exploring Africa's influence on the Olmec civilization in the Gulf of Mexico, a historical aspect predating Christopher Columbus. Our contemporary play with its riveting dance performances and stylized short films was an educational and dynamic platform that challenged students and teachers alike to 'remix their thoughts' about Black history. Show less

Arts Instructor

• Mar 2010 - Jul 2012

I taught a leadership course for young artists who were interested in teaching art classes. I taught a leadership course for young artists who were interested in teaching art classes.

Arts Instructor

• Jun 2007 - Aug 2008