Experience

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  Detour 2 Discovery Day Academy

  • South Loop, Chicago

  • Artist in Residence

    • Mar 2012 - Present
    • South Loop, Chicago

    From singing to babies to staff development; from invigorating to soothing melodies, I bring live music into the educational setting. their lives. I sing 60s and 70s folk and light rock hits accompanied by acoustic guitar to greet families as they come to school each day. Then I visit each age-specific classroom. Each teacher also receives a complimentary collection of original music to reinforce lyrics and melodies we all enjoy when we' re together. It's positive and it's loving. The lead song on the CD is entitled "I Can See Me Happy" and features a choir of 5th grade singers from Kenosha.To serve as an artist in residence at Detour 2 Discovery fills my soul with joy. Academy founder Jen Heim is a quintessential early learning specialist and an honor to know. I experience more learning and more love each day I visit this diverse setting of adults and little ones.

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  Kenosha Community Media Volunteer

  • Kenosha Community Television, Channel 14

  • Interviewer & Independent Producer

    • 2011 - Present
    • Kenosha Community Television, Channel 14

    Developing & directing original pilots for community television. Work includes on air talent and production editing. Shows in progress include: Behind the Arts, Su-ka-bob-illy Studio, Live at the Pollard and Wall Stories. (Also served as a Board Member of Kenosha Community Media)

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  Pollard Gallery Volunteer

  • Kenosha Area

  • "GOT CRAYONS"

    • Jul 2010 - Present
    • Kenosha Area

    Originated "GOT CRAYONS," now in its 3rd year in collaboration with the Pollard Gallery and Frank Elementary School. This annual coloring contest is for seniors (50 and better) and is judged by children. This project is designed to awaken the inner child and provide the therapeutic and creative fun of coloring -- all while celebrating and honoring the world class illustrations of Kenosha native daughter, Nan Pollard. Got Crayons has been supported by a local community business for three years and has reached over 500 seniors. Activities also include coloring and sing-along parties in senior centers and care facilities in Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties. In the years ahead, additional business sponsors will be invited to help underwrite the costs so seniors in all elder housing facilities in Kenosha County can participate. The 24 annual winning entries are featured in a month long exhibit at the Pollard and reproduced in a full color calendar. All participants are also honored at annual receptions. Fifth grade student judging takes place at Frank Elementary School; students and their teachers also take part in educational tours of the Rhode Theater. All proceeds from Got Crayons go to support the restoration of the Rhode Center for the Arts, owned by the Lakeside Players.

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  All Things Creative

  • Kenosha, Wisconsin

  • Entrepreneur

    • May 2009 - Present
    • Kenosha, Wisconsin

    Innovative and Creative Projects and Solutions. Focus: art, writing, music and education. Creative marketing consultations and training sessions for small businesses and educational groups. Collaborative, positive, intergenerational projects from "Creativity & Aging" classes to "Singing for Babies" at early learning centers. Ideas emerge from community needs, group discussions and personal joy. Projects include Original Art ("Celebration Calligraphy" for all occasions and handpainted "Little Larks"); Writing Education (annual tutor training programs and small group sessions in journaling and life stories); and Music (guitar, vocal performances and sing-alongs at senior centers and festivals). New projects ALWAYS underway.

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  Kenosha Outreach

  • Kenosha Area

  • Entertainer, Singer-Songwriter

    • May 2009 - Present
    • Kenosha Area

    Released first CD of original music in 2012, "So Susan" - a collection of folk style positive acoustic music; includes "I Can See Me Happy," recorded with vocals from the Chapel Choir of St. Mary's Lutheran Church. Provide solo and collaborative performances for Kenosha area festivals and special events, i.e., United Way, Kenosha Aging and Disabilities Administration, Back to School Celebration, Rotary, Hospice Alliance, A Taste of Wisconsin, Florence Parry Heide Day, Pollard Gallery and Lakeside Players events, Harbor Market, Frank's, Scoops, Down the Rabbit Hole, the Secret Garden, The Coffee Pot, the former Carolyn's Coffee Connection and The Nook, as well as occasional Open Mikes (Sazzy B's, The Tiki House, TG's and the Yacht Club).

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  Carthage College

  • Kenosha, Wisconsin

  • "Creativity & Aging" - Adjunct Adult Ed. Instructor

    • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012
    • Kenosha, Wisconsin

    Developed short course with Jean Preston to provide research, insights and experiences to awaken and transform traditional ideas about aging, the arts and the impact of creativity over time. In conjunction with this theme, I also independently conduct musical singalongs, life story-telling presentations, coloring parties and memoir and journaling groups with senior adults.

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  KUSD (Kenosha Unified School District No. 1)

  • Kenosha, Wisconsin

  • Interim Public Relations Specialist

    • Apr 2008 - Mar 2009
    • Kenosha, Wisconsin

    Worked in conjunction with Superintendent of Schools and ESC departments to develop the following: initial "Back to School Family Celebration" at Veteran's Park, a collabration with NAACP, LULAC, Mayor's Office, and county and city social service agencies (7,000 participants); Grand Opening of Brass Elementary School, in collaboration with school and neighborhood groups; expanded layout and design of annual KUSD Student Arts Calendar; coordinated weekly graphics and copy for first online district newsletter, "INSIDE KUSD"; led organizational team for initial Bradford High School Job Fair, a collabration with Kenosha Job Center, Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls Club and area businesses and service agencies.

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  National Louis University

  • Greater Milwaukee Area

  • Graduate Recruitment

    • Nov 2004 - Jul 2007
    • Greater Milwaukee Area

    Responsible for new territory development in Wisconsin from Milwaukee based cohort education sites to Oshkosh, Sheboygan, Fox Valley and Appleton areas. Matched Wisconsin teachers seeking graduate education, administrative licensing and certifications with community based multi-year cohort programs. Instructors, marketing support and longterm development plans provided through collaboration between Chicago-based National Louis University and its Wisconsin Program Director. Coordinated all marketing, outreach and registration activities.

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  Alverno College

  • Milwaukee

  • Instructor

    • Sep 2003 - Nov 2004
    • Milwaukee

    Instructed undergraduate courses in Lifespan Psychology, Small Group and Interpersonal Communications. Also presented teacher seminars at Telesis Summer Writing Institute programs.

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  University of Oklahoma

  • Norman, Oklahoma

  • Marketing Research & Editorial Assistant

    • Sep 2000 - May 2003
    • Norman, Oklahoma

    Compiled marketing research to enhance reach of adult and continuing education programs. Developed local university based public service initiatives for middle schools. Edited 100+ program session submissions for annual NCORE (National Conference on Racism and Ethnicity), sponsored by the Southwest Center for American Studies through the University of Oklahoma.

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  Oklahoma State Arts Council

  • Artist in Residence

    • Sep 1993 - May 2000

    Created interdisciplinary K-5 curriculum teaching journaling and creative writing through art and music. Teacher inservices and state conferences also provided best practices sessions and classroom resources. Community outreach included library programs for all ages and residence based programs for "at-risk" populations. Summer creativity sessions (art, music, writing) for 4th and 5th graders were designed; as well as university sponsored public service advertising mini-courses. Programs were all individually styled per school, per focus grades and time commitment (1 week-2 month programs).

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  Newspaper Association of America

  • Reston, Virginia

  • INAME Foundation Director

    • Jan 1984 - Jan 2000
    • Reston, Virginia

    Directed national education programs focused on strengthening college newspaper advertising education. Coordinated 10-year public service advertising competition in conjunction with the American Academy of Advertising with participation from the Advertising Council. Developed training programs / resources for college newspapers in conjunction with College Media Advisers and the Associated Collegiate Press. Served on the Accrediting Council for Journalism and Mass Communications Education. Conducted Annual Educator Seminars In New York with the Newspaper Advertising Bureau. Speaker / presenter for nationwide education conferences.

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  Interstate Printers & Publishers, Inc. (now a division of Prentice Hall)

  • Danville, Illinois

  • Editorial Assistant

    • Feb 1975 - May 1982
    • Danville, Illinois

    Editorial Assistant and Book Designer. Agricultural textbooks and early language learning resources.