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THE KIDS CREATIVE TEAM
Our Kids Creative teachers have many years of experience working with children of diverse backgrounds in a number of different artistic media. Our staff has taught at schools all over New York City and the world. We have performed with shows in venues around the US, including the PNC Bank Arts Center, Symphony Space, Central Park's Summer Stage, Sea World, and Disney Land and in cities around the world, including London, Paris, Beijing, Beirut, Berlin and more. Kids Creative was founded by members of the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, voted best Kids Band by Time Out NY and regulars on Nick Jr.!
FINDING THE RIGHT TEAM
To find the most qualified staff for our programs, Kids Creative has a rigorous screening process to ensure all employees share our creative and educational mission and are unwaveringly committed to the safety of our students. This process includes multiple interviews, a reference check and background checks from the NY Department of Health. During the vetting process, each employee is made fully aware of Kids Creative’s policies and procedures, as well as the high standard of safety, supervision and instruction that is expected of Kids Creative employees. If hired, teachers and staff undergo regular trainings and performance evaluations to review procedures and rules. As part of our commitment to protecting the physical and emotional safety of our students, Kids Creative regularly reviews its procedures to ensure that we incorporate best practices in hiring, training and evaluating our staff.
MEET THE STAFF
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DJ Rouzeau, Executive Director: DJ has spent nearly 20 years working with NYC-based youth development organizations, including the New York Junior Tennis League and the New York City Mission Society. As a native New Yorker and Long Island product, his passion for these programs stems from the days he would spend playing soccer in the city as a kid. His experience with athletics has reinforced the importance, and the need, for art and peace-based programs at an early age to create well-rounded students. DJ is a huge Mets, Knicks, Giants, and Arsenal F.C. fan which has help developed his patience in life. He also has a huge love for music of multiple genres and loves to dance. During his spare time, he coaches a youth girls soccer team in Manhattan.
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Adam Jacobs, Co-Founder: Adam founded Kids Creative with his brother Stephen in 2000 when he was still in college. Starting as a summer camp where 12 kids wrote a play, Adam has worked to make Kids Creative a premier arts and peace education organization in New York City, bringing arts and academic programs to over 1,000 youth annually through summer camps, after school programs and workshops. Adam has an undergraduate degree in International Politics and a Masters degree in Peace Education, both from Columbia University. He is a sought-after thinker in the intersection of conflict resolution and the arts, giving talks and workshops at Columbia University, Vassar College, The Peace and Justice Studies Conference and The University of Istanbul. He was a founding member of PS 536, a progressive elementary school in the Bronx and has been quoted in such publications as The Daily News, CBS News and El Diario. He is also Mr. Clown, a lead performer in the internationally acclaimed rock group for kids, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, and was a regular on Nick Jr. and Chuck E Cheese TV. Adam originally hails from Minnesota (the Minnesota Twins are his favorite team EVER!!!).
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Naima Lewis, HR Manager: Naima lives in Brooklyn and has a grey cat. Her favorite snack is any kind of cake.
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Sanah Cisse, Senior Director of Operations: Sanah has a B.S. in Corrections Administration and a Masters in Early Childhood Education, and has been in the after-school arena for the last 11 years. While at University of Massachusetts Amherst, she focused on student leadership and development along with community development. Her passion lies in working with students and families while engaging community partners, and she continues that work here at KC. She comes from a large family, and loves spending time with the little ones, who would fit right in with KC with their love of singing, dancing, building, animals, and art. She makes a mean carrot cake and has perfected her grandma’s 7Up pound cake.
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Kristian Moton, Education Coordinator: Kristian joined Kids Creative as a Group Leader, and held positions including Teaching Assistant and Peace and Culture Instructor before becoming Education Coordinator in Spring 2019. He holds an Associates Degree from Bronx Community College, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Services and Education from Empire State College. When he’s not at work, he plays video games competitively, and he is a passionate activist.
Nastasia Kutuyev, Marketing and Development Coordinator: Nastasia is a recent NYU graduate who studied Media, Culture, and Communications. She's behind KC's social media and communication, as well as helping prep for summer camp. She's originally from the Bay Area and spends most of her free time writing for her comedy group, eating vegetarian ramen, and thinking about her two dogs, Muffin and Sofia.
Brianna Marquez, Site Director at PS 102: Brianna joined Kids Creative in 2017, and throughout the past two years, has served KC students and families at nearly each of our locations. Brianna began as a Group Leader at our R2BX after-school program and progressed into a Head Teacher role at our legacy program, Upper Westside Summer Camp. She then transitioned to our Brilla location where she excelled as an Art Instructor and was hand-selected by Brilla’s principal to fill the role as the Site Coordinator, where she oversaw a program of 180 students. Brianna has continued to develop her professional skills and is extremely excited to share her gifts as the Site Director at PS 102.
Clyde Thompson, Site Director at Rock 2 The Bronx