The UTC Team
Staff:
Lili Lopez
Marketing and Web Specialist, Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator, Collaborative Art Facilitator
Lili is in charge of UTC’s website, social media, and marketing. She generates imagery, posts, and videos to raise awareness of Unity Through Creativity’s programs. She has also co-facilitated over 35 murals in the San Francisco Bay area.
Edward Schuldt
Director of Operations
Edward has 37 years experience in non-profit administration and organizational development, including fundraising, finances, regulatory compliance, public relations and marketing, personnel development, staff administration and coordination, conflict resolution, and board development. He has been connected to Unity Through Creativity from its inception.
Laurie Marshall
Executive/Artistic Director
For 35 years, author, speaker and artist Laurie has empowered youth and adults through creative collaboration. She practices Peace-Building through Art, inspired by Nature and founded The Singing Tree Project.
Board:
Jenna Dickerson
Vice President, Board of Directors
Jenna has been an educator for over 30 years and a librarian for the past 12. She is a creative educator who uses story, dance, puppetry and song to bring positive values to life.
Laurie Marshall
Executive/Artistic Director
For 35 years, author, speaker and artist Laurie has empowered youth and adults through creative collaboration. She practices Peace-Building through Art, inspired by Nature and founded The Singing Tree Project.
Aidil Oscariz
Secretary/Treasurer
Aidil Oscariz is the founder and president of Advance Justice Consulting, which develops strategies and programming to support social justice organizations. Her services include policy and legal assistance and strategizing as well as community engagement and coalition-building.
Facilitators:
Kanizius Nsabimana
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Kanizius Nsabimana is a social entrepreneur who has lived at the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, with his wife and three children, since 1996. While at Kyangwali, Kanizius co-founded and worked at Y outh Challenge-4-Change, Uganda (YC4C, Uganda), a social enterprise that empowers youth to build and sustain businesses and create jobs.
Emmanuel “Emma” Kavuma
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Emmanuel “Emma” Kavuma is a self-taught artist born in Masaka, Uganda.
Gabi Lipska
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Gabi is a human working from the heart with the intention of connecting people to themselves, each other and all life. She is a purpose-driven educator and community weaver with passion for bringing harmony
Bobbie Rae Jones
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Bobbie Rae Jones believes arts is an essential aspect to solving our social problems. A credentialed visual arts educator with over twenty years of experience instructing groups of all ages in a variety of modalities.
Katia Petersen
Master Facilitator
President of Petersen Argo Inc. a Transformational Education company, Katia brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist, educator, story teller and author.
Leslie Rein
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Making collaborative murals as a Singing Tree Project facilitator aligns perfectly with Leslie's passion for art and creativity. This artistic and peace-building process serves her desire to bring people together and heal common heartbreaks.
Joanna Redfield Vaughn, BFA, M.Ed.
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Joanna is a Quaker who has been devoted to children, education and art for over four decades. She taught at the Austin Waldorf School for 11 years and was an elementary Art Specialist for 17 years at 10 of Austin’s public schools.
Wanda Whitaker
Master Facilitator
Wanda Whitaker is a visionary artist, hypnotherapist, information facilitator and conscious leadership coach residing in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sweta Chawla PharmD, MS
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Sweta Chawla PharmD, MS is a Former Professor of Pharmacy and Clinical and Residency Director turned Speaker, Facilitator & Leadership Coach and Author.
Diana Sciarretta
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Diana Sciarretta (She/They) is a Healthcare Justice Advocate, Somatic Expressive Healing Artist and Director of The Red & Orange House.
Naomi Duben
Certified Singing Tree Mural Facilitator
Naomi Duben is mixed-media artist and painter based in Los Angeles. Originally from Marin County just north of San Francisco
Consultants:
Tanya Vlach
Interdisciplinary Consultant
Tanya Vlach is an Interdisciplinary Artist weaving her arts background into communications and strategy with special projects and non Profits. https://colibrita.com
Bennett Smith
Events Liaison
With over 5 years of events experience and knowledge, Bennett is a jill-of-all-trades when it comes to events.