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Jan MichenerExecutive directorJan Michener has an MA in Education from Widener University and a BA in Theatre Arts from SUNY. She is a certified trauma informed adult and children’s yoga teacher. Jan has led a number of workshops and spoken at the Educating Hearts Conference held in Montgomery County. She is an avid student of Michelle Johnson's Skills in Action. Jan co-facilitates our Trauma-Sensitive and Self-Care & Mindfulness Professional Development Workshops.
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Heather leachDirector of "Cultivating change."
Heather Leach: For me, one of life's greatest pleasures is a home-cooked meal shared with others. These meals together inspired me to study ethnobotany and to learn from people around the world how they grow, prepare, and eat food. A cultural connection to food, and the amazing diversity that results from that bond, is what I hope to celebrate through my work in farming and cooking.
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DANA LOOKER
CCIL ADMINISTRATOR
Dana Looker has worked as a nonprofit fundraiser for over a decade. But, as it did for many of us, the COVID pandemic made her think about her future goals and legacy. Being an avid reader and book nerd since childhood, Dana decided it was time to pursue her dream of opening an independent bookstore in her community. Shortly after opening Looker Books in Coatesville, PA, she sought out a nonprofit organization to help her bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Coatesville. AHHAH was the perfect fit. Dana now serves as the Administrative Director for the Chester County Imagination Library processing registrations, creating reports for AHHAH and partner organizations, and communicating with families about the program. Dana lives in Coatesville with her husband, Jim, and their three furry children.
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Kathy D. Hrenko
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Abigail Sikes
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Lead Expressive Arts Teacher
Kathy D. Hrenko, MCAT, ATR-BC is a master’s level, board certified art therapist with 30 years of experience in the field of art therapy. She has worked with children, teens, and adults in a variety of settings including in-patient psychiatry, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, therapeutic camps, nursing homes, youth detention, art studios, and wellness centers. Kathy has published several articles on her art therapy work and has presented on various mental health and art therapy topics both locally and nationally. In addition to her work as an art therapist, Kathy has served in non-profit leadership as the Executive Director for the Kennett After-School Association-a free after-school program serving middle school students, and she previously served as the Operations Director of Project C.U.R.E. - the largest distributor, worldwide of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries. She also served as a part of the AHHAH Advisory Board for over 5 years. |
Abigail Sikes RN, BSN CSN has experience in acute care, long-term care, hospice, and home health. She has experience as a Staff Nurse, Home Health Nurse, Hospice Nurse, Assisted Director of Nursing and RN Supervisor, and Health care Administrator/School Nurse. Abigail expanded her profession by becoming a Certified Life Coach and Forgiveness Coach. She started her own business- Forgiving Gifts, encouraging forgiveness and healing through traumatic experiences with a focus on unforgiveness and Illness when unable to let go. As a nurse, Abigail has developed a passion for coaching individuals on the importance of letting go of past hurt and resentment so they can begin to live a purposeful and healthier life.
Her Business Forgiving Gifts provides merchandise with a focus on forgiveness while overcoming painful experiences and staying on the path of healing and freedom. Abigail’s mission is to share the relationship between unforgiveness and Illness when we hold onto past hurts and resentment. Abigail is also very active in the community and is currently the President of the Minority Nurse Educators of Chester County. She is a member of the Black Women of Chester County in Action, where she is a Co-chair to the Racial Trauma & Resiliency Collaborative. |
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Sandrien deBruijn |
Marla Friedman
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Sandrien is a Dutch professional photographer who has lived in the US since 2014. She is married and a mom of 2 daughters. She used to be an RN for 20 years in the Netherlands. Her business, SandrienB Photography, specializes in portrait and dance photography as well as personal and small business branding photography. Her photography style is often described as virtual storytelling. She is a volunteer photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, AHHAH, and many other local charities. Sandrien passionately works on the 20 Men Project since June 2020 and takes the 20 Men traveling exhibition to many locations in Chester County and our state. Sandrien is teaching photography and interview techniques for the Creative Club/AHHAH Filmmaking program. Sandrien is a member of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers). She encourages everyone to print their digital photos.
"It takes a village to raise a child," kindness, diversity, equity and inclusion are values Sandrien believes strongly in. |
Marla loves to share the joys of yoga with students of all ages, shapes and abilities. She began practicing yoga in her 20's and has taught adult, children and senior yoga classes at the YMCA, JCC of Delaware, Hockessin Chiropractic, Brandywine Springs Elementary School, PAL Center, and Radiance Dance Studio, to name a few. She is the owner of Wish Yoga whose goal is the content faces of the children and teachers who participate in her classes. Nothing is more satisfying than watching the blossoming of children who are stressed, bored, or unsettled, and see them become relaxed, invigorated, and content.
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Zoë RINDLiteracy Consultant
Zoë Rind spent twenty years as an elementary school teacher and administrator serving under-resourced communities in both district and charter schools in New York City. For the last several years, she has worked with SchoolKit Group in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Tennessee supporting leadership, administrators, coaches, and teachers on research based literacy practices with a particular focus in the science of reading. She holds a B.A. from Haverford College in Political Science as well as graduate degrees from St. John’s University (NY) in Elementary Education, from Stanford University in Education Policy, and from the City University of New York in Educational Leadership.
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Michele Wolfe
Michele Wolfe has recently retired after thirty years in the preschool classroom. She has spent most of her career working with children in the local community. Michele also spent time abroad working with students in Singapore. She is happy to continue to share her love of children’s books through the CCIL program. As an avid reader, Michele loves seeing the joy in children’s faces when they connect with a book.
Michele holds a BS and an M.Ed. in early childhood education from Cabrini University. She lives locally with her husband and three children. |
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Alyssa BrownSUSO Facilitator
My name is Alyssa Brown, and I am your Miss Coatesville for America Strong! I graduated from Coatesville Area Senior HighSchool in 2018 with Chester County Futures and the National Honor Society! Throughout my childhood, my parents struggled with addiction which led to both of them being incarcerated at different points in my life. Although I always had a strong support system through my grandparents and aunts, I still struggled with my mental health as a kid. I thought I would grow up to be a teacher or a veterinarian, but after graduating high school I followed a different career path. The stigma of mental health leads to untreated diagnoses which tends to affect both of the demographics I care deeply about very negatively. After working in the mental health field for two years, I am now a registered behavioral technician who advocates for mental health to bring awareness that it exists and that there is resources out there to help while dedicating my free time to help children and animals that may or have already been affected by mental health. As an adult, I’ve learned to take all of my lived experience, and use it to help others who may be experiencing similar life events.
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Alan AsitimbayAlan Asitimbay is a sophomore at West Chester University studying business management. He is also a first-generation student coming from a Latino household. He is involved in the school’s student government association serving as a senator for the Parking and Public Safety Department. He is excited to work with AHHAH and looks forward to learn about other individuals. After graduation, he plans to go to graduate school for an MBA degree.
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Julie StinsonJulie Stinson is a current senior at West Chester University studying business management with minors in dance and digital marketing. While studying at the university, Julie has served as President of the Honors Student Association, Founding President of the WCU Pageants Organization, Captain of the Color Guard, and is a former Miss West Chester University. Her plans after graduation are to pursue a career in entertainment and tour management. Julie was first introduced to AHHAH through a course at the university and was inspired by the mission of the non-profit and is thrilled to be joining the AHHAH team as an intern!
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Eli Moore
Eli Moore is a political science student at West Chester University, specializing in Latin American affairs and leadership theory. A member of the Honors College, he pursues minors in Civic and Professional Leadership, Communications, Latinx Studies, and Spanish. Around campus, Eli can be found working out or working at his job at the Student Rec center, playing the trumpet in the West Chester marching band, or playing as a member of the ultimate frisbee team. After graduating, Eli hopes to pursue a PhD in International Relations and conduct research relating to Latin America. Ultimately, he hopes to find a job where he can begin to mend the relationship between the United States and Central America with the goal of helping the many people harmed by the United States' imperialism.
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Lauren HollidayLauren Holliday is a current Junior at West Chester University studying psychology with a minor in studio art. After graduation, she plans to continue schooling to obtain her Psy.D. degree in clinical psychology. While studying at the university, Lauren has served as Vice President, Co-Service Chair, and Co-Fellowship Chair for Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity. Lauren is very excited to work with the AHHAH team!
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Meaghan BicskoHi! My name is Meaghan Bicsko and I am a sophomore involved in the honors college at West Chester University. I am a communications sciences disorder (aka CSD) major from Milltown, NJ, and also graduated from Spotswood High School. I love to be involved around campus and give back to my community in ways that matter the most!
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Demetrius SemankoDemetrius Semanko is a first-generation student pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science. Despite many subjects being of interest to him, Demetrius finds that having an interest in subjects such as history, linguistics, theology, and culture makes it possible for him to express an interest in learning about the lives of others. In the pursuit of a life full of learning, Demetrius hopes that by learning more about the people around him, he can have more meaningful, enriching interactions with the people that make the world so vast and unique in its composition.
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Victoria MarinoVictoria Marino is a current Junior at West Chester University studying nursing. While studying at the university, Victoria holds a part-time job working in the Operating Room at Saint Peters University Hospital in New Jersey, while also partaking in The Student Nursing Association of Pennsylvania, and Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. After graduating, Victoria hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a PA degree. Victoria is very excited to get an opportunity to work with the AHHAH team!
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Harrison Green
Harrison Green is a third-year political science student at West Chester University. As a first-generation student in the Honors College, he is also pursuing four minor degrees: Civic and Professional Leadership, Communication Studies, Law, Politics and Society, and Global Studies. He is the founding President of Mock Trial, the Student Government Association Senator for Career Development, and the Marketing Director for the Business College Peer Mentorship Program. He plans to attend law school after graduating, hoping to use his degree as a lawyer and eventual politician. He wants to fix the system from the inside, so giving back is a key aspect of his life, and he cannot wait to get started!
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