2024 Fall Newsletter
A MESSAGE FROM MARINA, KEVIN, AND THE CC TEAM
The 10 Principles of Creativity were developed directly from our experience with trauma and adversity. In the darkest of times, we used them as a way to navigate our emotions, relationships, routines, and so much more. And these 10 Principles are not only for the challenging times. They are also for times of opportunity. We are more committed than ever to using creativity to guide us through whatever comes our way.
Choose Creativity is fresh off an incredible summer. We are doubling our impact within District 4, going from 4 schools to 9. We’ve hired a couple of new team members, are visiting schools several times a month, and are making new connections each day. To date, we’ve trained 1,720 instructors and reached 28,994 kids. We feel energized and prepared to take on this new school year.
SUCCESS WITH OUR SUMMER INSTITUTE
This past summer, we invited teachers, administrators, and support staff from NYC DOE District 4 to participate in Choose Creativity’s first ever Summer Institute, a professional development (PD) series that features our K-6 bilingual curriculum, Learn with Creative Confidence (LwCC) . Over 90 new (incredibly eager!) educators from 5 schools in East Harlem were introduced to the numerous ways to bring the 10 Principles of Creativity to life in the classroom and to weave the language of creativity into their curriculum, discussions, and interactions with their students. You know a workshop is a success when several participants text their principals on the spot saying “WE HAVE TO DO THIS!”.
Here are a few glowing reviews we received from teachers:
An amazing and engaging PD — I feel super excited to bring this back to the classroom. So many ideas flowing!
I absolutely love every part of this curriculum and I am super excited to implement it with my students this fall. Part of my love for it is how easy it will be to incorporate into the day. You have provided an excellent book list for each Principle as well as so many other materials.
It was very interesting and insightful. It provided me with a new perspective on seeing and thinking.
THE 10 PRINCIPLES HAVE ARRIVED IN PRE-K
The elementary school principals have requested and we have delivered — the Pre-K edition of Learn with Creative Confidence (LwCC) is here! Many of the public schools we work with have pre-k programs for students who are barely four-years-old. It was a natural next step for us to create these new materials, including an original song, poems, and ten books that demonstrate each Principle in the most basic ways.
We will be working alongside Eleanor Coleman, EdM in Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology from Harvard Graduate School of Education, to help with the formative evaluation of these new materials. She specializes in research-based design, focusing on social-emotional learning, executive functioning, and cognitive development.
A FULL HOUSE AT THE CHOOSE CREATIVITY AWARDS
Each year, the Choose Creativity Awards (CCAs) get more exciting, more inspiring, and more incredible! Thank you to everyone who attended this past June’s CCAs at Tribeca 360. With over 400 attendees, we raised a record $814,000 (!!!) thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, event committee, and guests. This was a 43% increase from 2023.
The star-studded event honored Martin Schoeller, Johnny Weir, and Carla Zakhem-Hassan with awards presented by Jeff Koons, Britt Stewart, and Gary Vaynerchuk. We celebrated our mission and impact with moving remarks on our work in East Harlem by Dáliz Vásquez, principal of Mosaic Prep.
Please save the date for next year’s CCAs on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
OUR CREATIVITY IS GROWING (AND SO IS OUR TEAM!)
As our reach has expanded, so has our incredible team! Meet our new team members who choose creativity every day:
Naomi Guzman-Bensdon, Director of Development
Naomi brings over 7 years of nonprofit expertise including fundraising, events, and operations. With a passion for education, social equity, and the arts, Naomi believes in the power of creativity to drive social change. Prior to joining Choose Creativity, Naomi served as Assistant Director of Individual Giving at CancerCare, as well as held positions at Red Hook Initiative, Kaufman Music Center, and Tanglewood Music Center. Naomi earned a B.M. in Music Management with an Emphasis in Voice from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
Denisse Minaya, Program Manager
Denisse graduated with a BA in Media and Communication Studies from Lehman College. She brings a wealth of experience in program management and logistical coordination. Previously, Denisse worked as a Program Assistant for the New York City Department of Education, where she supported special education services across multiple schools. Her background also includes experience in media and communications through her work with the ASAP Foundation and as a communications intern for Rapid Realty. Denisse’s strong organizational skills, fluency in Spanish, leadership capabilities, and commitment to collaboration enable her to contribute to impactful educational programs in New York City and beyond.
Thank you for reading! xxo the Choose Creativity team
Our mission: Choose Creativity empowers children to develop into confident, resilient learners through an asset-based social and emotional learning curriculum. www.choosecreativity.org
