Sandy Mathews

Dance, Cooking

she/her

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Sandy has taught dance and dance fitness to both adults and children.  She grew up dancing on competitive dance teams.  Her specialty is Bollywood Folk dance.  She also enjoys baking and cooking.  She likes sharing traditional South Indian recipes that she grew up eating and teaching people how to use Indian Spices and make their own spice blends.  She holds a BBA from Baylor University in Journalism and Marketing and an MBA in Marketing from Southern Methodist University.. 

Merri Ann Osborne

Dance, Theatre, Music

she/her

Merri Ann Osborne (she/her) received her first passport at 4 years old, when she lived with her family in West Africa and then travelled to Europe before heading home to the US. She's been travelling ever since. Merri Ann has worked in the travel industry at an international hotel chain, as a destination sales manager for international clients for a convention and visitors bureau and as a tour manager for an international tour company. As a multi-disciplinary artist, she loves exploring the intersection of art, culture and travel. Especially how we can connect with each other cross-culturally through music, dance, and performance. Merri Ann holds a BA in Political Science from UCLA and an MA in Conflict Resolution from the Dept. of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

Nani Trias

Visual Arts

she/her

Nani holds a BA in humanities for teaching from Seattle University. She has helped facilitate intergenerational workshops with SilverKite since 2018. She has particular interest in exploring sustainable art created by repurposing recycled materials in hopes of fostering creative expression and collaboration that is accessible to all. In her spare time can be found painting with Bob Ross and cooking meals for friends and family.

Susan Wickett-Ford

Dance

she/her

Susan Wickett-Ford is a lifelong dancer and dance teacher.  She began her career focused on choreography and performance and founded a modern dance company.  In the 90’s her focus shifted to dance education for every student.  She was trained by Anne Green Gilbert, and developed a specialty in folk dance. Susan taught for 17 years at The Northwest School.  

Ali Alderman

Theatre & Visual Arts

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With a BA in Arts Leadership from Seattle University, Ali Alderman centers all her work on creative, intersectional, and radically hopefully justice. By day she is a social worker serving youth experiencing homelessness in Denver, and by night she hosts and produces Kite Tales, Silver Kite's intergenerational arts podcast. Since being an intern, assistant director, and teaching artist with Silver Kite, she has fallen in love with the power of intergenerational connection through the arts. With curiosity and belief in our shared humanity, she strives to build inclusive communities of belonging and strong relationships through art.

Rachel Rene

Theatre, Music, Dance

she/her

Rachel Rene has been involved in the Seattle theatre scene for over 30 years. With a BA in theatre arts from Western Washington University, she has tried her hand at all aspects of the theatre – from performing to stage managing to directing, among others. Above all, she enjoys sharing her passion for theatre, music, and dance with others, and she is immensely grateful for the opportunity to share the beautiful art form of hula dance with you.

Marva Benjamin

Movement

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Marva began her yoga experience/journey in 1999, in Seattle.  She has been teaching for 18 years at severalstudios in Seattle, and also in different parts of the World.Marva teaches a strength-building , healing class, with emphasis on correct form and alignment. You willenjoy the dynamic sequences that challenge the mind and body and take you on a journey to selfawareness and acknowledgment without judgment. Students enjoy her energetic and nurturinginstructions, and are especially inspired by the demonstration of her own immensely powerful and graceful practice.

Cooper Perry

Visual Art

she/they

Cooper is a graduate student at Antioch University Seattle, getting their Master’s in Mental
Health Counseling and Art Therapy. Cooper believes in the value of a ‘process over product’
mindset. She encourages those around her to lean into their own unique processes with curiosity
and kindness, while recognizing the internal and external challenges present in any given
artmaking project. Cooper’s favorite mediums are painting, collage, and multimedia sculpture.
Her favorite style of artmaking is surrealism. In addition to being a visual artist, one of Cooper’s
undergraduate degrees is in Creative Writing and poetry remains very important to them. Cooper
explores creativity, symbols, and metaphors in her artmaking and loves to share these (often)
existential experiences with other life learners.

Julian Bentley-Edelman

Creative Non-fiction and Poetry Writing

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Julian loves working with writers young and young at heart, and believes that beginning writers learn best by simply diving in, playing with language, and gaining inspiration from each other. She's worked as a classroom teacher, restaurant worker, social work case manager and more, and enjoys helping people bring their own insights and experiences to life for readers--whether family, friends, or beyond. She holds an MFA in Fiction Writing from the University of Washington, as well as an MSW and MAT. When not writing personal essays, humorous vignettes or poems, she is out on local trails hiking.

Julia Mundell

Visual Art

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Julia is a student at Occidental College studying sociology and studio art. She is passionate about art's ability to connect communities as well as the importance of accessible art education for all people. In her teaching practice, she values the artistic process as a form of self reflection and expression. She loves all visual arts, especially ceramics, sculpture, and mixed media collage. In addition to working with SilverKite, Julia teaches art classes to elementary school students in Los Angeles. 

Tammy Leaver

Visual Art

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My whole life has been dedicated to art.  Growing up, my parents and I spent much of our free time creating; whether it was my dad teaching me to draw, cut glass, or woodwork; or my mom teaching me to sew, paint or craft.  Through the years, I’ve developed my own love of art through many mediums, such as painting, mosaics, glasswork, crafting, etc.  While it all helps me to get in touch with my past, center myself, relieve stress and relax, I find my fulfillment in life through using my art degree to help others and therapeutically educate many adults and children while creating.  I’ve owned an instructional art studio and have volunteered my time to teach thousand of all ages through the years.