About YAU

Youth Arts Unlocked 2018-2019 Annual Report

STAFF

SHELLEY R. SPIVACK, JD MA - YAU Executive Director

Spivack has 35+ years of experience in both juvenile justice, and arts and non-profit administration. She recently retired from the Genesee County Family Court where she served as a Juvenile/Family Court Referee She has also taught at UM-Flint since 2002. Spivack co-authored the book ‘Implementing a Gender-Based Arts Program for Juvenile Offenders’ and has written numerous articles and presented workshops on issues related to the arts and the juvenile justice system. In 2019 and 2020, Spivack was awarded FTAAPP grants by the Kellogg Foundation for her work with YAU. She has served on the boards of numerous non-profits.

C. L. FIELDS, B.A. - Co-Director

Fields has been with YAU since 2013 and is responsible for finances, and grant and program management. Fields developed the HerStory: UNLOCKED project (which has received two Michigan Humanities grants), has presented workshops at national and state conferences and is active with the national Justice Arts Coalition (JAC). Fields has worked in the non-profit sector in Michigan and in Canada over the past 25+ years.

CURR’ESHA BEATTY - Spoken Word Poetry Teaching Artist

Beatty is an actor, model, assistant elementary teacher and spoken word performer/creator. She earned a BA from UM-Flint, with a major in Theatre Performance and a minor in Communication. She is from Detroit and was the first in her family to graduate from college.

Teaching Statement: Being at GCJCC has reminded me of the voice that we all need sometimes. I encourage the youth to express their journey in their own ways, in their own words, and to be in the moment and appreciate what you are right now. We find the beauty in this through Spoken Word.

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STAFF

Shelley R. Spivack – Co-Founder and Co-Director
C.L. Fields – Co-Director and Program Manager
Dr. Denise Smith Allen – Research Consultant
Sally Strand – Web & Graphic Design

TEACHING ARTISTS

Aris Campbell – Dance
Emma Davis – Dance
Dan Gerics – Theatre
Marcia McGee – Yoga
Ella McAndrew – Theatre
Meghan C. Kelly – Visual Arts
Curr’esha Beatty – Spoken Word Poetry
Bradley Carson – Visual Arts

BOARD

Steven Hull – Chair
Justin Scanlon – Vice Chair
Cakhilah Durden – Secretary
Bella Kritz – Treasurer
Erica Britt
Jessica Hammon
Ethan Hibbard
Dora King
Linda Pylypiw
Jen Sikora