Staff, Board and Instructors

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Alysia Souder, Executive Director has over 20 years of experience in arts education. As a teaching artist, she has worked for organizations across New Jersey including Arts Horizons, Playwrights Theatre, Papermill Playhouse and the NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) teaching acting and playwriting. She is passionate about the role the arts should play in young people's growth and development and bringing the arts to under-served youth has been central to her work.

Actively involved in the development of arts education on a statewide level, Ms. Souder serves as the Chair of the Newark Arts Education Roundtable, and was the co-chair of the 2014 Creative Elizabeth: Call to Collaboration initiative. Ms. Souder is also an international presenter, having been featured at education conferences in Guatemala, Germany and South Africa. In 2013 she was a finalist NJ Emerging Leader finalist, presented by Fairleigh Dickenson University’s Center for Excellence and the Center for Non Profits.

Darryl Gent, Outreach Coordinator was born in Queens, New York and spent most of his life being raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey.  Attended Elizabeth High School class of 2002.  At the age of 18, he became a United States Marine and was discharged in 2004.  For the past 10 years, Darryl has been working in a recording studio as an Audio Engineer, where he has had thousands of recording sessions as either the head engineer or assistant engineer.  In 2015, Darryl completed his CDA Certification and has been a Teacher's Assistant at a preschool in Elizabeth, NJ.  He started a podcast network in 2017 where he helps run a live daily talk show on the internet.

Ena Gomez, Assistant Director has been with the Institute since 2010 and has 8 Summer Camp t-shirts to prove it. Working in community advocacy since 1997, Ena has a wealth of experience in problem solving and relationship building. She brings those skills to her work at the Institute, as well as her love of art and arts education, holding a BA in Art History and Global Studies from Montclair State University. 

Kierrah Nelson, Program Associate has been with the Institute since 2012 as a student. Just from that first year alone she has shown traits of a Youth Leader and was asked to be a part of the program. She started off as a volunteer and has worked herself up to be the Assistant Youth Leader Coordinator to co-lead and be a mentor/manager for the Youth Leader program. She has always enjoyed her passion for dance such as Ballet, Pointe & Hip Hop since the age of 5, then later got involved with singing since joining the Institute. She has enjoyed working alongside many teachers as being their teaching assistant, then began her process as a teacher in training for dance at the Institute.

Jennifer North, Development Director has 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector with expertise in fund development, communications, strategic planning, and operational management for organizations addressing a range of critical community issues. Her interest in youth development extends beyond the work day, when Jennifer is engaged in political work and advocacy around education equity and criminal justice reform. She is currently on the Youth Justice Governing Board of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. Prior to her work at the Institute, Jennifer spent 8 years as Vice President of Beyond Celiac, a national patient advocacy organization. She holds a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Drawing and Painting from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has engaged in graduate study in Adult and Organizational Development at Temple University.

Kristin Schwartz, Systems and Programs Administrator joined the team in mid 2018.  Prior to her work at the Institute, Kristin ran her own business as an Intuitive Virtual Assistant where she held space for clients and their visions as well as supported their ongoing administrative needs.  For 14 years, Kristin worked in the culinary industry, first as a Pastry Cook, then as a Pastry Chef, and then in backend house management.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers as well as a Grand Diploma in Pastry Arts from the French Culinary Institute (now known as the International Culinary Center) in New York City.  She lives in Jersey City Heights with her daughter (an Institute student) and their rescue pup Melo. Kristin's favorite pastime is running, with her accomplishments being completing 2 Full Marathons and a 50k Trail race.

Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin is a self-empowerment speaker, award winning actor, poet, spoken word recording artist. Via her own production company Talking Poems and Storytelling Productions Gha’il performs her one-woman show throughout the country bringing to light the inner complexities of everyday characters with raw simplicity and humor. From classrooms to college campuses, nightlife venues to art spaces, including Lincoln Center, The Schomberg, The Knitting Factory and Symphony Space of New York, Gha'il motivates, uplifts and inspires audiences with words and phrases that stick to your ribs. 

As director and facilitator of various creative workshops and performances, she encourages participants of all ages to “project their inner voices”. Gha’il is both the visual image and voice of spoken word in collaboration with filmmaker Al Santana titled Reparation Blues, (PBS, WLIW). Her voice resonates through radio airwaves with her poem titled, She Got Burned, a PSA promoting domestic violence awareness through Safe Horizons of New York. Her debut CD Spiritual Eclipse/ Sacred Moments on a String of Words is a collage of music and spoken-word, a portrait of self-discovery, self-love and renewal. She is featured on Pete Seeger's 2014 Grammy-nominated album, The Storm King. Gha’il is the recipient of the 2010 Soul Purpose Award, The Ties That Bind Award, The Spirit Award, The Diamond Homer Award and an Audelco Award. She is currently on the public speaking circuit, raising her voice to ignite self-empowerment and creativity.
CLASSES: Acting, Creative Writing

Rhonda Holland received her B.F.A. in dance education from Temple University and is the Assistant Director of Umoja Dance Company. Holland was the Assistant Artistic Director of the Montclair High School Performing Arts Dance Company for two years. In addition to her administrative and performing roles, Holland free-lances as a studio teacher and choreographer while pursuing her modeling and theatre career in the New York / Philadelphia area. She plans to go back to school to complete her minor in sports medicine. Currently, Ms. Holland is the head coach for the Montclair High School Cheerleading squad. Classes: Ballet & Dance Troupe.

Hector Morales is a Peruvian drummer/percussionist, composer, recording artist and educator. He started playing the Cajon (traditional afro-Peruvian percussion instrument) at the age of eight. He began his formal music studies at the National School of Music of Peru. In the year 1999 he traveled to the US to study at the prestigious William Paterson University Jazz Program. Since graduating in 2003, he had continued his music education by studying different drumming traditions from around the world. His credits include performances with some of the masters of the Afro-Peruvian tradition including “Maestro” Carlos Hayre, Marcos Campos, Julio “Chocolate” Algendones, Oliver Lake, Onaje Allan Gumbs and Grammy Awarded bassist Oscar Stagnaro. He has an extensive background as an educator. He is the creator of the innovative interactive music program "The Art of Playing Together". Classes: Piano, Rhythm and Drumming, Drum Kit.

Ian Schwartz is a lifelong musician and songwriter, and has extensive experience teaching guitar and piano to students age 3 and up as a private music instructor. With 25 years experience in guitar and piano, Ian has studied and performed with several award-winning music artists, and has written and recorded over one hundred songs. He plays and teaches a variety of styles on both the guitar and the piano, from classical to jazz to rock. Ian is patient, friendly, and loves sharing the gift of music, especially with children. Ian was the guitarist in the Princeton University Jazz Ensemble for 3 seasons, was selected from a nationwide pool of musicians to perform at a special music event at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and was the recipient of the New Jersey Governor's Award in Arts Education for the category of Instrumental Music. Classes: Piano & Guitar.

Perry Brody Currently residing in Union Township, 2013 JAM award Nominee, Perry Dale "PD" Brody continues to solidify his name in the New Jersey scene. A stalwart of the bar/restorant circuit, Brody is hoping the release of his first full length album New Roads can open the doors to bigger stages.

At the age of 5, after the passing of his father Don Brody, PD began taking up piano and guitar throughout his school years while honing the skills as a vocalist in choirs and bands. "Ever since seeing my dad play and sing, I knew it was something I wanted to do." Brody says. PD began playing professionally at 17 and received support from the local open mic circuit. "It's a great place to hone your skills," Brody says. "Everyone is super supportive and has been instrumental in my growth as a musician, performer, and writer."

Brody has released two self-produced EPs over the last 4 years, and he expects the pick up the momentum with the release of 'New Roads.' "It feels like I've been at it for a while," Brody says, "But there's gas in the tank and fire in my blood, so we're going to keep rolling! I'm looking foward to taking what we have to the next level."

Brody graduated from Kean University and teaches elementary school when not performing or on the road, incorporating a passion for music into a professional career, using music in as many lessons as possible.

Gonzalo “G” Silva is a producer, DJ, and educator from Union City, NJ. He is a member of the renowned Jersey Club/Dance Music label and DJ crew Brick Bandits. He also co-founded the record label and party collective Thread Imprint. His style blends his Latin heritage and urban upbringing. His most recent work in the community has been through opening Grounded Music Education/Grounded DJ's, an organization dedicated to offering producing and life skills courses to adults in the community. He also works for several other organizations such as The Institute of Music for Children & NJPac teaching similar classes to kids K-12.