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Our Team
Roxy Bio
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Roxy Arrojo
Executive Director
Roxy Arrojo has been a dedicated leader within the Educational Arts Team for over 25 years and now serves as its Executive Director. Throughout her tenure, she has taken on various roles, including program director, outreach coordinator, camp director, and teaching artist, all in pursuit of expanding access to the arts and arts-based education.
A proud graduate of New Jersey City University (NJCU), Roxy later returned to serve as an adjunct professor and production manager. However, her passion for reading and storytelling led her to focus on arts integration at the Educational Arts Team, where she incorporates drama-based techniques to enhance reading comprehension and encourage self-expression among participants.
Over the years, she has played a key role in the publication of several Educational Arts Team handbooks, including The Magic Circle of Drama, The Artful Learner, and Bringing Literature to Life, all led by Carmine Tabone. She remains committed to advancing the organization’s mission of providing children with joyful, enriching creative experiences that inspire a lifelong love of learning.
In recognition of her contributions to the community, Roxy was honored with the Outstanding Service Award by the City of Jersey City Division of Community Development in 2023.
Dom Buccafusco
Director of Art Based Community Programs
Dom has worked with the team, since 1980 as a drama workshop leader. He received an MA in Educational Theatre from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education, and a BA in English/Theatre from Jersey City State College. He also attended the New School for Social Research where he studied Television Production and Acting for the stage and screen. For twenty-five years Dom worked as an adjunct instructor in theater at New Jersey City University for the Department of Music, Dance & Theater. His directorial work includes a wide range of theatrical genres including plays, musicals, and opera.
Joey Rosario
Program Manager
Joey Rosario is a theatre educator, director, choreographer, and musical theater performer. He first joined the Educational Arts Team as a teaching artist at Camp Liberty, teaching acting and improvisation classes as well as choreographing for the shows.
Originally from Paterson, NJ, Joey attended Montclair State University as a Theatre Studies Major/Dance minor and, most recently, obtained his Masters in Educational Theatre from The City College of New York. As a performer, he has had the opportunity to perform nationally and internationally in shows like “A Chorus Line”, “Guys and Dolls”, and “West Side Story”.
As a choreographer, he has had his work featured at the Jazz Choreography Enterprises’ Jazz Dance Project. He served as associate choreographer for a production of “In The Heights” at Park Playhouse and most recently, he directed and choreographed an original interactive musical adaptation of the award winning children’s book “What Do You Do With An Idea?”.
Joey’s teaching philosophy revolves around meeting people where they are, empowering them to explore, and discover what could be. He is proud to be a part of this team, all the incredible work they have done, and continue to do.
Samantha Zegarra
Operations & Administrative Manager
Samantha is a Licensed Social Worker and youth development professional making change through non profit leadership. Samantha’s journey with the Educational Arts Team began at the age of six when she was a camper at Camp Liberty. She went from camper to counselor and is currently the organization's Operations and Administrative Manager.
An alumna of Rutgers University, Samantha graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Deciding to continue her studies Samantha later went on to earn her Masters of Social Work with a focus on childhood development and clinical mental health.
Samantha brings a social work perspective to the organization by advocating for change on a macro level to build a stronger community. Samantha's core belief is enacting change through innovative programming and opportunities for youth in our community.
Stephanie Romero
Instructional Designer | Executive Assistant
Stephanie joined Camp Liberty in 2017 as counselor and Theater specialist. Originally from Colombia, Stephanie moved to the US and attended Montclair State University where she received her Bachelor’s in Theatre Studies and then received her Master’s in Educational Theatre from the City College of New York. Stephanie worked as a Teaching Artist in NY for the Creative Arts Team and Teatro SEA where she did school programming in all 5 boroughs before she became a full time theater teacher in the Bronx. She transferred to teach theatre in East Rutherford, NJ and recently got a new certification in Instructional Design. Stephanie is excited to join the team and contribute to the work they do in the community.
Addison Muniz
Finance Consultant
Addison Muniz rejoins our Team as our Finance Consultant after a long 15 year history with EdArts. Addison began his journey with EdArts as a Teen Mentor at Camp Liberty. In 2012 Addison began working with us year round as the Financial Coordinator until 2017. During his time away, he gained experience as an Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, and Bookkeeper at companies such as Nuts.com and Just Salad. Currently Muniz is employed at Modern Meadow as an Accounting Manager, and as of 2023, they have been promoted to the position of Senior FP&A Manager.
Addison Muniz began their education at Hudson County Community College in 2014, where they pursued an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Accounting. After completing their studies at Hudson County Community College in 2015, Muniz transferred to Rutgers Business School. They studied there from 2015 to 2017 and earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Accounting with a concentration in Management Information Systems.
Louise Frazier
Administrative Assistant
Louise joins the Educational Arts Team with over 30 years of experience working with families in her community.
Prior to joining the Educational Arts Team, Louise founded The LightHouse Academy, a child care center caring for children as young as 6 weeks to 12 years old. She ran The LightHouse Academy with the basis that every child has a unique voice and deserves to be heard. Here, she found that providing parents with support and a village to support their children made a difference in the lives of the families she served. During this time, Louise also fostered at-risk youth for over 10 years with the goal of reunifying youth with their families. She loved seeing her youth achieve new milestones and the excitement they experienced when going back home to implement the new things they learned with their family.
She continues to follow her passion of working with youth and their families through work at Camp Liberty and Educational Arts Team. She believes it takes a village to raise healthy, wholesome children and is excited to continue in this tradition.
Harleigh Johnson
Administrative Assistant & Camp Registrar
Harleigh Johnson joins the Educational Arts Team as Camp Liberty’s Registrar and Administrative Assistant after starting off as a camper at the age of six. Throughout her years at Camp Liberty, Harleigh was always involved in the Camp plays and danced wherever she had the opportunity, played sports such as softball and handball, climbed trees and enjoyed the pool. From a young age she also loved being able to see all the nature and wildlife at camp, something you don’t often find in Jersey City. Now working at Educational Arts Team, though introverted, Harleigh hopes to engage deeply with our community, learn new things and expand her love for arts education and working with campers and their families.
In her spare time Harleigh enjoys listening to music, crocheting, watching her favorite shows,
photography, and going to the park. With a degree in Health Science, she hopes in the future to work in the medical field.
Heather Danchise
Teaching Artist
Heather joins the Educational Arts Team as a ceramics and three-dimensional arts instructor. Upon graduating from New Jersey City University in 2018 with a BA in Art Therapy, she opened a creative space to share her love of ceramics with people of all ages and capabilities.
Heather's studio, Keezee Ceramics, has facilitated the making of local artists and people of her community. She hopes that participants in her classes experience the excitement and reward that comes from working in a creative setting.
Heather enjoys the time she spends with the team, and looks forward to helping others explore their journeys as artists.
Lionel Emabat
Teaching Artist
Lionel Emabat is an Artist and Designer with over 10 years of experience. Lionel holds a BA in Digital Design & Illustration/ Computer Science. Born in West Africa, he has always enjoyed mimicking what was in front of him on a piece of paper long before he could write. In the seventh grade, his art teacher advised him to join the art program of his school. His artistic experiences combined with cultural adaptation inspired his drawings. Over the years the things he has seen and experienced sparked his creativity & helped inspire his drawings. As he moved forward every day, he chose to live his life by sketching his way there one drawing at a time.
Dani Kopoulos
Curriculum Specialist & Teaching Artist
Dani joined the Educational Arts Team in 2010. She received an MA in Creative Writing from New School University in New York, and a BA in multi-media performance from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, her hometown.
Dani is an award-winning solo performance artist and published writer of poetry and creative non-fiction. She has also been a teaching artist for over 15 years, leading drama, writing, and movement workshops in schools and community centers in Chicago, New York and New Jersey.
Sam Llanes
Teaching Artist
Sam received her BFA from NY's School of Visual Arts studying 2D Animation. With her expertise in interweaving stories through her draftwork, she uses the same techniques to communicate different ideas & skills through art for young people. Sam started as a Junior Counselor at Camp Liberty, eventually moving on to become the Set Designer for 10+ years, producing full stage scenery with the kids.
Her background in animation brings a sense of visual storytelling to the Educational Arts Team. Sam is currently the Art Director for Camp Liberty and is now one of the Educational Arts Team's teaching artists in New Jersey.
Outside of the organization, Sam works as an Illustrator under Sammakesamess with clients such as Mask Up NJ, Baonanas, Matcha Love, & more. She's dabbled in graphic design, concept art, product development, and creates personal digital paintings for her clients.
Sylvia Riley
Teaching Artist
Sylvia Riley is an African-American illustrator, animator, and creative writer based in Jersey City, NJ. After acquiring her BA in History from Caldwell University in 2017, Sylvia decided to follow her other passion, the arts. Her formal artistic studies have taken her around the world, from Paris to California, through various Continued Education courses with the School of Visual Arts and the New York Film Academy. She is a dedicated teaching artist, focused on teaching BIPOC youth through crafting, visual art, and storytelling.
Carmine Tabone
Founder
Founder of the Educational Arts Team, Carmine has been leading theater and education projects with young people since 1970 and holds an Ed. S. from Seton Hall University in Educational Leadership and a M. A. from New York University in Educational Theater. He has been an adjunct faculty member at NYU in the graduate theater education program and has conducted in-service training workshops at regional, national and international conferences.
In 2010 Carmine and three researchers from Seton Hall University received the American Alliance for Theater and Education Research Award for their work on a series of United States Department of Education Arts in Education projects. Carmine has also co-authored a book on drama education activities, as well as three handbooks with EdArts teaching artists. Carmine and Bob Albrecht completed a book, The Arts and Play as Educational Media in the Digital Age (Peter Lang, 2020).
Mary Graham Aiken
Artist
Also known as Miss Mary, is one of the original members of Educational Arts Team which was founded in 1974. She graduated from Ferris High School in Jersey City and took drama classes at Jersey City State College. She was also the recipient of a scholarship with the Negro Ensemble Acting School in New York City.
Miss Mary's career has taken given her opportunities in a variety of fields. Mary formed two organizations, called Dambella Models and one called Arts Drama Club. She was a style columnist for a Jersey City magazine called From Dusk Til Dawn, contributing to a column called "Beauty Tips". She has also taught modeling and grooming at the Jersey City YWCA.
Miss Mary has been working with children for over 50 years, giving workshops in schools, day cares, libraries, churches, and many other organizations. She teaches music, art and crafts, storytelling, sign language, and performs in puppet shows. Miss Mary is a Jersey City favorite and beloved member of the team.
Robert Albrecht
Artist
Bob received his masters from the University of Wisconsin and his doctorate from New York University and he has published numerous articles relating to the role of music and the arts in education and culture.
As a musician, Bob has written hundreds of songs and has performed with diverse groups, all the way from street corner doo-wop to Camp songs with children in Jersey City to Brazilian jazz. As a teacher, Bob was an early member of the Educational Arts Team and has worked at Camp Liberty since 1982 where he coordinates the music and recreation program. Bob is also a tenured professor of media arts at New Jersey City University where he teaches classes in the history and social impact of media.
In 2014, he produced a CD of children’s songs entitled Sing Along with Camp Liberty. Recently, Bob represented the Educational Arts Team at an international conference in Italy where he presented a paper outlining the importance of educational arts in the age of digital technology.
Danny Bacher
Teaching Artist
Danny Bacher graduated from NJCU in 2001 with a BA in theater arts and music. He began his work as a professional teaching artist shortly after finishing college when he started working for the award-winning theater troupe, The Irondale Ensemble project. He worked for several years throughout the NYC school system teaching arts integration and theater in all five boroughs. While writing and acting and touring throughout the country, Danny continued his love for working with children after being hired, along with his brother Josh, by the Educational Arts Team in 2008 to write and perform the acclaimed after-school puppet show series, called the Backyard players. Once established at the Educational Arts Team, Danny began to work as a counselor at Camp Liberty and eventually began to work as a year -round staff member and teaching artist with the team. In addition to a solid career in jazz, cabaret and pop with a penchant for rare gems, and classic standards from the Great American Songbook, Bacher has also worked as an actor, comedian and writer, touring internationally with his original works. Along with a busy touring schedule and working at venues such as the Blue Note, Birdland, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Town Hall, he has performed several times at Carnegie Hall and most recently alongside the legendary Michael Feinstein. Bacher has released two studio albums as a leader, “Swing That Music!” and “Still Happy” on the Whaling City Sound label.
Carmine Bio
Heather Bio
Lionel Bio
Sam Z Bio
Dom bio
Danny B Bio
Joey Bio
Dani Bio
Sylvia bio
Stephanie Bio
Louise Bio
Mary Bio
Addison Bio
Harleigh Bio
Bob Bio
Sam L Bio
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