ABOUT
Inspiring Black & Brown Communities through Art Education
We accomplish this through our three pillars:
Representation
Art Education &
Professional Development
Our vision is that Black & Brown communities are empowered through seeing representation, having access to quality art education, and receiving support in activating their creative skills to impact the world around them.
Charlecia Joy
FOUNDER
As a young girl, I witnessed gaily adorned floats and hand crafted costumes decorated to perfection at Junkanoo in my mother's place of birth, Nassau, Bahamas. I was intrigued by the production and history; it was revolutionary, creative, and most importantly communal. In addition to such fond memories at Junkanoo, my mother also played an integral part in introducing me to creating art at the tender age of four. These formative experiences sparked the foundation of nurturing the arts in myself and others.
I began refining my artistic skills at Parkway Middle School of the Arts and Dillard Center for the Arts in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I then went on to earn a BFA in Theater Production: Scenic Design from the University of Florida and a MA in Art and Art Education from Columbia University, Teachers College. I have since exhibited in several galleries and art spaces, and have been a teaching-artist through non-profit and freelance opportunities. I also hold a K-12 visual arts teaching certification in New York State, where I taught high school art in the South Bronx of NYC for many years.
However, my passions extend beyond all that creating art and teaching encompasses, I also enjoy collaborating, facilitating, and planning events and creative experiences in and throughout diverse communities. As a response, Stapledon Arts was founded in April 2021 to explore my passions beyond the studio and classroom. This is a labor of love that represents where my love of art started and where I currently serve. The name “Stapledon ” is derived from my childhood memories in the Bahamas. The George Washington Bridge (which is in Washington Heights, NYC) signifies connecting my past to my present and how I intentionally use my knowledge and experiences to serve as a bridge. I am passionate about serving current and the next generation of artists, art teachers and art administrators. Thank you for joining me along this journey in making Stapledon Arts a reality.
Advisory Board
Jihan A. Thomas
Jihan A. Thomas is a Black visual artist, artivist, mother, abolitionist, afrofuturist and community/museum arts educator. She is an educator with the Abolitionist Teaching Network, Melanated Educators Collective, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. In addition, she is the Museum Education Division Director for the Pennsylvania Art Education Association. Jihan is based in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Leni Lenape Lands, where she uses art and creativity to serve her city. She believes in the power of Black imagination, creativity, rematriation, joy, resistance and rebellion ideologies and technology. To Jihan, art can be a conduit for empowerment, activation and self reflection. As an art educator, Jihan is fully invested in dispelling anti Blackness within education and visual culture as it affects Black people and the Global Majority.
Linda Kourkoulis
Linda Kourkoulis is an accomplished printmaker; her love for creating directly compliments her work as an art educator. Linda has taught for 15 years as an elementary school art teacher in the New York City Department of Education. In tandem she has taught a number of courses at Teachers College, Columbia University (TC) such as silkscreen printing and art education field observations. Linda is passionate about mentoring and guiding the next generation of artists and art educators. After earning her EdD in Art Education from TC she has come full circle.
Linda is currently the Curriculum Coordinator in the Art Education department at her first alma mater School of Visual Arts where her art journey all began.
Jeanie Ahn
Jeanie Ahn is a journalist and financial educator. As a money reporter and senior producer for over 7 years, she reported on hundreds of stories to empower viewers to take control of their finances. Her current projects focus primarily on financial literacy for families on everything from managing debt, to growing your wealth, and building your career. She also spends time teaching News Literacy to undergrads at Hunter College as an Adjunct Journalism Professor. With a background in producing long-form human interest stories at ABC News on shows like 20/20, What Would You Do? and NY Med, she is passionate about bringing real stories and real advice to real people. Her digital and broadcast journalism career has given her opportunities to work with some of the most iconic female journalists such
as Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters, and Katie Couric.
Nicole Miller
Nicole Miller graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Mass Communications. She also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing at Nova Southeastern University. In her former role as Brand Manager for FIU Housing and Residential Life, she created memorable college experiences through marketing and graphic design. Nicole has mentored under-resourced youth throughout the Upward Bound Math- Science program. Throughout her career as a digital and social media marketing communications professional, she has made it her mission to create genuine connections by uplifting others. In six years of working in higher education, she has encouraged students to align their educational journeys with their true passion.
