staff
Jessica Jarrard, Executive Director
she/her
CLICK HERE for bio
Kree Thawley, Director of Programs
she/her
CLICK HERE for bio
Angelica Peralta, Director of Operations
she/they
CLICK HERE for bio
Liza Hubbell, Program Manager
she/her
CLICK HERE for bio
Liz Fischer, Lead Facilitator
she/her
CLICK HERE for bio
John Thorn, Admin Assistant and Caretaker
he/him
CLICK HERE for bio
Jess Craig, Agency Administrator
she/they
CLICK HERE for bio
Natalie Espino, Community Liaison and Volunteer Coordinator
she/her/Ella
CLICK HERE for bio
KEY PERSONNEL
Catherine O’Neill Thorn, Founding Executive Director, Retired
she/her
CLICK HERE for bio
staff demographics:
| Female | 9 | African American/Black | 0 | Hispanic/Latinx | 2 |
| Male | 1 | White | 6 | Asian American/Pacific Islander | 1 |
| Non-Binary | 0 | LGBTQIA+ | 5 | Youth (24 or younger) | 0 |
AfA facilitators
Art from Ashes facilitators range from Master’s degree experts in counseling and professionals in the field of child development to poets and artists. Professional development in the form of curriculum training and an adult workshop series, as well a background check is required. Facilitators also are provided ongoing supervision with bi-annual reviews, and monthly trainings from experts in various fields of study relevant to facilitating youth, including group dynamics, adolescent brain development and drug/alcohol counseling. Volunteers who wish to work directly with youth are required to enroll in an adult workshop as part of the training. Depending upon prior agreements, in most cases the entire cost of the workshop is reimbursed after the volunteer assists at eight youth workshops.
