CAC Staff
Leadership
Eryn Johnson
Executive Director
Eryn Johnson has worked for over ten years as a youth advocate and manager in youth serving organizations including ZUMIX, Inc. in East Boston and Proyecto Ak’Tenamit in Izabal, Guatemala. Most recently, Eryn was Director of Education at Citi Performing Arts Center (formerly The Wang Center for the Performing Arts) where she led a department that served over 10,000 youth and families annually through comprehensive, in-depth arts programs such as Dance Across The City, Celebrate Shakespeare and City Spotlights. She has presented on arts and youth activism for the New England Women’s Studies Association Conference, the ArtCorps program and at Tufts University, and is a consultant in youth development for The Medical Foundation. She received her Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in Theater from Oberlin College and her Masters in Performance Studies from New York University.
Shayla Lowe
Director of Youth and Family Services
Shayla Lowe first came to the Community Art Center as a very small child when the organization was still housed in the basement of Newtowne Court. She used to love the mini bowling alley they had set up there and all of the fun that she had with her sister and friends. Now, Shayla is back! Shayla initially joined the Art Center staff as a teacher and Movement and Sports Specialist and, as the Director of Youth and Family Services, she can ensure that kids at the Art Center get the same great opportunity that was given to her.
Marlon Orozco
Media Program Director
Marlon has been working in youth program for about 20 years and has focused his work on multimedia design and technology. As a teen he participated and later worked in ROCA Inc. in Chelsea MA working with teen in arts and science. He has helped develop multimedia youth programs around the world through the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network technology and media initiative. As the Flagship Program manager for the Intel Computer Clubhouse, his program won the Peter F. Drucker Innovation Award for the programs use of multimedia with teens. At UTEC in Lowell MA, he worked with teens and young adults who are court involved, developing skill building workshop and mentoring them. Marlon has also worked on music videos, Indie films, documentaries and his photography has been published in books and magazines.
Administrative Staff
Mary Ann Kearns
Development and Marketing Coordinator
Mary Ann has extensive experience in nonprofit arts administration, marketing and development. For many years, Mary Ann served as a Founder, Co-Curator and Board Member of 119 Gallery in Lowell, MA a non-profit organization that bridges traditional and new media art by promoting innovative ideas and cutting edge techniques through a diverse program of exhibitions, performances and community services..Mary Ann served on the Lowell Cultural Council for 6 years, and has been a key participant in the Boston Cyberarts Festival since 1999. She has a Master of Arts Degree from Virginia Commonweatlh University.
Laura Chadwell
Program Assistant
Laura Hill is a Massachusetts native with over 5 years of administrative
experience in the arts and higher education. After earning her Bachelors of
Science in Theater Arts Management from Ithaca College in 2007, she worked
for Barrington Stage Company, The Boston Conservatory, International Music
Network, and Lesley University. Laura recently completed coursework for her
Master's degree from Lesley University in Art, Community, and Education
where she learned how to be an advocate for youth development through the
arts. She currently also works for Arlington Children's Theater.
Program Staff
Teen Media Program
Staci Coleman
Teen Media Program and Marketing Assistant
Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Staci decided she needed a change of
scenery. In 2006, she moved to Boston, to pursue a Bachelor's degree in
Photography. Through her school, she came to The Community Art Center as
an intern. After earning her degree, she was offered a position as the
Photo Specialist and has been with the Art Center ever since. She is
currently also working with the Teen Media Program and pursuing her
Master's in Clinical Social Work, at Boston College.
Amatullah Mervin
Teen Media Program Youth Worker
Amatullah, a Community Art Center Alum is now a student at Clark University. She has been involved in youth organizing since 2007 through the Boston-area Youth Organizing Project (BYOP), and was elected by BYOP membership to serve on the 2010-2011 Youth Council as th. Amatullah co-led BYOP’s Cambridge high school chapter, the Alliance for Educational Justice (AEJ) Club, and has remained involved in the chapter as a support staff since graduating in 2011. Amatullah currently works for BYOP as an Adult Organizer in support of the organization’s local & national Education Justice work.
School Age Child Care
Amanda McGarrity
Visual Arts Specialist
Amanda McGarrity has worked with youth in Cambridge for more than 8 years in positions including Team Leader / Supervisor at City Year, Americorps, Youth Specialist at Terrascope Youth Radio and most recently as the Middle School Program Lead Youth Worker and the Sports Leadership Academyrogram Director for the Area IV Youth Center.
Staci Coleman
Photography Specialist
Jaronzie Harris
Theater Specialist
Jaronzie Harris hails from balmy North Carolina and made her way to the burly North in order to study at Emerson College. She completed her studies there in 2011, receiving her B.A. in Theatre Education. Being a part of the Art Center family is a fun, effort-filled experience-- full of fruit and fulfillment. She loves young people, is passionate about education and believes in the power of community.
Marie France St. Germain
Dance Specialist
Marie France has a B.F.A. from the t Massachusetts College of Art. She has been at the Art Center since she was 5 years old and does many different types of art including drawing, painting and ceramics. She came back to the Art Center because she want to make the Art Center as fun for the kids as it was for her. She also worked on making the 11th Annual DIYDS!! Film Festival a success as the one of the Assistant Festival Coordinators and supported the Art Center in various other administrative capacities.
Jose Santiago
Media Specialist
Jose has a degree in Graphic Design from Massachusetts College of Art. He has been sharing his love of graphic design and music with Community Art Centeryouth for two years.
Do It Your Damn Self!! National Youth Film and VideoFestival
Marlonn Oroczo
Staci Coleman