School Engagement in the Arts

Queena Chen is a student at Fort Hamilton High School. From a young age, she has been interested in and passionate about graphic design and enjoys listening to music in her free time. Working with the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact throughout the Teen Producers program, Queena has been able to immerse herself in a unique workspace, providing her with real insights and broadened knowledge in the arts and social media campaign-building via the launch of the LessLonely Project. Queena's hope is to bring more people together through her professional and leadership skills and build up her network within the 92NY community.

Hana Chuang is a student at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Manhattan. She plays guitar and bass, and is very active in the musical community at her school. Hana is also passionate about the inner workings of audio technology, and wants to learn about the work that is done behind the scenes to put on a successful creative performance. Hana applied to the Teen Producers Program in order to gain more industry experience, and to build skills that would be helpful in creative fields of work. At 92NY, Hana is learning what goes into planning successful events that take place at the Harkness Dance Center, as well as how to run administrative tasks and perform customer service. Hana also works to make graphic and email content for the School of Dance.

Yariela Feliz goes to East Bronx Academy for the Future. She is passionate about visual art, enjoys listening to music, and reading fiction. She joined the Teen Producers program to expand her knowledge of the arts and gain valuable hands-on experience. She works in the Harkness Dance Center at 92NY.

Naomi Guerrier is a student at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Her love for the arts stems from her Haitian background and continues to grow as the years go by. In school, she advocates for other people of color, in hopes of creating a better learning environment. She is part of Percussion Club and is currently serving as Co-President. Naomi applied to the Teen Producers Program in hopes of becoming more outgoing, finding a space to express her creativity, and gaining experience in a workplace. She currently works in the Unterberg Poetry Center at 92NY and has taken part in creating a podcast titled Blank Verse as well as planning different writing and reading events.

Jennifer Mendoza, who also goes by Toby and Otaku, is an openly queer genderfluid student of Theater Arts Production Company School (TAPCo). They major in theater where they assist with performances, create shows, and learn about the history of theater such as Shakespeare and Comedia dell'arte. They also have a significant interest in Broadway theater and creating their own stories. They joined the 92NY Teen Producers program in hopes to better their social anxiety and learn more about writing. They are currently placed in the Unterberg Poetry Center where they work with two other amazing teens who have come together to create a podcast called Blank Verse.

Raphael Moy attends Bard High School Early College Queens. Throughout his life, inspired by his sister, he has been an avid illustrator. Ever since elementary school, art class has always been his favorite; it is a place he can simply draw and focus on creativity. He is passionate about being a part of the world of art and wants to further his knowledge even more. He participated in the Scholastic Art Awards, where he was awarded a silver key and 3 honorable mentions. He also takes graphic design classes in his free time. His favorite part of the Teen Producers program is being surrounded by people with the same passions and interests as him. He works with the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92NY and especially likes working on graphic design and social media campaigns.

Gabrielle Polonio is a student at Manhattan Hunter Science High School. She applied for the Teen Producers program in order to step out of their comfort zone while also learning how to take on a professional role with confidence. She looks forward to going to 92NY every week, where she works alongside friends in the Unterberg Poetry Center. Gabrielle grew up surrounded by the arts, starting early in the children’s choir and moving on to poetry writing in school, then becoming a dancer for a period of time. Throughout all of that, she never abandoned her love for visual arts. Her current dream is to be the Director of an art museum in the future. She and her other colleagues assist in creating live events for talented poets, connect with them through interviews, and continue learning about the nitty-gritty of the Poetry Center!

Andrew Skoblov attends Fort Hamilton High School. He has a lifelong, deep passion for music composition and production. He loves being creative and expressing himself through music. He is self-taught and always has a hunger to learn more and improve. He spent much of quarantine working on his musical projects; it is something that brought him comfort during a difficult time. Listening to music and attending performances inspires and pushes him to work even harder. Through his work with the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92NY, he enjoys collaborating with others, learning communication skills, and opening himself up to new ideas.

Mia Tifa attends Hudson High School of Learning Technologies. Mia joined the Teen Producers program because she knew it would be an amazing experience to work at 92NY and meet people who also have a love for the arts. She is passionate about theater and acting. She also enjoys being active; she plays softball and volleyball, runs tracks, tap dances, and practices yoga. This experience helps her work at 92NY with the Harkness Dance Center. Her favorite part of the Teen Producers program is the opportunity to attend live performances. Her next step is to gain more experience in acting; it is her dream to work as an actor in the future.

Leticia is a junior at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. She is passionate about singing and creative writing. Leticia has been a writing tutor for youth at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center during past school years, and has been part of an award-winning choir featured on Good Morning America. At the Poetry Center, she’s excited to learn more about the methods of different writers and see how they got their inspiration. Through her 92NY internship, she will learn planning and event management, as well as experience the development of the behind-the-scenes world of different events held at 92NY.

Daphne is a junior at The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology. She is passionate about computer science and enjoys music and playing sports. She wants to gain experience with modern front and back end web technologies. Her curiosity in the world of the arts led her to join the Teen Producers Program where she will be working with 92NY’s web team, building and editing web pages such as the Teen Art Week site, and creating email content.

Sandy is a junior at Mott Hall V in the South Bronx. She is excited to join the Teen Producers program in order to broaden her knowledge about the arts and how they can be used to express feelings, beliefs, and even to make political statements or to explore different perspectives. She is also intrigued by the way the actions of our past generations have made society the way it is today. Sandy plans to pursue these interests through a career in criminology and psychology. She is a risk-taker who likes to try out new experiences and is determined to do what it takes to meet the goals she has set for herself. Throughout her Internship at 92NY with The Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact, she will work on Ben Franklin Circles and the Women inPower fellowship program.

Christopher Hernandez is a junior at the Theater Arts Production Company school. He has an immense passion for music and visual arts, and plays multiple instruments such as the piano, guitar, and drums. The Teen Producers program seemed like something that would help Chris in his journey of expanding his knowledge of the arts, such as the steps taken to prepare a large show or gallery. He has worked at the 50th precinct, he’s a part of the BSAC (Borough Student Advisory Council), babysitting, dog walking, attended the SASF After School program, and managed backstage affairs in multiple school plays. In this internship, Christopher will assist the Department of Sponsorships and Marketing in the creation, activation and execution of 92NY events including the 92NY Food Summit and 92NY XYZ Summit as well as assist in securing new sponsors for 92NY programs including 92NY Talks and XYZ by 92NY. As a young man from Brooklyn he is a determined and ambitious individual who strives to learn as much as he can, and spread his knowledge across the world.

Jensi Jimenez, a junior attending Theatre Arts Production Company School (TAPCo), is currently a member of the 92NY’s Teen Producers Program. As a performing artist, Jensi is always looking for different opportunities to inform himself artistically and educationally. He is striving to become a professional TV actor and singer. Singing has been a part of his life since the age of 4. While attending elementary school, Bronx Charter School for the Arts, he learned how to play the piano, composed a musical piece, performed in various choreographies, and played the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs in the musical Hairspray. Since 2014, Jensi has been a member of Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC). He is no stranger to the 92NY, as he performed in several winter showcases with YPC in 92NY’s Kaufmann Concert Hall. He joined the Teen Producers Program not only for his passions in the arts, but in hopes of becoming a more independent young hispanic male from the Bronx.

Carolina is a junior at Mott Hall V High School in the Soundview area of The Bronx, which is mainly a math and science school. From a very young age, she has been passionate about the visual arts, drawing and making things of her own. In the 6th grade, Carolina took her first ceramics class at a Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) afterschool program at her school, where she was first introduced to ceramics and a kiln. In the 8th and 9th grade, Carolina had the opportunity to participate in another ceramics program at 92NY’s afterschool program at her school. Under the instruction of Carol Lewis, she truly enjoyed being introduced to the ceramics “wheel” and the chance to make many more pieces of her own. Carolina is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her mentor Elizabeth in the Development Department at 92NY for two years and get a feel of what being part of a workplace is like.

Brandon is a Junior at the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology. Brandon has played the djembe and has done plenty of computer art. In school, Brandon enjoys classes like Pre-Calc and Computer Science because he can truly be creative and put a sense of who he is in his work. He is excited to build new interests in career paths he might be unfamiliar in. Working in the PR department can broaden his knowledge of how to properly plan a PR campaigns. Classes like entrepreneurship have helped him understand the purposes of a PR department in a successful company. Through his internship, Brandon will build and maintain press lists for the department using Cision, and assist with planning and executing PR campaigns for talks, special events and Teen Arts Week. Last but not least, his goal is to leave a mark on his peers and a legacy for future Teen Producers.

Lizbeth is a junior at the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology in the South Bronx. She joined the Teen Producers program because she wants to gain professional experience and learn more about herself. Additionally, Lizbeth wants to build on her leadership skills, have the opportunity to explore different art careers and network in order to meet new people and build relationships. Her interests include drawing, jewelry making and using different craft supplies to build and create artwork. Furthermore, she loves sports and is in the track and cross country team at her school. Participating on sports teams have taught Lizbeth the importance of teamwork and practice. Prior to working at the 92NY, she interned at El Museo Del Barrio where she learned how to create a podcast. Lizbeth also attended programs like Youth Group and Las Adelitas where she developed skills like organizing events from scratch, learned about self love and valuing herself as a woman. Through her internship at the 92NY she will work with the Art Center to support events like guest speakers, gallery shows and visiting artist workshops and contribute to ArtCenter programming and communications working directly with teachers, patrons and artists.

Zane is a junior at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. He is passionate about the connection that the arts brings between people, and loves singing in his school’s award-winning choir. Since fourth grade, Zane has spent his time after school singing with the Highbridge Voices choirs. Because of his interest in pursuing the arts in the future, he is thrilled to work behind the scenes by interning with 92NY’s Digital Content team. He will find pieces of video in the 92NY Archives and create social content with the team, all with the goal of building the organizational brand online.

Adrialkis is a Junior from Celia Cruz Bronx High School Of Music. She is from the Dominican Republic but was born in New York City. She loves singing alongside her Award Winning Choir who tours locally and has performed for celebrities including Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. Her other artistic passions are dancing and baton twirling. Adrialkis applied to the Teen Producers Program to explore the different careers involved in the arts and to gain professional experience. She has a weekly internship in the Dance Department where she takes part in different projects such as planning Dance Up!, a teen choreographers program.

David is a senior at Mott Hall V High School in the South Bronx. He’s passionate about guitar and music production. Although his school has limited arts offerings, David has taken it upon himself to learn guitar through online tutorials and YouTube videos. As a Teen Producer, David is assisting 92NY’s concerts team in the production of performances featured in 92NY’s Lyrics & Lyricists American songbook series.

Tyrik is a senior at the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology in the South Bronx. Tyrik is passionate about poetry, computer science and the visual arts. He specifically requested to work in 92NY’s Creative department “to see if becoming an advertisement creator for businesses for a career is something that I have an interest in.” Through his 92NY internship, Tyrik is learning the ins-and-outs of graphic design and how to utilize programs like InDesign and Photoshop to bring his ideas to life. Tyrik will attend Buffalo State University in the fall of 2019.

Amari is a senior at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. She is passionate about music and dance and loves performing with her school’s award-winning choir. As a Teen Producer, Amari is interning in 92NY’s Continuing Education department, supporting Program Manager Alicia Fernandez Harris in the implementation of talks and classes on everything from opera to world cuisines. Amari is studying voice with soprano Ann Hoyt, vocal chair of 92NY’s School of Music.

Yomaris is a senior at the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology in the South Bronx. She is passionate about poetry and dance and eager to learn more about the world of development and fundraising. In her Teen Producers application, Yomaris wrote that working in the Development Department would be “a great opportunity to learn more about how money is raised because the more money that is raised, the more doors that are opened for students who are passionate about the arts.” Yomaris will attend Cornell University in the fall of 2019.

Destiny is a senior at the Theatre Arts Production Company School (TAPCo) in the Tremont area of the Bronx. She is a talented singer majoring in vocal arts at TAPCo. Destiny is eager to learn more about the arts-and-culture scene in NYC: “All my life I've felt a deep connection to all things in the arts. In high school, I've grown such an attachment to Musical Theater, and hearing of a program like Teen Producers that can offer me such a great experience is unimaginable.” Through her 92NY internship, Destiny is learning how to write a press release, conduct research on potential media targets and cover press on-site at 92NY events. Destiny is studying voice with jazz singer Vicki Burns in 92NY’s School of Music. Destiny will attend The City College of New York in the fall of 2019.

Lisbeth is a senior at the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology in the South Bronx. She is passionate about poetry and dance and wants to learn more about how she can connect her love of the arts to a career as a successful entrepreneur. Through her 92NY internship, Lisbeth will head up #GivingTuesday’s Command Central Station — monitoring #GivingTuesday highlights from around the globe — and assist with the production of events in 92NY’s Women inPower Fellowship Program. Lisbeth is studying voice in 92NY’s School of Music. Lisbeth will attend Skidmore College in the fall of 2019.

Aliya is a senior at Mott Hall V High School in the South Bronx. She is passionate about acting and creative writing. During her freshman and sophomore years, she participated in an afterschool literary program run by the ASPIRA Association, which builds educational and leadership capacity in Latino youth. Through the program, she had the chance to write and perform original monologues and developed a love of the creative written arts. She’s thrilled to have the chance to work with 92NY’s Unterberg Poetry Center, where she will assist with the Center’s own literacy outreach initiative, which brings students from NYC public high schools in contact with world-famous writers.

Carla is a senior at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. She is passionate about the performing arts — particularly music and dance — and loves singing in her school’s award-winning choir. Carla specifically requested to intern with the Dance Center. She is fascinated by “all the different types of dance that are performed at 92NY”. Through her 92NY internship, Carla will assist 92NY’s Director of Dance with the production of three major events/performances this season: David Hallberg’s 92NY appearance with Derek Blasberg; Dig Dance: New York/Pacific Island Time; and Urban Bush Women: Hair Parties, a Harkness Dance Festival event that encourages participants to re-examine closely-held beliefs about themselves, society, class, race, gender, age and individual beauty. Carla will attend The State University of New York at Albany in the fall of 2019.

Francis is a senior at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. He is passionate about classical music and loves playing the cello. Francis has served as a cello mentor in a summer music program for youth and has experience in stage management. He’s excited to explore the behind-the-scenes world of arts and culture at 92NY and across NYC. Through his internship, Francis will create a marketing plan for 92NY’s innovation Dance Therapy program. Francis will attend College of Mount Saint Vincent in the fall of 2019.

Susan is a senior at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx. She is passionate about singing, the visual arts and creative writing. Through her 92NY internship, Susan will curate and produce an event in 92NY’s Read Aloud Series, a literary reading series for elementary and middle school students featuring renowned children’s book authors. “Being part of something that gives kids the opportunity to learn, and express themselves, whether in music, art, or even web design, is an honor.” Susan is studying voice with 92NY School of Music faculty member Gina Morgano. Susan will attend New York University in the fall of 2019.