Alisa Sikelianos-Carter offers dynamic, multi-day art workshops, artist talks, studio visits, and assemblies designed to engage students in creative exploration and critical thinking. Her programs invite participants to connect personal stories, cultural memory, and material experimentation through hands-on projects in drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and mixed media. Each session encourages curiosity, reflection, and collaboration, while introducing students to contemporary art practices and the role of art as a tool for self-expression and community building.

I am Yolanda T. Marshall, an award-winning Caribbean-heritage author of diverse, inclusive, festive children's literature. I have 20 books to read from! I am an energetic storyteller who performs interactive book readings for large groups. My books and storytime include music, singing and dancing! The main themes of my books are about everyone (regardless of cultural identity) coming together to celebrate our similarities and differences. It is a space for childhood joy, laughter and learning something new about each other. My readings are for 45 - 60 mins of multiple books. We take little dance soca breaks to keep moving. I present my book on a projector so everyone can see the vibrant and beautiful illustrations by the illustrators. My virtual readings - books are presented on the screen in classrooms - we get to have a fun party, aka storytime, at our desks!

I offer author visits, involving book readings, a description of how I got started writing children’s books, and workshops promoting inclusion, empathy, and kindness.

Anita Sanchez is an award-winning author of books on science and nature for young readers. She offers school programs on the challenges and adventures of researching and writing about the natural world.

Authors Out Loud is the kid-lit division of Authors Unbound. We are a relationship-focused agency seeking to connect young adult, middle grade and children’s authors with school, festival and library audiences across the country. Our goal is to empower event coordinators with tools that build alliances between teachers, librarians, parents and authors, to help to transform young readers into lifelong book nerds.

Billy Lamont’s poetry workshops, designed to strengthen student’s writing skills, are aligned with New York State English Language Arts Standards for Reading and Writing. Lamont explains the different forms of poetry, giving examples from his own poetry, and speaks about the importance of knowledge, imagination, and wisdom of heart and mind for success in life. Lamont affirms that students have a right to their own feelings and that it is healthy to express themselves through poetry. Lamont recites his poem, ‘Dignity’ to help students understand their unique value and to inspire them to fulfill their great potential. In support of The Dignity Act, he tells students that they can gain an understanding and empathy of other people, including those from different cultures, through reading their poetry. He emphasizes the importance of empathy in building community and stopping bullying in our schools. BILLY LAMONT BIO 2025 Billy Lamont is a NY based American poet, spoken word artist, recording artist, and experimental multi-media performance poet, with a reformer spirit, and international reach. He has been interviewed and performed on national television a number of times, including Joe Franklin Show, MTV, and MUCH MUSIC Television broadcast from Toronto, Canada. He has toured and performed with Lollapalooza rock festival several times including in the Poetry Tent in 1994, on The Lab side stage in 1995, and representing Jubilee USA/International in The World Of Just BeCauses activism tent while performing poems of activism on the Booty Camp side stage in 2003. He has appeared on college and major radio stations across the U.S. including Z-100 live from Lollapalooza in NY in 1994. He has also given in-store book signing events at major and independent bookstores throughout the U.S. Lamont has three books of poetry, and as a recording artist has nine album CD/digital download releases. His latest book Words Ripped From A Soul Still Bleeding: Poems For The Future Edition is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon as a paperback, or as an eBook, and all his albums can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music. He was awarded a Guinness World Record for his poetry performance contribution to a benefit song for Love Hope Strength Foundation and those fighting cancer, that was recorded by Mike Peters of The Alarm in 2014, and was the ‘longest officially released song ever.’ This song titled The Scriptures was written as a seed of peace for Muslims, Christians and Jews in The Holy Land. His 1998 debut album CD/digital release Into The 21st Century was a benefit for Teen Challenge, with performances by two of his greatest influences, the legendary Allen Ginsberg and the brilliant Mike Peters of The Alarm on the title track. In his later years, Ginsberg expressed his love and support for Lamont’s poetry with permission to use an audio sample from one of his first recitals of the Beat Generation epic poem Howl. The passion to inspire hope and to be a voice for everyday people is at the heart of his poetry. His poems encourage dignity, uphold life and have been a catalyst for many people to live in a more loving way, to find their own voice and for personal and social reform

Love Yourself More is a high-energy program filled with strategies K-5 kids can use to show themselves care and compassion, such as speaking up for themselves, honoring their own moods, and giving themselves grace for mistakes. It’s all disguised as a very silly show that engages students with opportunities to make sounds, move around, answer questions, get on stage, and even join a sing along!

CEPA (Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Art) promotes photographic and related media artists of all levels, supporting the arts community through exhibitions, education, and critical public access to image-making resources. CEPA provides individuals, schools, and nonprofits with workshops, classes, and community spaces that are accessible to all ages, abilities, and incomes.

At STEAM Fund (Siegal Trust Enriching Arts & Music) at Community Foundation of Sullivan County, we are dedicated to enriching lives through our diverse Arts In Education programs. Our programs cater to Pre-K, Elementary, Middle & High School children, as well as adults, focusing on essential topics such as Social Emotional Learning, Mindfulness, Health, Anti-Bullying, Coping Strategies, Nutrition, Diversability, and core values like Love, Peace, Equality, Brotherhood, and Sisterhood. STEAM Fund collaborates closely with public school administrators, principals, teachers, and various organizations to bring these impactful programs to schools and organizations. Our experienced teaching artists ensure the delivery of high-quality programs that resonate with individuals through arts and music. STEAM offers the following: ASSEMBLY PROGRAMS: Mindfulness Matters, Nutrition Mission, Do The Right Thing, The Golden Rule Show, Happy Holidays Around The World, Alive Again SONGWRITING PROGRAMS: Theatre Within’ John Lennon Real Love Project, Real Food Rules Song Program, Sing About Learning Program WORKSHOPS/RESIDENCY PROGRAMS: Mindfulness in Motion, Self Care ABCs for Students PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Self Care for You & Your Students, Move It Or Lose It, Integrating Care, Music & Motion, Stress Reduction Through Mindfulness & Breathing Exercise If you are an administrator, educator, or part of the PTA/PTO, contact us today to discover how we can introduce these exceptional programs to your school and community. Let’s work together to inspire, educate, and uplift through the power of Arts in Education.

Brian Zickafoose is an award-winning Hudson Valley muralist, illustrator, and educator whose work bridges fine art and community engagement. As founder of Splash Art Murals, he transforms storefronts and public spaces across New York with vibrant seasonal and thematic designs that celebrate creativity, collaboration, and local identity. His large-scale projects—such as the Seeds of Connection mural at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds and the Art Day in the Village community banner series—demonstrate how art can activate public spaces and inspire collective pride. Through interactive workshops and artist-in-residence programs, Brian guides students in exploring visual storytelling, symbolism, and design thinking while building confidence and teamwork. His programs align with Visual Arts and SEL standards and can be adapted for grades 3–12 in classroom, assembly, or mural formats.

Seneca Park Zoo is your guide to connecting students with nature, wildlife, and the environment. With inquiry-based programs for all grades, you can find the right program for your students, your subject, and your curriculum needs. You can enhance a Zoo visit with an Animal Presentation or Expedition program or to bring the Zoo to you with a ZooMobile outreach program. All programs reflect Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards through explorations of animal behaviors, biological systems, species diversity, and inter-connectedness.

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum educational programs offer unique experiences, including our perforator machine that creates band organ rolls (one of the first forms of coding!) and viewing simple machines at work. In 2016, the Carrousel Museum received the Excellence in Collaboration Award from the Erie County Association of School Boards for our “T-NT (Tonawanda – North Tonawanda) STEAM is Dynamite!” program. Join us for fun, interactive tours, and brand new workshops in our Education Center. Students will have the opportunity to participate in hands on learning and see practical applications of their curriculum. Our exhibits offer the opportunity to ride a 1916 Herschell Carrousel, and tour the factory where it was originally constructed! Additionally, our programs can come to you in person or virtually.