WHO IS THE FOUNDER?
LIZ Pitofsky
Liz started the Service Learning Project (SLP) after working at The After-School Corporation (TASC) (www.tascorp.org) for more than 10 years, where she created a service learning after-school initiative for students in grades 5-12. Liz developed the program content, trained and provided technical assistance to staff, and worked directly with students at more than 20 public elementary, middle, and high schools throughout New York City.
Liz launched SLP in 2010 with the creation of a Residency Program which she co-taught with elementary and middle public school teachers in Brooklyn, New York. Since then, SLP has grown exponentially to serve close to 1,000 students per year through school-day, after-school, and summer programs in NYC and Vermont, as well as across the country through SLP’s new virtual program.
Liz has trained many SLP Faculty as well as Department of Education and other school staff on how to facilitate SLP’s proven effective model of action civics. She is passionate about kids and service, and dedicated to helping ensure that all youth have opportunities to make their voices heard.
Liz has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and a J.D. from Columbia Law School, and is the mother of two NYC kids who love to help solve problems in their community.
WHO ARE THE SLP FACULTY?
Elizabeth Beaubrun
As a program evaluator and researcher, Elizabeth (she/her) has supported various nonprofit organizations in leveraging educational opportunities, particularly programs that engage young people in serving their communities. Elizabeth also works with individuals with disabilities in supported employment. Over the years, she has volunteered with literacy, mentoring, and academic tutoring programs, as well as community cultural programs, political canvassing, and voter registration drives. As a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University’s program in International and Comparative Education, she is keenly interested in education in relation to economic development and social justice.
Allie Cashel
Allie Cashel (she/her) is the author of Suffering the Silence: Chronic Lyme disease in an Age of Denial (North Atlantic Books) and the co-founder and president The Suffering the Silence Community, a nonprofit dedicated to leveraging the power of art, media, and storytelling to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding the experience of chronic illness and disability. Alongside her work with STS, Allie is now leading the effort to bring SLP to schools throughout Vermont, empowering youth to become active citizens in their schools and communities.
Jack Dryden
Jack Dryden (he/him) is an artist and educator originally from Saint Louis, Missouri. Jack has taught acting, speech, dialect, improvisation, singing and directing to students all over the country, and has also worked as a mentor to elementary and middle school students in both theater and public speaking. More recently, Jack has become interested in student advocacy and uses his tools as a performer and artist to help his students in whatever capacity he can. He is proud to join the team at Service Learning Project (SLP).
Mona Kirschner
Mona (she/her) is a translator, writer, instructor and people manager from São Paulo, Brazil. Mona studied languages and translation, has fifteen years of corporate leadership and people operations experience. Mona has made the transition to education to focus on supporting and empowering students to achieve safe and fulfilling careers. She is also a yoga teacher and has a 100 lb mutt named Angus.
Sarah Lazar
Sarah Lazar (she/her) is a teaching artist and performer based in New York City. She holds a BFA in Music Theatre from the University at Buffalo, and an MA in Applied Theatre from the CUNY School of Professional Studies. The work Sarah enjoys most takes place at the intersection of theatre and social justice. She is very excited to explore advocacy, inclusion, and community through her work at SLP
Bo Scarim
Bo Scarim (they/them) is a New Yorker, born with a passion for cities, always looking to improve the urban experience for all residents through community development, affordable housing, usable public spaces, and resource sharing. They bring a strong background in facilitation to SLP, with a focus on gender and sexuality.
Leslie Thompson
Leslie (she/her) is so excited to bring her skills in theatre devising and production management to her SLP students and their projects. She has worked in various capacities supporting young people, from program managing a youth jazz troupe to making movies with the children she nannies. Leslie is currently finishing her Masters in Applied Theatre at CUNY School of Professional Studies, where her work has centered around skill building with young people to be active and engaged members of their community.