Jamie Silvestri
Founder/Art Therapist & Executive Director
Jamie Silvestri is the founder of ArtVan and has directed the organization since its inception in 2004. She holds a Master’s of Expressive Therapy, a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and is a certified Art Therapist.
Jamie has over 20 years of both community and psychiatric care experience working with inner city youth, people with AIDS, women and men in corrections, and children and adolescents with mental illness.
Bailey Knox
Expressive Arts Therapist
Bailey Knox earned her Master’s degree from Lesley University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy. She has experience working with children, families, groups, and adults as both a clinician and an arts educator in a variety of programs in southern and central Maine.
Bailey feels strongly that the arts, through their inherent ability to strengthen self-awareness, communication and creative problem-solving skills, offer an essential tool for building and maintaining healthy relationships with self, others and the environment.
Jalin Coleman
Contract Teaching Artist
Jalin Coleman is a Contract Artist with ArtVan roots. She got involved shortly after moving to Bath in the seventh grade. At the time, her mental health was worse and being offered a safe space through ArtVan’s after-school program helped make the transition easier. Art brings her joy even back then.
Jalin is the artist behind our promotional materials, hand-painted cards, poetry journals, and whose paintings are featured on ArtVan’s fundraiser of Wilbur’s chocolate bars. Whether it’s brainstorming next week’s project or putting together appeal packets, she’s always happy to help keep ArtVan rolling.
Shannon Els
Development & Communications
Shannon Briggs-Els comes to Maine with years working for nonprofits in experiential and collegiate education environments. She believes in the power art has to heal, through storytelling and harnessing our creative and critical thinking. She is excited to tell ArtVan’s story using interactive media + print channels.
With a Master’s in Social Entrepreneurship from Pepperdine University, she is a connector and an environmentally-conscious crafter who loves how ArtVan projects are often earth-themed and affordable. She is also pursuing a degree in Higher Education & Adult Learning from USM and hopes to inspire others who may not see themselves as artists to explore their inner creative.
Board of Directors
- Blair Atherton
- Rebecca Quigg
- Sharon Drake
- Patty Cousins
- Miriam Fraga
- Jen Harkins
advisors
- Patty Kimball
- Keith Spiro
- Kelly Hrenko
- Andrew Lardie
- Paul Cooleen
- Miranda Gowell
- Peggy Kapisovsky
Want to join our team?
Board of Directors,
Treasurer
Volunteer
Program Development
& Communications
Interns
Don't see what you'd like to do? We'd still love to hear from you!
Give us a shout at
info@artvanprogram.org
Interns have a tremendous impact on the work we do each season!
Work with a team of Registered Art Therapists, experienced volunteers, social service professionals, and community leaders. Engage with diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and a wide age range of youth (ages 4-17). Explore a variety of art techniques and the use of the arts as a therapeutic modality in the healing and discovery process.
Some responsibilities include, but are not limited to:- Supporting the Executive Director, Art Therapists, and Communications Director in the planning, implementation, and follow-up of ArtVan sessions
- Designing a project for the week
- Assisting in the curation of ArtVan Youth exhibits
- Writing and scheduling social media communications calendar
- Documenting testimonials and stories visually and through written word for fundraising and newsletter blasts
