Our Team

We are an experienced team of creative arts therapists, teaching artists, recreation therapists, and gerontologists. Through our extensive knowledge of holistic quality of life and the seven wellness domains, we cultivate joy, engage curiosity, and foster personal expression. Our goal is to increase your loved one’s or client’s quality of life through therapeutic activity that is purposeful and meaningful.

Each team member is a seasoned therapeutic activity specialist with a range of experience to serve every individual, client, or group. We are passionate about working with people living with memory loss (including those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia).

Kari Rogenski, MA, LMFT (#102199)

Creative Director of the Hummingbird Project
BA Theatre Performance, University of Lethbridge; MA Counseling Psychology Drama Therapy, California Institute of Integral Studies

Kari’s love of elders began as a child and spending time with her grandparents was a joy. Grandma’s house was always Kari’s favorite place to be.

Kari combined her passion for eldercare and the creative arts by becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist and creative arts therapist working with elders. She brings well over a decade of experience to her role as Director of The Hummingbird Project and co-creator of Joyful Moments: Meaningful Activities to Engage Older Adults. She is a proud advocate for the importance of finding and embracing joy throughout life. She has presented to both professional and public audiences locally and nationally about Quality of Life and Life Enrichment for older and disabled adults, including several presentations for the Alzheimer’s Association, the Aging Life Care Professional Association, and the North American Drama Therapy Association, among others.

It is Kari’s creative and professional approach, as well as her warm personality, that allows her to connect with clients and engage them in meaningful therapeutic activities. Kari’s passion for theatre has been infused into her education and career. She has expertise in facilitating drama therapy techniques including improvisation, monologue writing, and play reading. Some of her favorite activities to share with older adults include expressive arts such as life story collage, art appreciation, touch drawing, creative storytelling, legacy projects, and more.

Tara Blanca, BS, MA

Director of Operations for The Hummingbird Project
BS Business Management, University of Phoenix; MA Expressive Arts Therapy, European Graduate School/Expressive Arts Institute San Diego

Growing up in a military family, Tara spent her formative years traversing the United States. Her engagement with the elder population began in childhood while accompanying her mother, a geriatric nurse practitioner, on visits to patients. During her summer breaks, Tara would assist in the activities department while her mother completed rounds.

The arts have always been integral to Tara’s quality of life, and she continues her artistic and poetic practices today. Tara has had the privilege of conducting Expressive Arts groups and one-on-one sessions, both online and in person, nationally and internationally for the last decade. Before joining Sage Eldercare and The Hummingbird Project, Tara worked with Musical Biographies, a Villa Musica program, fostering creativity and therapeutic expression through music and visual arts for elders and their care partners.

In her interactions with elders and their care partners, Tara consistently demonstrates deep compassion and dedication, striving to enhance her clients’ quality of life through creative expression and meaningful engagement.

With a robust background in business spanning global territories, Tara holds a strong appreciation for culture and brings a depth of experience to collaborating with teams for optimal client outcomes. Tara’s commitment to excellence and lifelong learning permeates her approach to life.

Bryna McCarty, BS

Hummingbird Project Program and Operations Manager
BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, San Francisco State University

A Bay Area native, Bryna has 11 years’ experience supporting nonprofit, community-driven companies with her administrative expertise. Through this work she developed a strong desire to fulfill unmet needs in the community. Bryna’s thoughtful approach to administrative work will allow her to support truly meaningful programming from behind the scenes. Bryna is excited to be a part of The Hummingbird Project team and brings her passion for creating and maintaining efficient and effective processes, ensuring we can deliver joyful moments to all.

San Francisco and Peninsula

Steven Hardy, MA, MT-BC

Hummingbird Project Manager – San Francisco and San Mateo Counties
BA in Psychology, University of Maine; MA in Expressive Therapies, Lesley University

Originally from New England, Steve has enjoyed a career in Aging Services in the Bay Area for more than 20 years. As a child, Steve was always excited to visit his grandparents and enjoy the warmth and connection he felt in their home. There was a sense of unconditional love, wisdom, and appreciation when he was in the presence of older adults. In his educational pursuits, Steve combined an interest in music/vocal performance with a deep desire to understand human relationships and received degrees in both Psychology and the Expressive Therapies. One of Steve’s favorite experiences was directing a performance of the musical Carousel in a large retirement/memory care community. He has seen how engaging in artistic endeavors and creative processes brings passion and joy to the people he has served. Steve has particularly enjoyed being an engaged collaborator, coach, therapist, and mentor in the areas of Aging, Human Services, and Memory Care/Dementia Program Development.

Keesje Fischer, BA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BFA Painting, Utrecht School of Fine Arts, The Netherlands; BA, Pomona College

Keesje comes to the field of Aging through caring for her grandmother and volunteering in her New York nursing home as a TimeSlips storytelling facilitator. She has worked as an Activity Specialist in skilled nursing facilities and Assisted Living Residences for more than 8 years, most recently as Activities Program Manager for Memory Care Unit of Rhoda Goldman Plaza. Encouraging creative expression is inspiring, fun, and surprising, too. In her work with elders, Keesje loves that she learns something every day.

Kim Peloso, MPH

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BS Adult Health/Wellness, University of South Carolina; MPH, University of South Carolina

Kim has more than 15 years of professional experience working with seniors and spent ten years as a volunteer coordinating an Intergenerational program in her community. She has served as Director of the Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Columbia, SC, The Alzheimer’s Activity Center in San Jose, CA and the Ruth Ann Rosenberg Adult Day Healthcare Center in San Francisco, CA. Kim has hands-on experience working with older adults, as well as experience in program development, staff training, consulting, and management.

Kim’s outgoing and warm personality allow her to freely connect with seniors, quickly building a trusting relationship. Her passion lies in guiding memory-impaired individuals through all aspects of daily life. She has a special focus on maintaining familiar routines and creating opportunities for participation in pursuits that are meaningful to the individual.

Miyoko M. Nida, MA, PhDc

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BA Ethnic Studies/Asian American Studies, San Francisco State University; MA Counseling Psychology with specialization in Expressive Art Therapy, California Institute of Integral Studies; Certificate in Digital Design and Production, SFSU, College of Extended Learning

Miyoko’s passion for the arts has led her to learn ways to reach individuals on creative levels where words may not be the primary form of communication. Building trust with clients is her #1 goal, which allows individual pathways to the finest quality of life activities that create meaningful experiences. Miyoko is excited to engage the expressive arts, creativity, and multicultural aspects of self to provide enriching quality of life activities to older adults. Her multicultural background includes her Japanese ancestors immigrating to the Hawaiian Islands as far back as 1885, and her Irish/English ancestors settling in the Mid-Atlantic Region before the American Civil War.

Stephanie Navarro, MA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BS Studio Art, New York University; MA Transformative Art, JFK University

Stephanie finds meaningful connection in her passion for creativity and helping others, especially in person-centered care. She believes that the creative process can be a vehicle for positive change as well as contributing to one’s overall well-being.

Stephanie likes to explore various art mediums such as painting, clay, collage, and found objects in engaging others, and believes that there is no wrong way to do art. She enjoys learning from her clients’ life experiences and encourages all methods of creative self-expression.

Fay Chunhui Tseng, MA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
MA Expressive Arts (emphasis in Music Therapy and Mental Health Counseling), Lesley University
BS Occupational Therapy, National Taiwan University

Fay is passionate about supporting her clients’ therapeutic goals for quality of life. Her warm and genuine personality allows her to establish therapeutic relationships with clients quickly and engage them in meaningful activities. Fay celebrates diversity and enjoys working with people from various cultures. Her training in occupational therapy, music therapy, and mental health counseling fosters a holistic approach to achieve an enriched quality of life for her clients. With a multidisciplinary background, Fay collaborates efficiently with team members and responsible parties to deliver high quality therapeutic activities. She sings, plays guitar and percussive instruments, and loves drumming and dancing. Some of her favorite activities to share with older adults include reminiscing, exercising or dancing with music, singing, playing instruments, music appreciation, and expressive arts.

Kaitlyn Herron BS, CTRS

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BS in Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management – Focus in Recreation Therapy, California State University, Chico

Kaitlyn is a young professional with experience in both community and clinical settings. She was drawn to the service field in her youth and continues to find joy in her ability to support and encourage others in their own journeys. Kaitlyn’s passion for life, creativity, connection, and ongoing adventure led her to the field of recreation therapy. This path has allowed her to fully grasp the importance of quality of life and how to help someone restore and repair parts of themself that may have been lost along the way. She believes that providing recreational therapy and focusing on one’s overall wellness is imperative to personal well-being. Kaitlyn’s personal philosophy of meeting people where they are allows her to work closely with her clients and tailor the experience to their needs and abilities, while also helping them to grow or challenge themselves in small ways. She prides herself on her ability to be adaptive, inclusive, and compassionate.

Laurette Foggini, CMC

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BA in Economics and Business, SUNY Stony Brook, New York

Laurette comes from a big extended family on the East Coast–grandparents, aunts, uncles, and lots of cousins. The holidays meant time spent around a loud food-laden table. Laurette was fascinated by her grandparents’ immigrant stories. They inspired her to go back to the “Old Country.” When an opportunity to live in Italy presented itself, she jumped at the chance. Learning the language enabled her to immerse herself in the culture. It was such an enriching experience that Laurette didn’t think twice when the next opportunity to live abroad came along. This time to Singapore, where she worked with museums throughout Asia. Laurette considers these experiences a key to her ability to connect with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

East Bay

Christa Kagin, MAET-ATR

Hummingbird Project Manager – East Bay & North Bay
MA Expressive Therapies, University of Louisville, KY; Art Psychotherapy training program, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK; BA Art, Southwestern College, Winfield, KS

Christa comes to Hummingbird from the Midwest, where she has worked in a variety of professional placements using innovative ways to bring the arts to clients of all ages. She has served as a college art department chair, supervised art therapy students, provided art therapy to clients of all ages, and co-authored a book on art therapy techniques, Implementing the Expressive Therapies Continuum: A Guide for Clinical Practice.

While much of her career has been in service to children, youth, and young adults, Christa has spent many hours working with elders in monastic communities, places of worship, and in community settings. Her love of caring for elders was born out of caring for her own grandparents. She grew up spending time with them on their farm—enjoying iced tea on the porch swing, tending the garden, and listening to the stories of their lives. When they grew older, caring for them became Christa’s privilege. This personal experience inspired her to find new ways to serve and support elders in her professional life. Christa is excited to bring her experiences and passion to her position at Sage with the Hummingbird Project. Her extensive world travel, diverse life experiences, strengths as an educator, and success with clients create a rich tapestry for her to share with new clients.

Christa believes strongly that experiences with the arts help us to remember that we are alive, actively living, and this helps to ground us in the present moments of life. The creative arts also help us to recall and activate other life experiences, which fosters and nurtures wholeness. Christa is fully committed to sharing these beliefs with clients to enrich their lives.

Mindy Creson, MA, MSW

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BA Social Work, California State University Chico; MSW Social Work, UC Berkeley; MA Theology and Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary

Mindy’s warm and playful nature allows her to develop authentic connections to others, especially those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. She was actively involved in caring for her grandmother and mother, both diagnosed with forms of dementia, experiencing firsthand the need for a person-centered approach to care. Mindy has a passion for engaging older adults in creative experiences that provide opportunities for joy, self-expression, and meaningful connections with self and others. Mindy’s expertise as a social worker and experience with a variety of creative arts has shaped her strengths-based approach to engaging older adults. Some of her favorite activities to share with older adults include creative storytelling, collage, nature walks, Laughter Yoga, art appreciation, and exploring a variety of spiritual experiences.

Julie Chervin, MA, CELS

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BA Political Science, California State University Northridge; MA Counseling Psychology, Holy Names University

All of Julie’s life experiences have led her to the calling of helping to ensure that elders’ quality of life is maintained to the fullest. A musician throughout her life, Julie is certified with Music & Memory to bring personalized music playlists to elders and has trained in the Village Song method of facilitating Music Circles for elders. She is also a Certified End-of-Life Specialist (CELS) through Teaching Transitions. Julie has always loved spending time with elders and believes that intergenerational interaction, lifelong learning, and sharing music, stories, and expressive arts are some of the keys to sustaining vitality as we age.

Emily Hippert, BFA, BA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BFA in Theatre and BA in Art History, University of Kansas

Emily is an experienced expressive art educator and enrichment specialist. Growing up in the Midwest, she built her values through active engagement in arts enrichment, youth groups, and community service programs. Particularly influenced by her early leadership roles working with youth in arts-based summer camps, she realized the transformative power of the expressive arts at a young age. She was privileged to have experienced a close relationship with her own grandparents and many elder mentors throughout her life, nourishing her passion for engaging, collaborating, and learning with older adults.
Emily’s creative and mindful approach–combined with her professionalism, intellectual curiosity, and compassionate spirit–has shaped her career in service of creative enrichment, personal expression, and therapeutic arts. She is a champion of disability and neurodiversity rights and works to create relationships and spaces that celebrate our unique experiences and gifts.

Andrea Cliscagne, MT-BC

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
B.M. in Music Therapy, Minor in Speech Language Pathology, University of the Pacific

Andrea has always had love and passion for both music and helping and connecting with others. She first knew she wanted to be a music therapist when she witnessed how engaging in music elicited meaningful responses from and facilitated connection with her grandmother who had been physically and verbally unresponsive for a long time due to late stage Alzheimer’s disease. Andrea comes from a family culture that strongly believes in the value of elders, including appreciation of wisdom, a duty to care for them, and a deep connection to their stories. These values shape how Andrea interacts with older adults both in her work and personal life. She brings a wide variety of musical genres and skills to her work as a music therapist with an understanding that different people connect to music in diverse ways. Andrea firmly believes that creative arts and preferred activities are powerful tools in improving health, life-skills, and quality of life. With warmth and authenticity, she is enthusiastic about guiding others in these experiences in a person-centered and holistic way, whether it be for health and skills, to express themselves and be heard, or to support overall well-being.

North Bay

Melissa Sherman, LMFT, ATR-BC

Therapeutic Activity Specialist – North Bay
BS Double Major in Psychology and Fine Arts, St. Lawrence University
MS in Marriage & Family Therapy and Art Therapy, Notre Dame de Namur University

Melissa brings to The Hummingbird Project a passion for living in the present along with excitement for the unknown. Adept at thinking creatively in the moment, she has a strong desire to help clients find and rekindle what helps them experience joy. Melissa grew up in Brazil, far away from her extended family, and highly valued the precious time she was able to spend with her grandparents and great uncles. To fulfill her love for spending time with older adults, she sought out working with seniors in several capacities, including in Nicaragua for an art therapy practicum. With more than 12 years of experience working with diverse populations and in various settings, Melissa is where she wants to be, working with elders and creating meaningful therapeutic activities.

Gwynne Johnson, BA, MFA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist – North Bay
BA in History of Art, University of Pennsylvania, PA
MFA, The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, IL

Gwynne is passionate about the transformational power of deep connections and the gifts to be found in creating new relationships towards end of life. Her love for elders began in early childhood when she and her grandmother would bring performances and crafts to their neighboring retirement home. Gwynne has helped to bring art experiences to those living with dementia, provided in-home companionship to elders, and currently volunteers her time visiting those on hospice. Alongside her passion for engaging with older adults is her lifelong love for art making. Creating has always been a deep part of Gwynne and it has taken her through a career working in the commercial arts, receiving an MFA, exhibiting internationally, and most recently developing a line of functional ceramics under her own brand. Gwynne believes that making is a gateway to a world beyond language and consciousness, and she is overjoyed to bring her two passions together in the role of Activity Specialist for the Hummingbird Project.

South Bay

Katie Giampa MS, CTRS

Hummingbird Project Manager – South Bay
MS in Parks and Recreation Management with a concentration in
Therapeutic Recreation, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; BA in Public Relations, BS in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University.

Katie has always been passionate about caring for and helping others. After taking an undergraduate course in disability studies, she found her calling and never looked back. She immersed herself in the field by working and volunteering in adult residential homes, adult day programs, and community recreation programs that serve people of all abilities. In 2014 she became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.

Katie has worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities, seniors, and people with traumatic brain injuries for over a decade. She has a wide range of experience in outdoor activities, aquatics, community integration, travel, movement, and adaptive exercise. Katie is passionate about providing person-centered interventions to maintain and enhance the quality of life of those with whom she works.

Katie is excited and honored to continue her journey with the Hummingbird Project. She looks forward to fostering new relationships with clients and learning and growing from the wisdom and life experiences that older adults impart upon the world.

Joan Javier, BS, CTRS, RTC

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BS Recreation – Concentration in Therapeutic Recreation, San Jose State University

Joan has always had a playful nature and has a passion for experiencing new things, building connections with others, and living life to the fullest. After stumbling across the field of Recreation Therapy, she has never looked back and feels extremely grateful that she was able to turn her dedication to fully experiencing life into a career. Joan truly believes in the value and benefits of Recreation Therapy and what “play” can offer for someone to participate in a full and meaningful life. Her favorite part about providing Recreation Therapy is seeing the joy, smiles, and laughter someone experiences when engaging in play and finding their “flow.”

Sarah Juster, BS

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BS Biology & Minor in Dance, University of California, Riverside
Certified Activity Program Leader, California Department of Public Health

Sarah comes from a multidisciplinary background, having studied both biological and social sciences. She found her passion to improve the quality of life for aging populations after volunteering at senior centers. Sarah decided to pursue a full-time career in therapeutic activities after graduation. Since then, she has served seniors in assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes across the Bay Area. She enjoys tailoring activities to fit the needs of each client’s unique life goals. Her favorite activities to share include sing-alongs, exercise through dance, aromatherapy, reminiscing, and trivia.

Sacramento Area

Meredith Eden, RDT, MA (2), LMFT (#116558)

Hummingbird Project Manager – Santa Clara County and Sacramento
BA Drama, San Francisco State University; MA Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies; MA Drama Theory and Devised Performance, San Francisco State University

Meredith has over ten years’ experience working in the theatre world and has transitioned over the last four years into using her skills for therapeutic forms of expression. She has interned at California Pacific Medical Centers’ SNF unit and Alzheimer’s residential facility. Meredith is honored to be a part of Sage, where she is enthusiastic about working collaboratively on the collective goal of quality of life for the elderly population in our community. Since childhood, she spent many hours at her grandparents’ community, which built awareness of the wisdom and stories the elder population embody. She received her Bachelor’s in Drama (Performance) from San Francisco State University where she went on to complete her Master’s in Drama Theory with a concentration in Directing and Devised Theatre. She holds a second Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology (Drama Therapy) from California Institute of Integral Studies. She is furthering her education and training through the Developmental Transformation Institute for drama therapy based in New York. Meredith’s training in improvised and devised theatre is a catalyst for her passion of creative approaches to achieve rich quality of life for both her clients and the community she serves. The heart of her practice is to think outside of the box while attuning to the desires, interests, and needs of her clients.

Kaitlin Ecabert, BS

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BS Therapeutic Recreation, California State University East Bay

Kaitlin’s unique approach to therapeutic activity with older adults is based on her enthusiasm and patience. She understands that this chapter in life can be intimidating. By showing up and engaging with clients, she knows she can make the connection necessary to create and implement meaningful activities that promote quality of life for each client. The majority of Kaitlin’s past work experience has been focused on youth, but she’s excited to be working with older adults today. She believes if you can get anyone engaged, you can make a difference. Kaitlin has personal experience with memory care clients as her grandfather was diagnosed with dementia. She has seen firsthand the importance of activities and socialization and wishes her grandfather had more opportunities. Activities Kaitlin is most looking forward to experiencing with clients include scrapbooking, listening to music, and mediation.

Jennifer Verdu, BS, CTRS

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BS Nutritional Science, San Jose State University

In 2008, Jennifer began working at Masonic Homes of California’s Skilled Nursing Facility as a Recreation Leader. She’s a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Senior Fitness Instructor with almost 12 years of programming experience. Jennifer has worked as Lifestyles Manager for Acacia Creek CCRC and managed all aspects of the lifestyles programs. She has spent the last few years working as an Activity Coordinator for Avenidas Rose Kleiner Adult Day Health Center. Jennifer’s ultimate goal is to create purposeful programs that enrich the lives of seniors.

Micki Thao, BS

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BS in Gerontology, California State University Sacramento

Micki’s journey into the world of enriching the lives of older adults began with a heartfelt commitment of caring for her own grandmother. This personal experience ignited her passion for serving the elderly, eventually leading her to pursue a degree in Gerontology at California State University Sacramento. With an impressive track record spanning over 13 years in the realm of senior living, Micki brings a wealth of expertise to her role as a therapeutic activity specialist. Micki holds dearly the core belief that every individual, regardless of age, possesses a unique and compelling life story that deserves to be shared.

Los Angeles and Orange County

Elizabeth Fluck, MA (2), BC-DMT, LMFT (#45109), LPCC (#1472)

Hummingbird Project Manager
BA, Dance major, Psychology minor, Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA; MA, Dance/Movement Therapy, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA; MA, Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Psychology, Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, CA

Elizabeth’s fondest memories of childhood are filled with gardening, cooking, engaging in long talks, and going on long walks with her maternal grandmother. She also cherishes memories of rooting on favorite football teams, playing card games, keeping up with the soap operas, and watching Lawrence Welk with her paternal grandmother. Elizabeth spent her teenage years accompanying her older sister to her work as a nurse in a skilled nursing facility. This led to volunteer and work opportunities for Elizabeth at this nursing facility and marked the start of her career. Days spent on the unit with the elderly residents were full of moments rich with deep connection and authentic experiences of joy as well as sorrow.

Her lifelong love of dance and human connection brought Elizabeth to the field of dance/movement therapy. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has continued to serve people across the entire developmental lifespan, including work in inpatient, residential, outpatient, home care, and educational settings. In recent years, her pursuit of perpetual learning includes a new passion for arts activism in both social and environmental justice. In 2019, Elizabeth was the site leader for Global Water Dance, creating a site-specific dance performance alongside the Los Angeles River with dancers of all ages.

Elizabeth looks forward to creating moments of joy and authentic connection with Hummingbird Project clients. She brings to this work her enthusiasm for building these moments of meeting.

Vicki Alvarez, MS, R-DMT

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BA Psychology, Minor in Dance, California State University, Northridge; MS Dance/Movement Therapy, Pratt Institute

Honoring and respecting elders is embedded in Vicki’s cultural background as a Filipino-American. Growing up, she was inspired by her grandmother to live life through her values of integrity and kindness by serving others in a hospitable manner. Her grandmother displayed ambition as the matriarch of the family, which influenced Vicki to adopt the same mindset for her own goals. Today she is committed to helping others empower themselves through creative expression.

Originally from San Francisco, Vicki has always had a love and passion for dance and the many ways it brings people together. She has trained and performed in styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, and various partner dances. She was introduced to dance/movement therapy through volunteering with a therapeutic movement program originally called “Dance for All” that helped to promote social, emotional, and cognitive skills for adults with developmental disabilities through dance and movement. In 2018 she rebranded the Santa Monica-based program with her colleague and named it Let’s Dance It Out. Vicki combined her curiosity about human behavior with her love of dance by pursuing her master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy. As a spiritual person she believes that the body serves as the unconscious mind, which can be channeled in many powerful ways to bring healing across many populations using the universal language of movement, developing relationships and connections with one another, and ultimately creating a deepened sense of empathy and overall well-being.

Sheila Silver, BA, MA

Drama and Therapeutic Activity Specialist
MA, Theater Arts, California State University Fullerton,
BA Theater Arts/English – California State University Fullerton,
Lifetime California State Teacher Credential – English/Language Arts,
Mentor/Supervisor/Trainer – California Department of Education

Born with the heart of a hummingbird, Sheila’s career in education spans nearly 40 years, during which time she dedicated herself to providing creative expression, autonomy, personal growth, and academic challenges to her high school and college students. Also an actress, writer, comedian, improvisation artist, director, lover of language and literature, Sheila embraces a life filled with zest and creativity. She is especially proud of the programs she developed and administered using theater as a modality in working with stroke patients, students on the autism spectrum, English Language Learners, and emerging teachers.

From the time she was five years old, Sheila knew she would be a teacher. When she was 17, her father had a severe stroke leaving him paralyzed on his entire right side and fully taking away his speech. For the next five years, Sheila accompanied him to his speech, occupational, and physical therapy, then she would continue the work on a daily basis at home. It was from helping her father regain his life that she first began using her theater experiences to bring someone back into the world.

More than 20 years after her father passed away, Sheila’s younger son was diagnosed with autism; she realized that the years she spent caring for her father had prepared her to be Adam’s mother. From father to son, Sheila has dedicated herself to the most beloved people in her life. She brings this same love and commitment to her Hummingbird clients.

Hannah Liu, BA, MA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
MA Marriage and Family Therapy, Specializing in Art Therapy, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
BA Fine Art, Minor in Psychology, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA

Hannah’s love of both the arts and helping others has been at the forefront of all she has done in both her personal and professional life. Hannah brings to Hummingbird Project her wealth of experiences and knowledge using multisensory materials and activities to engage and draw out the creativity of others. Hannah’s strengths lie in her resourcefulness, her tenacity, her genuine heart for service and her ability to connect with others. She approaches each day and unique challenges with enthusiasm, patience, and humor. Her desire to work with the elder population in part stems from personal experiences with elders in her life going through dementia and cognitive decline. Hannah hopes to hone the healing power of art to provide dignity and joy, while honoring the individual stories and experiences of each person she comes alongside on this journey.

Seattle

Jill Ellison, MS, CTRS

Hummingbird Project Manager
BS in Therapeutic Recreation, Grand Valley State University; MS in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Jill finds great joy in curating meaningful leisure and recreation experiences for others and embraces a collaborative approach to therapeutic activity planning. She loves discovering and nurturing activities that truly light someone up! After her grandmother had a stroke and moved in with her family, Jill observed how frequent activity engagement, socialization, and intergenerational connection contributed to her grandmother’s quality of life. For Jill, the privilege of taking part in her grandmother’s care led to pursuing a career in Therapeutic Recreation that would allow her to serve others in a similar way. Jill has experience creating unique recreation experiences for diverse populations and loves working alongside clients to create a tailored plan that meets their needs and creates joyful moments!

Susan Martelino, MA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist – Seattle
BA Psychology, Upper Iowa University; MA Marriage and Family Therapy, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota

Susan’s close relationship with her surrogate grandmother taught her to treat older people with care and respect—and fostered her interest in working with elder men and women. She also discovered the wisdom each elder person holds as they share their experience and knowledge and believes they should be recognized for the great teachers they are. Susan’s favorite activities to share with her clients include movement, sensory stimulation, life stories, and tapping into their unique interests to maintain who they are.

Linda Kruger, BA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist – Seattle
Certifications: Change Management Professional (CMP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Vinyasa Yoga Instructor, American Sailing Association – Coastal Cruising (ASA 103)
BA Art History/Industrial Design, University of Cincinnati

Linda was raised in the Midwest and has enjoyed a varied career in the aging, underserved populations, and housing fields. In her vocation, she valued being of service to others, making a positive impact on d people’s lives, as well as teaching, leadership, and innovation. As a brain injury survivor, Linda firmly believes that a holistic approach is vital for healing, well-being, and living life to its fullest. Linda loves to learn about her client’s background and interests, as well as creating opportunities to enjoy them. In her spare time, Linda enjoys social opportunities, art, music, physical movement, mind-body practice, nature, and her Catholic faith.

Virtual

Alicia Harris, BFA

Therapeutic Activity Specialist
BFA Painting and Drawing, University of Utah

Alicia’s love of art and variety started at an early age while growing up in the Middle East, surrounded by a diversity of ethnicities and artistic cultures. The desire to focus that energy into working with seniors with dementia started soon after Alicia’s grandmother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, moved in with Alicia’s family.

Now Alicia has over 19 years of experience that includes volunteering with hospice and the Alzheimer’s Association as well as working in Adult Day programs, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities. She also managed a Memory Care Community for over 10 years.

Alicia believes that some of the most profound and meaningful lessons she has learned have come from people who are living with dementia. She highly values what they have to offer the world. She is both determined and excited to help find the individual bridges that help older adults connect with life and defy their mental or physical concerns.

The Hummingbird Project^SM is an organization devoted to providing services and products that promote quality of life for older adults—whether at home or in a community setting.

Newsletter Signup Schedule a Free Consultation