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Writing Faculty
Jodi Lynn Anderson, Volunteer
Creative Writing
Jodi Lynn Anderson is the national bestselling author of Peaches, the May Bird and the Ever After trilogy, an IRA/CBC Children's Choice and Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Master List book. Her stories have received starred reviews in Publisher's Weekly, and have been called "rare fun" and "mostly masterful" by Kirkus Reviews.
Johanna Lauer, Volunteer
Storybook & Illustration
Helen McMahon, Volunteer
Playwriting
Helen found Sitar Arts Center in 2003, on a sunny spring day in early May, when on a walk on a side street in Adams Morgan neighborhood she stumbled upon a group of young jazz musicians, hip hop dancers, face-paint artists, and poets participating in their spring semester performance week. After learning more about the Center’s mission, she thought the Center would provide a perfect avenue to put her theater background back into practice again (it had gone dormant far too long and she always enjoyed working with youth). Ever since that fateful walk on spring day, she has been coming to Sitar Arts Center where – even better than a spring day – new blossoms can be seen every season. Helen received a B.A. degree in Speech and Drama from Catholic University with a minor in Secondary Education. She has previously taught creative dramatics to teenagers at the Columbia School for the Performing Arts in Maryland.
Sam Miller, Volunteer
Poetic Creations, Opera Writing Studio
Sam has been volunteering at Sitar Arts Center since 2000. He enjoys teaching adults, especially English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students. Sam has also written original lyrics for the Center’s Opera class.
Jonathan B. Tucker, Volunteer
Poetry Slam
Jonathan lives and works in Washington, DC, melding art and activism with his work as a performer and educator. Two-time winner of The COUP Award (Community Oriented Underground Poet) from the National Underground Spokenword Poetry Awards, he is very passionate about youth development and the use of art as a means to connect with people. He has represented DC at the National Poetry Slam twice on the Busboys and Poets 11th Hour Slam Team (‘09 & ‘10) and is frequently working in schools and community organizations leading workshops on spoken word poetry. With time divided between his poetry and performance schedule and two non-profit jobs (Youth Programs Coordinator, Split This Rock; Communications & Development Associate, Teaching for Change), JBT also coaches and mentors young poets on the DC Youth Slam Team. As a teaching artist, his mission is to bring the inner poet out of all students regardless of age, experience, or perceived talent. He teaches performance poetry to validate and encourage self expression. From CEO’s to elementary school students, college professors to high schoolers on the edge, we all have a story to tell and JBT helps bring it out with poetry. You can buy his book and watch his performances online at jonathanbtucker.com.
Jenny Walton, Volunteer
Storybook & Illustration