Our Team
The Welcome to the Neighbourhood program’s success is dependent on our artists and facilitators! We are so proud to work with an accomplished team of lead artists, workshop assistants, and translators.
We would love to hear from you! For any and all inquiries, please email faith@mabellarts.ca
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wttncoordinator@mabellearts.ca
Dani is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, and educator. She was born and raised in Mexico (Cancun & Queretaro) where she studied performing arts and worked in theatre as a performer and coordinator. She has been an arts facilitator for 6 years and she holds a master's degree in Educational Technology. She is passionate about the learning process and applying the arts for the benefit of our daily lives and our development as human beings. She is a newcomer to Canada and recently graduated from the Arts Education and Community Engagement program at Centennial College.
As a personal project, she runs a YouTube channel where she shares theatre educational content for Spanish speakers.
Her artistic practices include drama, clown & physical comedy, puppetry, makeup artistry, and watercolor, but she is always willing to experiment and find something new to try.
DANIELA GALAVIZ
Artists
2024-2025
FATEN TOUBASI
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Faten Toubasi is a visual artist, painter, fabric, and community art instructor. She worked with MABELLEarts summer projects’ Iftar Nights, Picnics and summer camps. Faten accomplished her Jumblies’ artistic internship in 2009 with MABELLEarts, she then worked on their projects: Lantern Garden, Lobby Art and the Winter Festival. Faten was the facilitator/instructor for Arts Etobicoke’s after-school drop-in program from 2011 until May 2018
ABIR ABOUELSAADAT
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Abir AbouelSaadat has a background in Visual Arts and recently finished Arts administration and cultural management and excited to join the MABELLEarts project Welcome To The Neighbourhood as a Workshop assistant. “Besides my passion for Arts and communicating with people, I genuinely believe that Arts improves People’s lives.”
BRENNA MACCRIMMON
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Brenna MacCrimmon sings and plays music from Turkey, the Balkans and many other places besides. She teaches ukulele and Turkish folks songs, knits, has too many books and really enjoys a good story. www.greengoatmusic.ca
MELANIE FERNANDEZ-ALVAREZ
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Melanie is a drama artist in Toronto who holds an ATCL in Speech and Drama from Trinity College (London). These days Melanie is finding much joy in the art of storytelling and facilitating story sharing. Weaving memories and words to shape meaningful stories is at the heart of her work in this project.
NATALIE FASHEH
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Natalie Fasheh is a Palestinian-Jordanian emerging choral artist and community-engaged artist. She is passionate about leading vocal ensemble experiences rooted in empowerment, cultural awareness, and artivism. Natalie has been working with diverse vocal ensembles and communities of varying ages and lifestyles, where she facilitates music-making, sings, and explores Arabic music and culture with them through her arrangements of Arabic folk songs.
HENRY MAK
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Henry Mak is a videographer who works in Dance and Theatre. He is a core collaborator with Dreamwalker Dance Company, serving as Director of video content and Editor for the interactive web performance of “Firehorse and Shadow”. He edited and collaborated on “this is where I find myself today”, a dance film by Andrea Nann and the third year students in Ryerson’s Dance Program. He is filming and editing a dance film by Mayumi Lashbrook, based on her solo piece, “Defined by Bone” which will screen as part of CanAsian Dance’s Grit Short Dances program. In addition, he has created performance videos with The Canadian Music Centre, music trailers with Slowpitchsound, promotional material for Litmus Theatre’s production of “Brave New World” at Theatre Passe Muraille and mini-docs and other content for the Toronto Fringe. Other dance groups he has worked with include Polynomials, Jay9 Dance Projects, and the collective Returning River, with whom he did backdrop projections and performance capture of “Point of Origin” which was presented as part of Public Energy Performing Arts’ Pivot Series. His work has also screened at Reelworld and the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival.
NAOMI SMITH
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Naomi Smith is an Indigenous Artist and Educator. She has for over 20 years shared traditional teachings with various communities and groups. Her work focuses on the ways of the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region from a historical and contemporary perspective often through the story of beads. Naomi’s artwork embraces ancestral designs using quillwork, beadwork and other indigenous methods and materials. She has exhibited her work across Canada and internationally.
BEE PALLOMINA
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Bee Pallomina is a dance artist making and performing work for stage, installation, film/video and puppets. Her practice includes movement, care, and the everyday. She is an artist, educator, and mom. Bee holds an MFA in choreography from York and is currently studying Expressive Arts Therapy.
RUTH HOWARD
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Ruth Howard is a Canadian artist who creates large-scale arts and theatre projects with urban communities and has been called "a key figure in the Canadian Community Play movement". She is currently the Artistic Director of Jumblies Theatre, a company she founded in 2001.”
SERGIO GUERRA aka CHEKO SALAAM
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Sergio Guerra aka Cheko Salaam is an artist of the global diaspora. Of those whose hearts were split in half by migration. Of those always in between things. Those who speak from the darkest part of night, who build the web of relations between distant lands, who learn to love and be loved in a time of war. Cheko Salaam is a Salvadorian Born Canadian raised poet, rapper, producer and educator, focusing on themes of migration, spirituality and the environment. Growing up in Ottawa, he was part of many community initiatives, often combining art and social justice as a tool for collective action. Cheko formed groups like Missing LinX, Nationless Minds, and most recently the Broken English Music Collective, a development program for newcomer or 1st generation youth to gain skills and access to resources to support their artistic dreams. Cheko is currently completing an album made while completing a Masters in Environmental Studies at the University of York, focusing on Race, Migration and Environmental Justice. It is entitled "The Migrant Report", culminating 30 years of arriving to Canada.
RAHAF ALAKBANI
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Rahaf Alakbani is an accomplished singer who leads the Haneen Syrian Womens Choir in Toronto. She is also a co-founder and coordinator of Toronto’s Newcomer Kitchen.
Newcomer Artist Ambassadors
2023-2024
ARIF BAHADURI
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Arif Bahaduri was born and raised in Afghanistan, in 1992. He is an artist who started learning art in 2007 in a private art class in Kabul. Through his process, He learned different skills and worked with different materials, and now uses them to give meaning to his artworks. In 2013, He was among the top 10 in Kabul for the Afghan Contemporary Art Prize, which helped him become familiar with contemporary art. His artworks are in mixed media, painting, and performance art. He has had solo and group exhibitions in and outside of Afghanistan and completed an artist residency.
ANTONIO ARRAUT
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Antonio Arraut is a multidisciplinary artist and engineer from Barranquilla, Colombia. He will soon be graduating from Centennial College in the Arts Education and Community Engagement program. Antonio is a prize-winning writer, a talented visual artist and a skilled project management specialist. He graduated from the District School of Arts of Barranquilla in 2021. Since 2015, he has balanced his life between working as a civil engineer designer and pursuing his passion as an artist and facilitator, using writing as a tool for emotional healing. In 2022, he decided to move to Toronto to fully transition to the art field.
CHICO TOGNI
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For over 15 years Chico Togni has been making large sculptures, and creating situations and happenings that take place in structures built with discarded wood, cardboard, metal and other found materials. Togni received a B.F.A. in Sculpture from The São Paulo University (USP), Brazil, and exhibited internationally, from South to North America and Europe, most recently in Paris, France, and Leipzig, Germany. Togni was also an Artist Research Fellow at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and an artist in residency at Citè International des Arts, Paris, and Museumsquartier Vienna. In 2021 he started experimenting with quilting and developed the Bellaroche Stories, an expanding series that narrates the trajectory of rocks, power tools and visual puzzles, a work in progress which he continues to produce at his studio at the AKIN Auto Building since he moved to Toronto.
AREEJ AHMED
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Areej Ahmed is not your accustomed nor recognized artist. Being raised as a Third Culture Child, holding MBA and Engineering degrees, working with multinational organizations in different parts of the world, and currently as an Associate Director of Data Analytics, Areej has now embarked on a journey of creative exploration and self-discovery, to leave an indelible mark on both her own life and the communities she intends to serve.
While navigating the path of self-teaching, Areej discovered that her artistic journey was not merely about technical expertise, but about the impact made on the individuals and communities alike through the process.
Driven by a desire to make a difference, Areej aims to eventually bring the strengths of community arts to the corporate world in the form of Corporate Wellness Programs, as a means of escapism and mental health for corporate employees. She believes in the profound impact that community arts can have on the well-being of corporate employees when they have outlets for self-expression, stress reduction, and personal growth.
DANIELA GALAVIZ
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Dani is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, and educator. She was born and raised in Mexico (Cancun & Queretaro) where she studied performing arts and worked in theatre as a performer and coordinator. She has been an arts facilitator for 6 years and she holds a master's degree in Educational Technology. She is passionate about the learning process and applying the arts for the benefit of our daily lives and our development as human beings. She is a newcomer to Canada and recently graduated from the Arts Education and Community Engagement program at Centennial College.
As a personal project, she runs a Youtube channel where she shares theatre educational content for Spanish speakers. Her artistic practices include drama, clown & physical comedy, puppetry, makeup artistry, and watercolor, but she is always willing to experiment and find something new to try.
PAOLA PAZ-LOPEZ
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Paola Paz-Lopez is a Mexican performer, translator, writer and artisan. Passionate about arts in general, curious to go deeper in clowning, singing and dancing. Author of “3 seconds of empathy”, a diary about anxiety. She also writes about Feminism and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. She has participated in street performances in Mexico and Puppet Cabaret in Canada and had been doing crochet for 5 years. Recently obtained a diploma in Publishing- Books, Magazines & Electronic. Holds a BA in Modern Languages (Translation & English)
RUY NIEVES
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Ruy Nieves is a Mexican stage artist who has been the artistic director of two Non-profit organizations in Mexico, engaging in community theatre, opening alternative spaces and approaching art to disadvantaged environments; in addition he has developed Youtube channels and a local television show with educational and cultural content. He has worked in many different productions from classical to contemporary as an actor, director and playwright. He has a BA in acting and a MA in Literature.
CAMILLE FONTAINE
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✕ Camille Fontaine is a multi-disciplinary visual artist from London, England who utilizes digital imagery to document society. She is currently based in Toronto, Canada.
With a background in media and a keen interest in centering underrepresented voices, her work focuses on expressing the human experience through a multifaceted and intersectional gaze; to decolonise pre-existing approaches to creativity that can be normalized within media, design and arts.
Authentic narratives and inclusive representation are at the core of the projects she produces, which use photography and film to document society and unpick the frameworks of ‘normative’ identity narratives. As a photographer and documenter, her practice focuses on the themes surrounding the shifting notions on identity and social belonging. Her projects make space for the participants to take the lead and maintain the integrity of their voices.
From 2012 to 2015, Camille studied media and communication at the University of the Arts London. She has previously been commissioned for design, product, interiors and travel photography. Her long-term project The HOME Series has been featured in the global @She.Takes.Over campaign for International Womxn’s Day (Adam&EveDDB 2022), and Autograph ABP’s online gallery.
2022-2023
KRUTI BUCH
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AZUL BAEZ
MERCY VERDUGO
2021-2022
SUSANA MEZA
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Susana Meza is a Toronto-based emerging artist and facilitator from Venezuela. Susana has worked with George Brown College, Workman Arts, CAMH, MABELLEarts, WomenatthecentrE, Scarborough Arts, and other local organizations with a focus on incentivizing creativity and self-expression while building community through art-making and creative writing. Currently, Susana is on the board of directors of the North York Women Centre and is a Fellow of the 2021 cohort of the Yale University Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy.
CECÍLIA GARCIA
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✕ Cecília Garcia is a Brazilian arts manager, community artist, and emerging textile artist based in Tkaronto. Her artistic practice has included film, media, community arts, and textile arts. Her textile artworks are inspired by the memories of landscapes of her homeland and the nature that she is surrounded by currently.
NESLIHAN MEMIGUVEN
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Neslihan Memiguven, from Turkey, is an Expressive Arts Therapist. In 2020, she graduated from the Create Institute of Toronto. She is a visual artist, poet and story-teller and has worked with a number of community arts projects including refugee children at the Grenoble Primary School, the Empowerment Project with COSTI, the Canadian Center of Victims of Torture, Afghan Women Organisation, the LEFCA Summer Program with a Newcomer Identity Photo Portrait Project, and the Dixon Hall Alzheimer Group.
AFSANEH ZAMANI
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Afasneh Zamani has produced and directed more than 15 shows for kids and adults, in collaboration with theater groups as a puppeteer, puppet maker, and set designer. Afsaneh has delivered several workshops in Iran, Armenia, and Canada in puppetry, storytelling and paper puppets, has experience as an art director and Jury member for many festivals in Iran, and has published articles about traditional Iranian puppetry and theatre. She was awarded the “Best in Heritage” award for the 21st UNIMA Congress and Puppetry Festival in China 2012. Education: BA in Dramatic Arts and puppetry. MA, in Researching Arts (Tehran)
JESSICA TSENG
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Jessica is passionate about enabling people to discover their body, their expressions, to voice
themselves in different ways, and in ways that bring people together. She is a multi-disciplinary
community artist practicing crafts, body movement and visual arts, with over 15 years of experience holding projects in Hong Kong, China and India. Jessica’s past projects include a women-only fabric art group, a year-long arts exploration group with adults in a rehab center, arts and movement with post-earthquake communities, various retreat activities using crafts, drama and nature-found materials for personal and group development, and training and supervising university students to conduct arts programme for wellbeing goals.
MACARENA CARREÑO
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Macarena finds fulfillment in using the arts as a channel to enhance people's well-being, recognizing their profound impact on healing and providing perspective. With a passion for promoting sustainability in the arts and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, she envisions participating in community-engaged art projects across a diverse range of disciplines, particularly within the music realm where her expertise lies. As a talented singer-songwriter, she aims to expand artistic potential and contribute meaningfully to the arts and culture sector by promoting sustainability, encouraging collaborations, and nurturing artistic growth.
ENNA ESQUIVEL
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Enna Esquivel, a Mexican performing artist, graduated in Theater and Acting, and furthered her studies in Dance Art with a postgraduate degree in Dance Therapy. Her interpretive career shines in Theater, Contemporary Dance, and Belly Dance, seamlessly blending these disciplines in her scenic work. With an international reach, Enna captivates audiences worldwide, both independently and alongside renowned companies. As an educator for over a decade, she shares her passion, focusing on personal development through art and movement. With versatile body language and interpretive skills, Enna enriches communities and inspires audiences. Her performances serve as a journey of self-expression, fostering joy in movement and self-discovery through art.
SIN TUNG NG (STEFFI)
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Sin Tung Ng (Steffi) (she/her) is interested in disrupting the flattening term of Asian and Immigrants through writing, art-making, community-based curation and art facilitation. As a newcomer in Canada, she is also keen to explore different practices of relationship- and community-building, creating joyful and caring spaces for diverse cross-cultural encounters. Her work has been published in The Senses & Society, Intermission Magazine, Feels Magazine and so forth. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Sin Tung/Steffi is currently based in Tkaronto/Toronto, pursuing her MFA Criticism and Curatorial Practice program at OCAD University.
PEPPER ESPIN
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I am Pepper Espin, a non-binary artist (They/Them) and I’m originally from Mexico ay ya ya ya! I am a singer, lyrical countertenor and performer. I hold an acting Bachelor from my home country.
My shows I focus on giving visibility to my non-binary/Trans community and thanks to my ability to sing tenor recordings and soprano trebles I created a piece where I can show all my gender expressions Victor Victoria style with elegant and glamorous diva wonderful magical revelations, swinging styles between opera and musical theater.
Apart from my artistic work, I have been working at TNG as a peer specialist support and rotating shift leader, also being in charge of facilitating Arts and Crafts programs for people living in shelters and being front line attending medical emergencies.
My goals are to continue growing as an artist and continue coloring the world with the colors of the rainbow 🌈, reaching larger platforms that give me a platform and give my non-binary/trans community more visibility 🏳️⚧️ and within my prayers there is also keep working in theater and the arts in general.
MAETZIN ALVARADO
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Maetzin, also known as Blackzama, is a performing artist, pole dancer & aerialist, with a passion for multidisciplinary arts. Originally from Mexico, Blackzama has brought her blend of business and artistic experience to town while pursuing her postgraduate program in Arts Administration & Cultural Management at Humber College. With over 15 years of experience as a Human Resources leader, she is known as a 'people person.'
In the arts field, she has excelled as a pole dancer performer and competitor in Pole Art, captivating audiences with her storytelling through dance. With expertise as a pole dancer & flexibility instructor, and movement guide for sedentary individuals, she has made a significant impact. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Maetzin enjoys acting, and participating in theater workshops and considers herself a melomaniac who can't resist good music. Notably, Maetzin has also previously led a book club.
She is always open to a good conversation, especially over a cup of coffee accompanied by a nice pastry, would you like to join her?
FATHIMA SAFNA
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Fathima Safna is a visionary hand embroidery artist who creates own designs of Hand embroidery. I reside in Toronto based , born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, My passion for embroidery began at a young age, inspired by my Mother and Sri Lankan culture that surrounded me. I love to celebrate my cultures and traditions with the community that makes up my own society and also helps me to build my skills.
Balancing my career with motherhood, proud to be a mom of three energetic children who fill my life with joy and inspiration. I often say that my children’s boundless imagination and creativity fuel her own artistic endeavors. Between school runs and bedtime stories, I find solace.
DIANA MEJIA
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Diana Mejia is a mexican designer, multidisciplinary visual artist and theater initiator. With a BA in graphic design, she has been able to work in different areas like education, social design, wellness, music, fashion and food. She graduated from Centennial College from the Publishing - Books, Magazine, and Electronic program where she was able to collaborate as Creative Director in On The Danforth Magazine for the 2023 Spring Edition. She recently joined Maxei Art Collective where she is experimenting and learning clown and other theater techniques. From brushes and pencils, to papers, to lenses; as a visual artist, she always enjoys experimenting with different techniques to express her art.
EBRU WINEGARD
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Ebru is from Istanbul and received her Masters from Istanbul University. After
undergraduate studies, Ebru worked in the Film and Television department of Isik
University. Ebru is a creator whose art spans many disciplines. She has experience as a
graphic designer, visual artist, filmmaker, and art educator.
Since moving to Toronto, Ebru has focused on graphic design and has been featured in
several exhibitions as a multidisciplinary artist. Her works are inspired by community,
culture, and nature. Ebru strives to have a positive impact with her art and expressions.
Her Design for Creative Mornings Toronto won the CMTO virtual background design
contest in 2020.
Ebru has been asked to speak at Universities in Turkiye and Canada. Her artwork has
been exhibited at galleries in Istanbul, Barcelona, Varna, Toronto and more. Ebru is in
front of the camera in her best-known work, Handmade Paper Font, her short film on font
design with recycled paper. This short has screened at the Thurrock Film Festival (UK)
and the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Festival (Germany), and the UNCG International
Sustainability Shorts Film Competition (USA). For more information, please see
http://ebruozbakir.com/index.php/handmadepaperfont/
Art Works: https://linktr.ee/Ebr.Winegard
IG: ebr.winegard
AISHA SIDIQI
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Aisha, originally from Afghanistan, is a passionate photographer and media artist who believes in the power of storytelling to connect people and amplify diverse voices. As a newcomer to Canada, she draws from her journey of resilience and adaptation, inspiring her commitment to collaborating with fellow newcomer artists to share their stories and experiences.
As an Ambassador at Mabelle Arts, Aisha actively engages with the community, fostering artistic expression and collaboration opportunities. She works closely with newcomer artists to explore the power of photography, media, and art as tools for capturing personal narratives and building connections across cultures.
Aisha sees art as a vital medium for preserving stories and fostering understanding. Through her work, she aims to highlight the importance of storytelling and media in empowering individuals and celebrating the richness of shared human experiences.