Teaching Artists
Zaya Jones
is a Teaching Artist at The Warehouse Project & Gallery. Assisting with The Gallery, a visual arts program, and working as our lead artist on a few community projects, Zaya demonstrates her talents and teaches young people artistic techniques and about the value of taking pride in their communities. Additionally, Zaya is also a tremendous face painter and is available for hire for birthdays and other special occasions!
Abigail Pinon
is the Program Manager at The Warehouse Project and Gallery. She is passionate about the work done here at TWPG and has been involved in it since its opening, when she was a TWPG student herself. Abi is a graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance, as well as a Minor in Disability and Human Development. During her time in college, she also studied Acting for Film and TV at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (LA) over the summer. She is an Actor who has performed in English, Spanish, and Spanglish for audiences across Chicago at theatres such as The Second City, Steppenwolf, Hull House, iO, and so forth. She received the individual award of “Outstanding Improviser” in the 2019 ALTA Awards at Victory Gardens Theatre.
Abi is also a part of an improv/sketch team named Ratas de Dos Patas. With Ratas, she has performed at Impro Theatre (LA), Femprovisor Fest (San Francisco), The Hideout Theatre (Austin), UW Madison (Wisconsin), and more. In addition to performing, she also writes, produces, teaches, directs, and spends some time with graphic design. One of her favorite things to do is travel and she is looking forward to exploring new places once it is safe to do so again!
Directors
Meredith Schilsky, LCSW
is the founder of The Warehouse Project & Gallery. Meredith has a passion for art of all kinds and enjoys performing and directing as well as being an audience member. Meredith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in social justice, educational equity, social/emotional learning, relationship building and prejudice reduction and anti-bias education. Meredith uses theatre, spoken work poetry, music and a variety of other techniques to engage youth and adults in conversation and action about issues that impact both their personal and professional/community needs. Meredith is a certified mediator with the Center for Conflict Resolution and authored professional development for Teaching Tolerance’s Anti-Bias Framework. In addition to her work at The Warehouse Project & Gallery, Meredith is an adjunct faculty member at Aurora University and works full-time as a School Social Worker. Meredith is also the principal consultant at Project BUILD providing training's and workshops focused on social/emotional learning, equity and diversity and prejudice reduction. Meredith recently began pursuing a Master of Education at University of Illinois with a focus in Diversity and Equity.
Jeffrey Bartl
Jeff joined The Warehouse Project and Gallery Board of Directors in 2021. He helps support the organization’s marketing initiatives and fundraisers to bring more awareness to The Warehouse’s mission. Jeff is a writer and marketer by trade and spends his free time, traveling, cooking and rooting for Michigan State sports.
Emily Bouchard
has been involved with The Warehouse Project & Gallery since its inception. She is excited to share her passion for special events and fundraising with an organization that has relevant ties to her hometown community. On a professional level, she is the Head of Production at Mainstream Media, working in the events and hospitality industry. Outside of professional interests, she enjoys spending time traveling, trying new restaurants and exploring the City of Chicago, which she is proud to call home.
Edith Crawford
is a Summit native and joined the Board of Directors in 2014. Acting as our 5k-race director, Edith combines her passion for running with her passion for fundraising for her favorite non-profit, The Warehouse Project & Gallery. Receiving her master degree in instructional design , Edith works for Southern Company Gas. She and her husband are proud parents of a toddler girl. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and reading.
Thomas Guzi
joined the Board in 2018 as the finance chair/treasurer. Originally from Denver, Colorado, he attended Loyola University Chicago and was roommates with TWPG co-founder Marco Lopez. After attending a TWPG fundraiser, Thomas was hooked and wanted to increase his involvement. Aside from his work with TWPG, he is an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Chicago (he has coached kids for 17+ years!) and is a member of the Lincoln Park Zoo Auxiliary Board. During the day, Thomas fills his time as a CPA at Miller Cooper & Co. Thomas was drawn to his work with TWPG for a variety of reasons— one being his LOVE of the theatre!
Sara Leone
as been an educator in Summit School District 104 since 2005. During her tenure, she has held various positions including coach, committee member, and mentor to new staff. After witnessing the impact of The Warehouse first hand, Sara wanted to take a more active role to support the community agency, which has given so much to her students. When not supporting The Warehouse, Sara enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling with her husband, and reading. Sara is excited to sit on the board and assist The Warehouse as it continues to grow and evolve.
Nichole Massarello
has been a member of The Warehouse Project & Gallery Board of Directors since 2015. Planning one of our biggest fundraisers and spearheading a new project to build a haunted house, Nichole is actively involved in ensuring the fiscal integrity of the agency. Nichole is an Attorney, spending much of her time in court working with marginalized communities. She is a music fanatic and travels extensively to see her favorite bands in concert.
Fannie Medina
is a Chicago native, born and raised on the South side with over 20 years of working in arts education. She pursued her degree in art education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago while working as a teaching assistant, eventually obtaining a BFA in Arts Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Fannie has worked all over the Chicagoland area, teaching youth ages 5-18. She has shared her passion for teaching through the arts in working with various organizations such as A.R.T., Marwen Foundation, After School Matters, Chicago Park District, Better Boys Foundation, and Mujeres Latinas en Acción. Using the creative arts as a tool for improved learning has been the basis of her teaching practice. Currently, she works at Summit school district 104 as the Program Manager for Pairing Arts and Culture with Teaching and Technology.
Mariann Rubel
is a recently retired paraprofessional. Mariann worked in District 104 with students from PreK to 8th grade for 33 years. Meeting and working with all the children was a very important and joyful part of her life. She feels very fortunate to have had the opportunity. Mariann has 2 sons who also went through the district and are also graduates of Argo High School. She is hoping to be able to share her knowledge and love for the area with TWPG and all the people involved in their programming.