Liz Hopfan, MSEd/ Executive Director

Liz Hopfan began her career in service to children and families in the early 1990s as an elementary school teacher in South Central Los Angeles, where she also first encountered Free Arts. As volunteer in both the PACT and Free Arts Day programs there, Liz saw first hand the positive impact of art in the lives of children. In 1997, Liz returned to the East Coast, where she saw the need for arts programming for at-risk youth in New York City. In 1998, with a budget of $100,000 and a staff of one, Free Arts NYC began bringing its programs to children and families throughout the city.

Today, under Ms. Hopfan’s continued leadership, Free Arts NYC employs a staff of thirteen committed professionals and has an annual operating budget of over $1,400,000. Liz remains actively involved in all areas of the organization’s operations, from program development to fundraising to volunteering. She is also a member of the National Society for Fundraising Executives, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Art Table, a national nonprofit organization for professional women in the visual arts.

Jill Ziccardi, MFA/ Director of Programs and Community Partnerships
(jill@freeartsnyc.org)

Jill Ziccardi holds a BFA in Art (with honors) from Carnegie Mellon University and a MFA in Painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she was awarded a full-tuition merit scholarship. She has been a painter for 30 years and has been working in arts education and program development for 20 years and is passionate about the relationship of art to the social world.

Although she is a native New Yorker, Jill began her career in Chicago in academia as a Professor of Drawing and Painting at various higher education institutions (The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Valparaiso University, ACM Chicago Arts Program, Columbia College, University of Illinois, among others.) After eight years of working with college students, Jill made an intentional decision to shift her work environment to a community-based setting with grade school kids and teens. Before leaving Chicago, she worked as a Teaching Artist for the Department of Cultural Affairs, Gallery 37 in the Parks and Urban Gateways and spent two years designing and implementing Park Voyagers, a collaborative and award-winning outreach program for kids and families through The Art Institute of Chicago.

Since moving back to NYC in 2001, Jill has worked as an Education Manager for the Police Athletic League, as a Teaching Artist for the Guggenheim Museum and as a Program Director for after-school and camp programs for Oasis. Before coming to Free Arts NYC, Jill was employed for three years with the 1199SEIU Employer Child Care Corporation, where she created summer day camp and teen programs.

In addition to her daily life as an artist and educator (www.redhooktomato.com), Jill believes in the power of art, ethics, hard work, critical thinking, community service, having fun, bike-riding, freedom and giving kids a future.

Kai Fierle-Hedrick/ Weekly Mentor Program Manager
(kai@freeartsnyc.org)

Kai has earned an MPhil in Architecture and the Moving Image from Cambridge University (UK) and an Honors BA in Art History and English Literature from McGill University (Canada). In 2007 she also completed a post-graduate certificate in Teaching to Inspire Learning at Royal Holloway, University of London (UK).

Before joining Free Arts, Kai spent four years in the UK where she first worked as a Project Assistant for General Public Agency (a consultancy that commissions public art and advises on urban planning), and then spent two years developing and facilitating visual art, digital media and writing workshops for young people of all ages through the East-Side Educational Trust. From 2006-2007 she also taught creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. Kai is also a mixed-media writer and the Managing Editor of How2 (a journal of innovative modern and contemporary writing by women). Her work has been published/exhibited in the US, Canada and the UK, and can also be found on her website www.orium.org.

Sarah Sabourin/ Free Arts Day Program Manager
(sarah@freeartsnyc.org)

Sarah Sabourin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and Education from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. She also received a BFA in ceramics from Alfred School for Ceramic Art in Alfred, NY.

Sarah has managed and taught in community centers focusing on arts education in Plattsburgh, NY at the Plattsburgh Housing Authority Community Center and at the Brookline Adult Education Program in Brookline, MA. Sarah ran the Clay Studio at Bucks Rock Arts Camp where she also taught classes for children and teens. Currently, Sarah teaches Adult Beginning Wheel Throwing at La Mano Pottery in NYC.

Prior to joining Free Arts NYC, Sarah worked at The 92nd Street Y’s Art Center, which offers classes for children and adults in ceramics, jewelry and fine art mediums. She assisted in the overall administration of this large community center in programming and exhibitions.

Katie Key/ Volunteer Coordinator
(katie@freeartsnyc.org)

Katie Key graduated summa cum laude from the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY with degrees in English and Psychology. Her independent research focused on the artistic expressions of women of the African Diaspora as means of healing from trauma.

Katie embraced grassroots work with at-risk children and families inside the public school setting as a School Social Worker at the Joan A. Male Family Support Center, Buffalo, NY, and Service Leader at City Year New York. She currently promotes social and environmental responsibility by volunteering her time and energy with the Brooklyn Women’s Chorus and Green Phoenix Permaculture.

Debbie Farrell Nelson/ Director of Development
(debbie@freeartsnyc.org)

Deborah Farrell Nelson is Director of Development for Free Arts NYC and coordinates revenue development and marketing activities. Ms. Nelson is an active researcher, speaker and consultant on donor cultivation and solicitation, with more than a decade of nonprofit fundraising and management experience.

Ms. Nelson was previously the Acting Director of the Institute of Laryngology and Voice Restoration, an international medical research and education foundation. Prior, she spent six years in the role of Director of Development with HopeFound, a Massachusetts homeless service agency; managed fundraising and communications for St. Francis House in Boston, Massachusetts; served as Associate Director of the MaryHouse Shelter for Women and Children in Sacramento, CA; and Project Coordinator of Sacramento Cottage Housing in Sacramento, CA. She received her B.A. magna cum laude in Psychology and Design from Holy Cross College. Ms. Nelson is currently a Director of Glamour Gals, a New York City-based national nonprofit, and a founding Director of a Connecticut-based family foundation.

Ashley Middleton/ Special Events Manager
(ashley@freeartsnyc.org)

Ashley graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and French from Hobart and William Smith Colleges where she attended all four years as an Arts Scholar. Fluent in both French and Italian, she spent time living abroad in France and Italy studying Dance, Art History and Studio Art. Ashley grew up trained in classical ballet and has danced with The Joffrey Ballet, The Boston Ballet, The Atlanta Ballet, and Les Jeune Ballet de France.

Ms. Middleton has worked in New York City in events and publicity for the past 5 years and joins Free Arts NYC from the British fashion company Mulberry, where she was the Public Relations Manager. Throughout her life, she has volunteered with programs such as Camp Amerikids – a mentoring program for underprivileged children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Bernadette DeAngelis/ Development and Marketing Coordinator
(bernadette@freeartsnyc.org)

Bernadette DeAngelis received her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and International Business from NYU’s Stern School of Business in May 2006. She also studied Art History, spending time living abroad in Florence. Additionally, Bernadette has avidly pursued several different styles of dance throughout her life.

Originally, Bernadette joined Free Arts as a Development intern during her last year of school, before eventually assuming a full-time position. She taught dance and movement classes for several years in Pennsylvania and was very active in student-run community service organizations throughout both high school and college. She currently volunteers with Free Arts’ Weekly Mentor Program.

Elizabeth Thomas/ Office Assistant
(elizabeth@freeartsnyc.org)

Elizabeth Thomas received her Bachelor’s degree in 2003 from Hampshire College. Her studies included an exploration of the impact race, class, and gender have on access to educational, legal, and reproductive rights. While at Hampshire she was an active member of the Civil Liberties and Public Policy student group and assisted in the organization of Hampshire College’s National Young Women’s Day of Action.

Before joining Free Arts NYC Elizabeth worked at a Manhattan law firm, and spent time exploring her artistic abilities by taking drawing, painting, and mixed media art classes. She is currently a Free Arts volunteer in both the PACT and Weekly Mentor Programs.