Local Learning and the Folk Arts and Cultural Treasures Charter School (FACTS) are proud to announce the artists selected for the 2026–2027 Teaching Artist Mentorship Cohort, a year-long professional development and mentorship program designed to strengthen the teaching artist ecosystem across Philadelphia and Camden.
Supported through funding from the William Penn Foundation, the cohort brings together 12 artists representing a range of artistic disciplines and cultural traditions who are committed to expanding their teaching practice and serving as future mentors and leaders in arts education.
The 2026–2027 cohort includes:
- Danielle Dube – Storytelling and Performance
- Athena Dugan – Labyrinth Centered – Expressive Arts
- Alex Hanesworth – Oral History, Zines, Sound Art
- Patricia Jones – African Diaspora Dance
- Peri Law – Printmaker
- Ziania Narvaez-Garcia – Acrylic Painting & Mixed Media Repurpose
- Tafari Robertson – Painting, Multimedia, History
- Elaine Smith Holton– Folk Arts, music and movement
- Senfu Stoney – Rhythm and Percussion
- Jean Wong – Visual Arts
The cohort also includes a mentor artist and apprentice team, Mama Carla Wiley and Kym Clark, who will collaborate on an apprenticeship in African American storytelling.
Over the course of the year, cohort members will participate in a collaborative Community of Practice focused on:
- culturally responsive and trauma-informed pedagogy,
- arts integration across the curriculum,
- mentorship and leadership development,
- portfolio and lesson development, and
- relationship-building with educators and cultural organizations throughout Philadelphia and Camden.
As part of the program, each teaching artist will also complete a paid classroom residency during the 2026–2027 school year. We are accepting applications from k-12 teachers now. If you are interested in joining the community of practice and hosting an artist residency in your class room in the coming school year, please apply at this link, or use the button below. The deadline for applications is July 10, 2026.
Artists were selected through a competitive application process that considered artistic excellence, community focus, and commitment to being an active member of a community of practice with other Philadelphia teaching artists.
The cohort reflects Local Learning and FACTS’ shared commitment to folk arts education that values cultural knowledge, creativity, and relationship-centered learning.
For more information about the Teaching Artist Mentorship Cohort, visit https://locallearningnetwork.org/facts or contact mira@locallearningnetwork.org.
