INSPIRING CONFIDENT LEARNERS

Learn with Creative Confidence (LwCC) is a K-6 asset-based curriculum founded on the ideals of a healthy Belief Ecology. The curriculum puts emphasis on developing a student’s values, perspectives and identity, empowering children to generate original ideas, make connections, and problem-solve across a variety of contexts and settings.

WHOLE SCHOOL PROGRAM

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

WORKSHOPS

A HEALTHY BELIEF ECOLOGY

LwCC is the only SEL curriculum grounded in Belief Ecology. Belief Ecology is a set of beliefs, values, and attitudes based on an individual’s knowledge, skills, and dispositions that help motivate and guide their behavior. This intrapersonal awareness influences one’s ability and desire to deploy learned social and emotional skills, while encouraging a growth mindset, improved self-efficacy and openness in children.

THE 10 PRINCIPLES OF CREATIVITY

The 10 Principles of Creativity and their Mantras are the pillars of our program. Embedded across all academic content, they provide a consistent, constructive vocabulary for educators to use in order to create a positive climate and culture in the learning environment.

AUTHENTIC

My Ideas Come From Who I Am

EXPRESSIVE

I Can Share My Feelings In Different Ways

RESOURCEFUL

I Can Make Something From Nothing

INTUITIVE

I Trust MySelf And What Feels Right To Me

CURIOUS

I Like To Learn New Things And Try Out New Ideas

PRESENT

I Pay Attention To MySelf And My World

UNCONVENTIONAL

I Can Do Things In Unexpected Ways

INVENTIVE

I Come Up With And Use Good Ideas In All Parts Of My Life

PATIENT

I Know My Best Ideas Take Time

INSPIRED

I Get Ideas From My Every Day  Life And World

AUTHENTIC

My ideas come from who I am

EXPRESSIVE

I can share my feelings in different ways

RESOURCEFUL

I can make something from nothing

INTUITIVE

I trust myself and what feels right to me

CURIOUS

I like to learn new things and try out new ideas

PRESENT

I pay attention to myself and my world

UNCONVENTIONAL

I can do things in unexpected ways

INVENTIVE

I come up with and use good ideas in all parts of my life

PATIENT

I know my best ideas take time

INSPIRED

I get ideas from my every day life and world

WHY IT MATTERS

Creative confidence helps us as individuals and helps the organizations we’re a part of. Legendary Stanford psychology professor Albert Bandura has shown that “our belief systems affect our actions, goals, and perception. Individuals who come to believe that they can effect change in their lives and worlds are more likely to accomplish what they set out to do. [They] set their sights higher, try harder, persevere longer, and show more resilience in the face of [adversity].” (Source: “Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All” by David Kelley and Tom Kelley)
A male creative coach talks to a small child in school uniform.
Headshot of Christina Noyes

Melissa Shaw

Creative Coach
Melissa is a writer, theater artist, and educator who has taught and conducted workshops in schools, detention centers, corporate offices, and homeless shelters. She has worked with a variety of organizations including Brooklyn Arts Council and Community Word Project and was on faculty at Drew University’s Institute on Religion and Conflict Transformation.
Headshot of Nancy Quach

Nancy Quach

Program/Administrative Assistant
Nancy holds an MS degree in Education with a concentration in Mental Health Counseling and a BA in Psychology from St. John’s University. When not working at the Fund, she is a professional skating coach at Chelsea Piers. For the past 15 years, Nancy has taught a creative skill-based curriculum to various age groups. Nancy worked as a preschool director prior to joining the Lulu & Leo Fund, where she developed an on-ice and off-ice curriculum that has made the program so successful today.
Headshot of Damian Owens

Damian Owens

Creative Coach
Damian is an artist, cartoonist, vocalist, and guitarist with several years experience as a Child Care Facilitator at Children’s Aid. He holds a degree in Audio Engineering.
Headshot of Christina Noyes

Christina Noyes

Creative Coach

Christina is a credentialed arts and drama teacher and an instructional technology curriculum designer. She is currently a consultant leading various technology and creative workshops throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Meredith McNerney

PD Facilitator

Former principal from West Maryland, Meredith’s passion is strengthening strategic partnerships with community agencies and nonprofits. She believes that an integrated model between community and school increases access to services for students by providing culturally sensitive prevention and early intervention-oriented services. She advocates for programs to support social-emotional learning, behavior, and academic motivation for students through a safe, accessible environment. Meredith was recently awarded The Superintendent’s Administrative Award for Excellence and Equity based on academic growth and achievement among English Learners (ELs) at Gaithersburg Elementary. Meredith believes in the Choose Creativity Curriculum. Based on her experience, she knows staff and students will benefit deeply from the mantras, lessons, and activities to empower all learners to see the possibility in every moment!

Headshot of Jason Krobatsch

Jason Krobatsch

Marketing and Communications Manager
Jason joined the Fund in 2019 with a background in marketing, publicity, and social media. He has worked at multiple agencies covering industries including theatre, nonprofits, higher education, and entertainment. He earned a BA in Communication with a minor in Theatre/Comedy and an MA in Professional Communication from William Paterson University. Jason has relied on creativity throughout his life in various forms and is thrilled to support the mission and legacy of the Lulu & Leo Fund.
Headshot of Marina Krim

Marina Krim

Creative Director

Marina is a mother, teacher, artist, entrepreneur, and co-founder and board member of the Lulu & Leo Fund and ChooseCreativity.org. Marina turned the tragic loss of two of her children into an inspirational movement and creative curricula that empower children, families, and communities to survive and thrive in the face of adversity. Marina earned her MA and BA degrees in Education from the University of Southern California, and has been a teacher in California and New York, as well as founder of several creative businesses. Marina resides in New York with her family.

Headshot of Stephanie Krieger

Stephanie Krieger

Senior Director of Programs
Stephanie has a combination of programming and fundraising experience and a lifelong passion for making creativity accessible to everyone. Prior to joining the Lulu & Leo Fund, Stephanie served as Manager of the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund, raising millions in corporate revenue. Her previous experience includes working in Development at MoMA and planning volunteer events for the corporate sponsors of New York Cares. Stephanie earned a BA in Art History and Business from Muhlenberg College and holds a MA in Arts Administration from Columbia University.

Terese Boegly

Educational Design Consultant
Terese has worked as a teacher, principal, and professor for 30 years. She completed her doctoral work at Arcadia University, Glenside PA. Her work as a principal was highlighted in Bena Kallick’s Using Curriculum Mapping and Data Analysis to Improve Instruction (2008). She has presented at national conferences on topics including Creating a Culture of Mathematical Empowerment, Professional Learning Communities, and Successful Strategies for Closing the Achievement GAP. Terese has extensive knowledge and experience creating positive and supportive learning environments and helping schools address the social and emotional needs of children. She used Choose Creativity in her school and they continue using it following Terese’s departure.

Sandra Benedict

Director of Development

After graduating from Rutgers University with BA’s in both Communication and English, Sandra enjoyed a successful career in enterprise sales at Adobe and Hewlett-Packard. She moved to the nonprofit arena when her children began elementary school, joining the staff of the New Jersey Marathon. Seeing firsthand the impact socio-economic status has on a child’s ability to be active, she implemented a school-based program that incentivizes exercise through play. Sandra has inspired generous individuals and entities to share their resources to further worthy missions including combating childhood obesity, freeing the wrongly imprisoned and making healthy food choices accessible to low-income households.