Marianna Elrayes is a muralist and art educator.  She graduated from Penn State University with a BA in sculpture, and received her master’s equivalent in Art Education from Kutztown University.  Trained by Mike Miller, an avid believer in the uplifting effect of murals in communities (Mike Miller, Art Evangelist), Marianna has led students in every step of creating a mural. She has helped create murals on 2-story buildings as part of the Mural Arts Philadelphia program, as well as on school walls and windows. She served as a studio artist, muralist, and art teacher at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading, Pennsylvania. 

Marianna has also taught middle school and high school in Fort Worth, Texas. Her curriculum included Art I - Art III, and Advanced Placement Art, where students could earn college credits by submitting a portfolio to the college board. 

After having her daughter she focused on community art. She founded an art collaboration group with three of her graduated standout art students called Juxtaposse.  Juxtaposse created murals in public schools, banners for local theatre groups, hosted pop ups at open mic events, and designed and printed t-shirts for local bands and artists. She recently relocated with her family to the area and is excited to continue supporting her community through the arts. 

Ruth grew up in Mexico and learned early on the finer skills of cooking. Her career took her around the world, ever-expanding her culinary skills. She developed her French cuisine skills under the tutelage of Papa and Maman Nivelle who owned a food truck that sold at the open markets in Tours. Traveling through Japan, Spain, and Germany, she continued to widen her range of culinary skills. In Germany, she met her current mentor, Chef Thomas Eckert, who owns a restaurant in Hohenstein, Germany. She now makes her home in Southern Maryland, where she is eager to share her passion for cooking, languages, and cultures through her teaching skills.

Meghan Bernier is a Licensed Clinical Art Therapist in the state of MD. Meghan’s Bachelor of Science was earned at Old Dominion University, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Studio Art.
Meghan received her Master of Art Therapy and Counseling degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. Meghan has been practicing Art Therapy and Counseling for over 10 years, in many different settings and with all ages.
“Art is not just for children. Art is a nonverbal language, a vessel in which we can express complex human emotions and events. Art is a doorway in which we can explore, learn, and strengthen the self.”
Meghan provides specialized mental health and wellness groups that focus on emotional expression, empowerment, self-confidence building, and self-care. Meghan believes every human is born with creativity that is unique to each person. She strives to create a safe space for participants to explore their own creativity outside of their comfort zone for personal growth. Meghan teaches that the process of creating art is more important than the final product. Although art techniques will be learned in her groups, Meghan’s focus is on the emotional impact/release from creating art.
Meghan is an artist in addition to an Art Therapist and her favorite medium is chalk pastels and ink. Meghan lives locally with her husband; together, they raised five children and are blessed with 7
grandchildren.