Our Team
Alphabetized by first name
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Ana "Annie" Jourdain
CRC Volunteer
Unique person, lactation and breastfeeding consultant, artist, mother, grandmother, Certified Nursing Assistant, art teacher of découpage at Providence libraries.
“Socializing is very important and I’m surrounded by beautiful people at the CRC and lot of good supplies.”
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Corinne McKamey
CRC Advisor
Educator, arts-based researcher, mother, potter, home cook, dog person.
“I love that the Center is a place of endless possibilities for objects, people, and communities.”
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Diana Arvanites
CRC Volunteer
Creative practitioner, mentor, and sharer of experiences. Her paintings, collages, artist books, and installations question and explore our relationship to environment and place.
She often uses the space of the artist’s studio to experiment and push the boundaries of her role as an artist in our community. By inviting participation and sharing space her practice embraces the way one engages in the social and civic world.
"The CRC is a community treasure. I love seeing the joy it brings to those who visit us." -
Edwige Charlot
CRC Data Strategist
Parent, artist, and strategist working in community to build resilient and accessible environments.
“We use creativity to find joy in the present.”
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Elizabeth Ochs and Isaiah Ochs Ellowitz
CRC Directors and Founders
Elizabeth: Educator, mother, community organizer, ice cream eater.
“The Creative Reuse Center is a place to design an alternative world.”
Isaiah: Second grader. Lover of Pokemon, sports, and cats.
“The Center helps the community by using recycled materials and giving them to people that need them.”
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Georgia Rhodes
CRC Volunteer and Former Advisor
Parent, artist, researcher, day dreamer.
“The CRC is a place where you can share what you don't need, what you believe is valuable, or something you want someone else to have.”
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Grechel Rosado
CRC Advisor
Grechel Rosado is a Puerto Rican Printmaker and Illustrator. Her work is deeply inspired by her Latina roots with a focus on femininity and empowerment. She is also the Programs Coordinator for WaterFire Providence where she is able to marry her passions for the arts, community, and education all into one singular role.
“The CRC is a hidden gem in our thriving and ever growing artistic community and I feel so fortunate to be a part of that growth and impact! The space has so much to offer in terms of both materials and resources and I hope to see more individuals utilizing this space.”
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Hannah Bashkow
CRC Artist in Residence Founder
Artist, crafter, baker, accessorizer, community builder, and nature lover.
“The CRC is a place full of excitement, ideas, and connections!”
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Janet Tenzcar
CRC Volunteer
Retired teacher, mother, friend, and lifelong creative crafter.
“The Center is my ‘candy store’ and inspiration.”
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Janise Nieves
CRC Shift Leader and Artist Residency Co-Coordinator
Teacher, mental health worker, artist, sister, student, yogi, creator, designer.
“The CRC is a place where art and community meet and thrive. There's so much room for creativity here.”
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Jose Medina
CRC Advisor and Volunteer
Resourceful, innovative, imaginative, optimist dreamer, and achiever.
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Liv Deitcher
CRC Volunteer Alum (in college now)
Innovative, devoted crafter, and bead enthusiast.“The CRC is my favorite place!”
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Marie Burns Snyder and Emma Snyder
CRC Volunteers
Marie: Sunshine & nature lover, grateful mom & wife.
“Our community is a like-minded collective.”
Emma: Third grader, reader, horse rider, creator, movie watcher, popcorn eater, swimmer, and helper to all!
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Mindi Schneider
CRC Advisor and Volunteer
Educator, reader, writer, doodler, crafter, wanderer, wonderer, listener. Lover of soil and soul.
“To me, the CRC asks: what would happen if we approached (discarded) things and each other with intention and curiosity? And the answer is: a lot!”
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Melissa Guillet
CRC Advisor and Volunteer
Naturalist, educator, artist, and mom. Creative Director of 15 Minute Field Trips.
“The CRC is such a great space because it’s well organized and well lit. It fosters creative aha moments.”
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Nahomy Reyes
CRC Volunteer
Grandma-hobby enthusiast and romcom lover
“The CRC has brought me closer to my community through creativity and the common interest in the arts.”
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Padini Nirmal
CRC Former Advisor and Current Supporter
Educator, liberatory practice strategist and practitioner, artist and earth-cosmos lover.
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Rachel Lauth
CRC Volunteer
Writer and crocheter who loves coffee, halloween decorations, sea creatures, and the planet. Always excited to see a picture of your cat.
”The CRC combines so many of my favorite things together: crafting, community, and sustainability!” -
Sage Morgan-Hubbard
CRC Advisor
Mother, poet, artist, educator, public speaker, consultant, and dream midwife who co-curates inclusive diverse public spaces for lifelong living and learning for all people.
“The CRC creates a physical space for people to be in and at the same time, it is leaving an unfilled space in the landfill.”
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Salina and Sophia Ting
CRC Shift Leader and Artist Residency Co-Coordinator
Salina: Parent, abstract artist, and community herbalist. Self proclaimed enthusiast of anything economically friendly/focused.
“The CRC allows me to feel comfortable and creative- two things that are necessary for an artist to thrive.”
Sophia: A digital artist who loves to make new friends!
“Creative freedom allows me to do things I love most which is art.”
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Sam Andersen
CRC Board Secretary
Mother, partner, daughter, sister, dog owner, friend. Believer in the power of education. Reader, cyclist, advocate for mental health.
“When I think of the CRC I think of space. A physical space that builds community and inspires creative thinking; the space that all of the center's bountiful materials would have taken up in the landfill; and outer space - because if you can't find a way to make your own solar system at the CRC it is time to expand your scientific artistic universe and get even more creative!”
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Samantha Salomon
CRC Volunteer Alum (in college now)
Jewelry maker, artist, painter, drawer, uses clay to make art, and organizer of the things.
“I love the CRC. It’s such a positive welcoming environment, and they once gave me a free pizza. “
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Sheri Griffin
CRC Operations Director
Co-founder and former director at Farm Fresh Rhode Island, writer, editor and strategist for community-based nonprofits.
“I love being in a space where all ideas are welcome.”
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Sophia Brooks-Randall
CRC Volunteer
Reader, cat lover, geology enthusiast, women’s sports fan.
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Tarah Johnson
CRC Advisor
Tarah is a 3rd generation Rhode Islander.
"CRC is a space where I feel welcome with both my daughter and my mother. I'm inspired by the people I have met there and enjoy creating as part of a community"
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Taylor Ellowitz
CRC Advisor
Designer, builder, father.
“The CRC is an agent of sustainability. What is waste for some people are treasures for others.”
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Thea Upham
CRC Treasurer
Thea is a passionate foodie who comes from a family of artists and dabbles in a variety of fiber arts and crafts. She has over 10 years experience in nonprofit management and community building. When it's nice out she's at the beach and when it's not she's knitting while watching star trek at home.
"I love perusing the shelves and finding inspiration at the CRC. It's such an important resource for the community to be able to share materials, spark creativity and reduce waste." -
Victoria Rodriguez
CRC Event and Partnerships Coordinator
Victoria Rodriguez (she/they) is a first generation, Azorian & Guatemalan, neurodivergent, artist, activist and community organizer born and raised in Providence, RI. A proud aunt, godmother, granddaughter, daughter and niece, Victoria is a believer in the power of the people and cultivates a deep relationship with the planet and all living kin across the four directions.
“The CRC is a place where we are practicing intergenerationally building the world we will pass on! A place that inspires, reuses, heals and imagines all the possibilities of what life in right relationship with nature looks like.”