Our Teachers
Our creative writing workshops are taught by an all-star group of teachers ranging from poets to illustrators, filmmakers, novelists, performers, clothing designers, and comedians – many of whom hold several of these titles!
Above all, they are experienced classroom practitioners. Uptown Stories teachers write terrific curricula, are dynamic and engaging in the classroom, can tailor their lessons to different age groups and abilities, and most importantly, are passionate about the craft and art of writing.
To top it off, most of our teaching artists are residents of upper Manhattan. Discover more about the fantastic Uptown Stories teachers below!
Daemond Arrindell is a multi-genre writer, filmmaker, educator, and performer interested in found poems, visual poetics, persona, experimentation and exploring what legacy means.
His work has appeared in City Arts, Specter, Crosscut, Poetry NorthWest, Seattle Review of Books and The Pitkin Review.
In a previous life I was a life guard at Jones Beach!
An NYC native, dedicated to supporting students and families, Hanin has been a School Counselor for 8 years. She has a graduate degree in School Counseling from NYU and a bachelors in Psychology from Lehman College.
Hanin loves to see students exposed to various modes of art and self expression, and how they become confident using them to explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas through the process.
I have very flexible fingers and love watching historical documentaries!
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Stacy shares her expertise in creative writing and musical theater with kids of all ages, drawing from experience as a performer and published author.
With a rich catalogue of plays, musicals, and award-winning children’s books like Chance to Fly, she's acclaimed for her Camp Rolling Hills series.
Stacy once sang the National Anthem solo for a NY Jets game! She was 16 at the time.
Nicco Diaz is a Queer Afro-Nuyorican poet, playwright, actor, and teaching artist. A first-gen Cornell grad and former Nuyorican Poets Cafe Chief-of-Staff, he brings bold roots and sharp storytelling to every space.
His work has been published in PALABRITAS and Out Loud, and he has performed across NYC. In Aug '24, he self-published his debut poetry collection Un Chin Chin, a celebration of joy, grief, and Afro-Caribbean resistance.
I LOVE science, incorporating it into my writing often, and once memorized the Periodic Table of Elements.
Nelson Diaz-Marcano is a Puerto Rican NYC-based theater maker, advocate, community leader, and educator.
His plays have been produced and developed by The Road Theatre Company, Pipeline Theatre Company, Clubbed Thumb, The Lark, Vision Latino Theater Company, The Orchard Project, Classical Theatre of Harlem, and The Parsnip Ship among others.
The first time I ever came up with a story was because I was afraid of a pig!
Beyond appearing on stage and screen, Rosy is an urban farmer, a linguist, and a keeper of stories, whether through the preservation of folkloric songs, the cultivation of community, or the language of movement and sound.
Rosy's artistry is shaped by her Haitian heritage, spirituality, and commitment to justice. She believes in art as a lifeline, a bridge, and a catalyst for change.
I appear in a episode of Raising Kaanan for like 5 seconds. I can show you a clip I swear.
Gina Goico is an artist, educator, and PhD candidate in Performing & Media Arts at Cornell University. They hold an AFA in Illustration from Altos de Chavon, a BFA from Parsons The New School for Design, and an MA in Arts Politics from NYU.
Gina's multidisciplinary work examines the construction of Dominican identity, gender, and rebellions in the Dominican Republic and its NYC diaspora.
I love climbing trees and dancing. I also play some bass guitar!
Over the past 5 years Cassidy has worked with students of all ages with a focus on creative expression and social-emotional learning.
Cassidy finds inspiration in her work when she watches students engage in the creative process and can be there as a support on their journeys.
Cassidy has been to the midnight release of every Hunger Games movie.
Miss is a published author and illustrator of celebrated graphic novels and comic books. She specializes in teaching comic writing and illustration.
Her graphic novels such as Henni and Escape From “Special” have made top book lists, The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts, and been nominated for awards.
Miss once played a zombie in a low-budget horror movie.
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Jane - poet, performance artist, and educator - publishes student work and teaches writing, literature, and performance across all age groups.
Jane's published poetry book Names is part of the award-winning ABC Chapbook Series. One of her poems has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
Jane fronts the band The Icebergs and was a part of Sister Spit, the famed west coast women’s poetry troupe!
A high school teacher, journalist, filmmaker, and soccer coach, Kat speaks 5 languages fluently and has lived all over the world.
She is always excited to make lifelong memories and friendships through a shared love of stories.
Tess Michaelson is a writer, interdisciplinary artist, and educator with an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University.
Tess’ articles have been published by The Chicago Review, independent online magazine The Rumpus, The Brooklyn Rail, and more.
Tess has an identical twin!
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Our deputy director, Dorkys currently educates students of all ages in writing and art across Washington Heights and Inwood.
Her bilingual works have appeared in Time Out NY Kids, BET, Parents Latina, Syracuse Post-Standard, and the Manhattan Times.
Dorkys keeps the gears of Uptown Stories turning, but when she's not at US she spends her time painting and illustrating!
A Puerto Rican, published, and award-winning playwright, Alejandra is a dedicated teacher with Uptown Stories.
The 2020 winner of Miranda Family Voces Latinx Playwriting Competition, she has multiple published plays and recent off-Broadway triumphs.
Alejandra achieved a 2021 Emmy nod for Voice Over Actress in La Cucarachita Martina’s Musical Adventure!
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Kate, a dedicated educator, taught middle and high school humanities in both public and private schools for over 25 years before founding Uptown Stories.
Her own fiction has appeared in The Madison Review, Brain Child, Salamander, and The Ledge!
Kate is a lifelong New Yorker and has lived in Washington Heights since 2003 with her two kids. Thank you Kate for the gift of Uptown Stories!
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Luis, a Puerto Rican actor and educator, holds an MFA in acting from Brown University. Proudly bilingual, he creates vibrant spaces for fun, learning, and growth.
Luis has taught writing, acting, and speech in Puerto Rico and at Brown University. His acting credits include “The Glass Menagerie”, “Nicky Jam”, and more!
Luis’ first job was at Cold Stone Creamery where he performed mini ice cream ball juggling shows while preparing orders!
HK
Parent
Elias
Alumnus
Kimberly
Parent
Gerry
Parent
Nina
Parent
Kayla
Student
Anna
Student
Graydon
Alumnus
Ready to Join a Workshop?
Lift your words off the page, and breathe life into them through rhythm, rhyme, and improvisation. In Spoken Word, everything you are is all that you need. Want to dance? Make your poetry move. Love to rap or write songs? Use your musical impulse. Your body, your voice, your beat — they are the story.
Guided by poets past and present, we’ll find inspiration in the words of Mahogany L. Brown, Elizabeth Acevedo, Rudy Francisco, and many more. By combining the thoughtfulness of writing with the freedom of performance, after 12 weeks, you’ll know just how to bring your story to life on the mic. Join us!
We welcome you to Snobby Poetry, should you be up for the challenge. We’re a self-motivated, uber-supportive band of misfits who read, write, and share poems. We love words, rhyme (only when used sparely, thank you), observation, and Walt Whitman (obviously). Poetry is an illogical measuring device, filled with seemingly impossible comparisons and instructions; that is why we are called to write it. We are the liars who tell the truth. If this sounds like you, or if you’ve already taken a class with Jane LeCroy and want more, Snobby Poetry is the workshop for you.
If you can’t wait to turn the page, the writer has succeeded in telling you a great story. What does it take to develop characters, settings, dialogue, and plot elements that have you on the edge of your seat? This workshop answers those questions and more! We’ll breakdown the parts of fiction writing each week and test out what we’ve learned with some on-the-spot writing. You’ll work with your peers, too — giving advice and feedback, while hearing what they have to say about your work.
Not only does this workshop make you a better writer, but when you understand the process, it makes you appreciate your favorite writers even more. Don’t leave us on the edge of our seats — register now for this workshop!