Posie Kalin

Founder / Executive Director (SHE/HER) 

Posie Kalin, the founder and executive director of Heartworks, is a professional artist & arts educator. Her artworks have been exhibited regionally and nationally and her teaching experience ranges from elementary to post-secondary at established institutions like the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Gonzaga University, Whitworth University and Eastern Washington University. She earned a BA from Burlington College in Vermont and an MFA from Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. ​

Jennifer Griffith

Board  President - (SHE/HER) Arts Education Director

Jennifer Griffith is a certificated educator, artist, and researcher. She recently graduated from Boston University with her M.A. Art Ed. and is currently teaching Secondary 2D/3D/AP Fine Arts in Spokane, WA with over 15 years experience in the public and private sector of arts education. Jennifer is the President-elect for the Washington Art Education Association, Vice President of NEWESD101 representative, and currently co-chairs the Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion Committee for the organization. She is currently enrolled in TAT Lab with Arts Washington and Office of Public Instruction.

Rachae Thomas

Board member  - (SHE/HER)
Performing Arts Specialist

​Rachae Thomas is a professional Actress and Singer who values being an Artist and storyteller first. She Graduated from Western Washington University and Fairhaven college, with a BA in Theatre and a focus on African-Americans in the Entertainment Industry. After graduating she moved to Los Angeles where she made a home and career in the tv/film/theater for 14 years. During her time there, to expand her body of work and creative lens, she worked with educational Theatre companies where she performed  three one person shows around the country dealing with various volatile and monumental moments in our American history. She also accompanied those shows with  facilitated talk backs around race and discrimination and crossing bridges into understanding. Her shows were held at the Museum of Tolerance and Universal Studios, just to name a few . Rachae’s starred in movies with Cuba Gooding Jr in Life of a King, Guest starred in Tv/shows with Ron Pearlman called Hand of God on Amazon and many many more. ​

Jennifer Crane-Pyle

Board Secretary 
Digital Marketing - (SHE/HER)

Born and raised in the Inland Northwest, Jennifer Crane Pyle’s  support for arts education is rooted in her upbringing in a rural setting, where a few dedicated adults nurtured her love for creativity and the arts. 
Jennifer’s professional career has primarily been in the commercial arts, with over 10 years of experience in marketing and graphic design, and my approach to that work is informed by my fine arts background. This solid foundation in the arts, combined with my practical marketing skills, has driven me to become a fervent advocate for the next generation of local artists and creatives.
​She believes creativity empowers individuals and shapes communities. Through advocacy at Heartworks, I endeavor to ensure that the arts maintain their essential role in enriching lives and communities right here in the Inland Northwest.
​
SUSAN DORDAL

BOARD MEMBER
​SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST & CERAMIC ARTIST - (HER / SHE)
Susan is an invaluable member of our board, bringing a unique perspective that bridges her roles as a school psychologist at Dishman Hills High School, a ceramic artist and instructor at Clay Connection. Her insights into how the arts enhance social and emotional well-being are deeply appreciated, and we are immensely grateful for her dedication to improving the lives of youth through her work.

Jun Oh

BOARD MEMBER - (he / him)
​Arts Educator / Artist

Juno, originally from South Korea, now lives and works in Spokane, WA. He is a member of the emerging artist collective, ‘Yes Is A Feeling,’ which manages both studio and gallery space in downtown Spokane. Juno earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Eastern Washington University in 2021 and also holds a Master in Teaching in 2024. His work explores the broader possibilities and meanings of creative mediums, contributing to the vibrant art community in Spokane.
LIST OF MENTORS / ADVISERS
  • Score - Rich Wallis
  • Miranda Leigh Hein - Executive Director of ArtsEd WA
  • Melissa Lang - Professional Artist / Teaching Artists
  • ​Jeff Klein - PTG Parent / STAMP Program Support & Developer
  • Olivia Evans - Professional Artists / Teaching Artists
  • Sam Abrams - Designer of Learning ​
  • Chuck Carter - Spokane Neighborhood Counsel Member 
  • Spokane Print & Publishing Center - Thom Caraway
  • Spokane Learning Cooperative - Katy Purviance 
  • Terrain Creative Enterprise
  • Spokane Neighborhood Leadership Academy
  • ArtsWA TATLab 2024 
  • Spokane Arts
  • Kieran O'Mahoney, PHD, Emeritus - Co- Founder of NeuralEducation: Institute for Connecting Neuroscience with Teaching and Learnings