Teaching

For Kids + Youth

Jen has decades of experience as a teaching artist, for all ages from preschool to high school. Whether in the classroom, in the parks, or at a private party, Jen’s experience  as a “big sis” is a lifetime of skills to relate to any age or theme. Hire her to be a teaching artist in a variety of settings! For a birthday party, she helped the twelve-year-olds to write their own poems and they had their own poetry reading by candlelight.  Sample classes include:

• Inspired by Visual Art: Quirky Characters Write Poems (improv exercises, poetry writing, and publishing!)
• Writing Odes to Nature (get inspired by plants and the natural elements)
• Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride with poetry and a school parade

For Poets + Writers

Jen has years of experience  working with award-winning authors to level-up their book launch and own their newfound successes for a more robust career. She helps students create unique characters and celebrate their own talents. Sample classes include:

• Writing  A Memorable Artist Statement
• Writing with the Poetry of Queer Ancestors
• Writing from the Poetry of Activists
• Developing Strong Women Characters

General Audiences

Jen has taught in community spaces like a tea house, coworking space, art galleries, and public libraries. Students can be at any level, from beginner to professional. Give yourself an artist date to explore your creative expression!  She is also a guest speaker at conferences and public events.

For individualized coaching support: You might have the beginnings of a book, or maybe you just need the finishing touch. Jen has years of journalism and research skills to support you in creating the book that was meant to be. She has worked with projects that include a children’s chapter book, business book, spiritual self-help, plays, and screenplays.  If you need support for writing a speech, you’ve got an award-winning writer who will interview you to find confidence and clarity in your message. Whether it is a speech or a memoir, Jen can help.

Wellness

Jen has a background teaching meditation and mind-body fitness. With her interest in spiritual philosophy and teaching Feng Shui Poetry,  she has been recruited to teach classes for Hold On Campaign and NAMI.

826LA at the Hammer Museum

Through 826LA‘s  partnership with the Hammer Museum, Jen led a hands-on artmaking class with improv exercises, art discussion, and poetry writing.

Feng Shui Poetry in the Parks

Jen was selected as a 2025 Poet Laureate Fellow with the Academy of American Poets. Her project “Feng Shui Poetry in the Parks” was in partnership with Bravo High School and you can read more about it in this LA Times article.

As a teaching artist, she facilitated field trips for the high school students to visit eco-education groups like Theodore Payne Foundation, Kuruvungna Springs, and TreePeople.

“I stayed for a few minutes at the beginning of class to see what you were teaching. I’m so happy that you incorporated multicultural art in your teaching and I can see how happy my daughter is. I had to make sure I came up to you to say thank you.”

— Parent of student at the workshop
“Inspired by Visual Art: Quirky Characters Write Poems”

“I haven’t written poetry in a while and I learned so much from the class. I’m excited to sit with the packet and read the poems more closely.”

— Student from a university workshop 
“Writing from the poetry of activists”

“The exercises were really effective and useful, so thank you for the hand-holding.”

— Author of Children’s books,
Student of “Writing a Memorable Artist Statement”

“I didn’t know I could be an author at this age. It’s such an honor to be published! So cool that my poetry can be discovered in bookstores!”

— High School Student from the project
“Feng Shui Poetry in the Parks”