Teaching Artists
Staff
Taylor Buttrey, Executive Director
With a lifelong passion for the arts, Taylor Buttrey has dedicated his career to enhancing arts education and community programming. Taylor is a graduate of the Academy of Art University and earned a BFA in Photography. He spent several years in the commercial art industry as a digital studio assistant, fine art frame designer, and event photographer before shifting his focus to the non-profit sector by moving to Arizona and joining Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program. After Public Allies, he oversaw arts programming and development duties at various organizations that provide support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Taylor‘s focus on collaborative community partnerships and commitment to team building has enabled innovative and responsive programming, including arts employment opportunities, youth arts programming, and arts aging interventions. He is thrilled to be joining the team at Youth in Arts, as the organization supports his belief that the arts are a vital component of education and community well-being.
When he is not working, Taylor enjoys being back in the Bay Area by going to local museums, taking day trips to Santa Cruz or Mendocino, and hiking with his very energetic dog, Klaus.
Morgan Schauffler, Director of External Affairs
Morgan has always been passionate about art, and worked in fine art sales for over a decade. Prior to her work as a private Art Consultant, she was the Senior Gallery Associate at the Paul Thiebaud Gallery in San Francisco. She holds a degree in Art History and Human Communications from the University of Denver. Before moving into her development role, Morgan was the Program Director at Youth in Arts. She is a commissioner on the San Rafael Public Art Review Board, a board member of the San Rafael Business Improvement District, and the steering committee representative for the Downtown San Rafael Arts District. When not working she can be found hiking or biking the hills of Marin with her husband, two young sons, and Milo Foundation mutt. At Youth in Arts Morgan oversees fundraising and events, and manages our in-house children’s art gallery.
morgan@youthinarts.org 415-457-4878 ext. 160
Barbara Yupit Gomez, Program Manager
A first generation American of Mexican immigrant parents, Barbara Yupit Gomez was born and raised in the Canal District of San Rafael. As a member of the community, she is privy to the conditions and challenges that affect students of low socioeconomic backgrounds. After graduating from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in American Studies, she has returned home to give back to the community.
Barbara is passionate about arts education and fostering the artistic spirit of young people. A musician herself, Barbara benefited from the ELM program at San Pedro Elementary and continued her music education throughout school and independently. She has worked closely with San Rafael City Schools as a Youth Educator at ForWords Literacy Lab for the last three years, serving ESL students.
When not working, Barbara enjoys playing guitar, weight training and dancing to post-punk music.
barbara@youthinarts.org 415-457-4878 ext. 120
Austin Willacy, ‘Til Dawn Director/Mentor Artist
Austin Willacy is a pop and a cappella mentor artist who writes, records, produces, engineers, and arranges different genres for television, film, and other artists. He is a veteran member of The House Jacks, a pioneering a cappella group with whom he has produced 10 full-length albums and completed multiple world tours. Austin is the co-Artistic Director of the Thrive Choir, andfor the past 24 years, Austinthe director of ’Til Dawn, Youth in Arts’ award-winning teen a cappella group. In 2018, he won a Positive Music Award for co-writing the eponymous theme song to “Thrive”, a documentary with over 90 million views, worldwide.
Austin co-organizes and co-facilitates Jams for YES! and is a former board member for Rainforest Action Network and the Freight & Salvage. YES! Jams are events that support individual changemakers in deepening their root systems and growing in consciousness and self-care, so they can become more healthy, well balanced, and effective. Austin is a longstanding member of the North America Jam team and a co-founder of the Arts for Social Change Jam (2013), and the Black Diaspora Jam (2018). In 2020, Austin co-founded Raise Your Voice Labs, a creative culture transformation company that helps groups build brave spaces to have discussions that matter, and embody new visions of community through musical co-creation.
Cathy Bowman, Mentor Artist / Arts Unite Us Coordinator
Cathy Bowman is an award-winning cartoonist and writer. Her paintings have been shown at the O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Youth In Arts, the Sun Gallery and the Marin County Fair. Cathy is an experienced teacher who enjoys helping children tell their stories in words and pictures. She has conducted workshops for the Charles Schulz Museum, the Girl Scouts, the San Anselmo Recreation Department and others. Prior to focusing on education she worked as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. Cathy is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and creator of the mini-comic “The Old Cat and the Sea.” She holds a B.A. in Political Science from U.C. Santa Barbara. A lifelong traveler, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger.
cathy@youthinarts.org 415-457-4878 ext. 150
Angelean Johnson, Communications & Development Manager
Angelean Johnson, a graduate of Baylor University with a B.S. in Public Health, has always had a profound love for the arts, particularly music and visual arts. Growing up, she found her passion for photography during an elementary school summer camp that engaged students through art, igniting a lifelong appreciation for creative expression.
Angelean believes that arts education is not only vital for personal development but also has the potential to create positive health impacts and improve overall community health. She feels strongly that we can never become collectively better until the lowest member of our community achieves dignity and respect. This belief drives her dedication to fostering inclusive and equitable arts programs.
In her free time, Angelean loves to attend concerts, photograph nature, and experiment with new recipes in the kitchen.
angelean@youthinarts.org 415-457-4878 ext. 110
David Peterson, Program Coordinator/Mentor Artist
David Peterson is a multi-subject credentialed teacher who found his path to Youth in Arts by blending his two passions, music and teaching, into one job.
David is passionate about providing equal and equitable access to the arts for kids. In his career as a classroom educator, he saw a desperate need for all students to be given agency and ample opportunities in their day to create, explore, and feel joy. Especially after COVID, the arts are imperative, now more than ever, in helping our upcoming generation re-regulate.
David now works as a Teaching Artist and as a Program Coordinator for Artists in Schools (AIS), providing observation, professional developments, and overall support to all of Youth in Arts Teaching Artists in the AIS program.
In his free time David produces and engineers music and performs with two local bands. His favorite instrument to play is Flugelhorn, and one day wishes to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival. His two favorite things to collect are vinyl, and bruises from the skatepark.
