Our Mission

Gainesville Creative Kids provides a necessary outlet where children can express themselves through the arts. Our role is to respect and nurture each child as an intelligent, unique, whole person. Our belief is that each child should be at the center of their experience, allowing them to explore, imagine, and create, while building self-esteem.

Our Vision

To allow children the freedom to be themselves, feel inspired and empowered, and to be a force of change in their community and world through art.

Our Facilitators

Heddy Vernon
Graduated from UF's college of Journalism with a minor in Theater. She worked with the Boston public school system helping to integrate technology into the classroom. She has been involved in community theater here in Gainesville since 1991. She currently travels to high schools across Florida, giving presentations with Monster.com's Making It Count program. Heddy is excited to be one of the founders of Gainesville Creative Kids and looks forward to seeing it grow into a unique and beautiful community arts program.

Beth Hunter
Graduated from UF's college of Exercise and Sport Sciences with a specialty in fitness and wellness. She has been interested in movement and music her whole life. She loves to play the guitar and sing especially with her children. She is inspired to be leading classes for Gainesville Creative Kids and looks forward to meeting everyone.

Angela Habeck
Has her degree in Elementary Education and is a trained child care provider. Angela's love of art has been passed down through her family from her grandparents, avid painters, and her father, a photographer. She has taken many courses in the arts and has traveled to Washington D.C., New York, London, and Paris to visit some of the world's finest art museums. Angela is proud to be able bring her passion for education and the arts together

Jen Katz
Is currently a senior at the University of Florida perusing a Bachelor’s degree in Family Youth and Community Science.  She has been volunteering with Gainesville Creative Kids since 2008 and is very excited about our future programs.  Currently, Jennifer is focusing on funds development for GCK through grant writing and organizing fundraisers so that we may continue to offer high quality programing.  Jennifer dreams of one day opening her own practice where she will provide children who have social disorders animal-assisted therapy, art therapy and a safe environment free of judgment to express themselves.   

Jessica Charlton
Is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in history with a minor in sustainability at the University of Florida. She is passionate for both art and education, interacting with kids, and all animals. Her interests include painting, cats, and painting cats. She absolutely LOVES working for Gainesville Creative Kids and feels excited to share her interests. 

Laura Dawson
Has her degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from UF. While her background is in science, her passion is photography and playing with children. She owns her own photography business--Flying Chickadee Studios, as well as being a part-time nanny. She has one daughter, Chloe who continues to amaze her mom with her incredibly out-going personality and amazing imagination. Laura took dance and art classes from age five through college. She enjoys being outside, taking pictures, painting, and watching her daughter sing and perform in plays. It is her hope that her love for nature, arts, and creativity will help to inspire the kiddos who become a part of the GCK community.

Halie Ezratty
Is currently embarking on her third year for a bachelor of fine arts degree with a concentration in sculpture at the University of Florida. She especially enjoys creating new things such as cat toys, wooden sculptures, soft sculptures and animations. She has always adored reptiles, Asian food, traveling and her cat, Azi. She thoroughly enjoys working with Gainesville Creative Kids and has an energized creative spirit to share with everyone!  

Lindsey Mills
Is an English major at UF with minors in Organic Crop Production and Sustainability Studies. She enjoys writing and performing music, dancing, cooking and gardening.

Melanie Marsh Gale
Is a graduate of Florida State University with a BFA in Theatre, and a minor concentration in dance. Over the last seven years, Melanie has worked as Artistic Associate at the San Diego Repertory Theatre, a teaching artist for The Old Globe Theatre, Artistic Coordinator for NFL Youth Education Town in City Heights, and Teaching Artist for Eveoke Dance Theatre, all in San Diego. She has worked teaching dance, theatre and arts activism to youth and adults of all ages from toddlers to grandparents. 

Marcy Hairston
Graduated from UF with a major in English and a minor in Art History. A former special education teacher, Marcy is now a stay-at-home mom (job description: part-time clown, comedienne and magician) with her own business--Three Monsters Photography. She's married to a man named Charlie, who has red hair and a wicked sense of humor. She has three sons—Jack, Finnegan and Skylar-- and is not trying for a girl. She loves art, literature, horses, squishy new babies, feather pillows, tiny tea sandwiches and laughing until she cries. She has very much enjoyed her teaching stints at Gainesville Creative Kids and is looking forward to another rockin' session!

Jessica Charapata
Has been involved in theater and the arts for almost 15 years. She has acted both regionally and off off broadway in New York. She was also a professional actor in Chicago where she primarily did commercials and film work. She has studied voice, dance, theater and writing and holds a Fine Arts/Fiction Writing degree from Columbia College. She also has a background and interest in holistic healing and energy healing. She has a 2nd level Reikii degree and also a certification in Energy Healing and meditation.

Joy Steiner
Graduated from Penn State Unversity with a BS in Horticulture. She is an artist of many forms other than plant cultivation, and has been involved with dance, tap, and theater for most of her life and is currently finding her singing voice. She hopes to be a synchronized swimmer one day. Joy values children and is excited to share in the creative and artistic expressions with the children that she gets the opportunity to spend time with.

Emilyann Offutt
Is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Theatre with a minor in Music Theory from the University of Florida. A songwriter since she was eight, Emilyann was very excited to more thoroughly explore her art through acting and musical theatre classes during her high school years. She is thrilled to share her enthusiasm for the arts with the community and is honored to contribute to the GCK program.

Leslie Tharp
Is a recent graduate of UF, Leslie has received a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Sculpture. Exiting an educational program and entering a new one, she hopes to share her passion for the arts by inspiring our next generation of creative kids.