Nadine Yadi Royster
Yadi has been a teaching artist for Art Encounter since 1998. As a painter and sculptor in various media, her objective is to take risks by challenging and mixing materials that might not otherwise be considered companions. She has sold hundreds of artworks including commissions by corporate clients, public art, residential clients and private collectors, and owned a Popup Gallery at the Andersonville Galleria, Chicago from 2007–2011, as well as YadiArt Spot Gallery in Evanston from 2008–2010 which represented six other artists.

Val McCune
An artist most of her life, Valerie McCune has spent the last six years as an art instructor, creatively coaching people across all ages and abilities. Some of her most gratifying work has been teaching those with unique social or physical issues. She has loved bringing art to people, where her knowledge and passion of art-making has fueled many creative souls.  Val is currently sewing masks and helping in the fight to "slow the spread" during these crazy times.

Sue Cahill
Sue has been a teaching artist with Art Encounter for ten years. She enjoys teaching Articulations 1 & 2, the 5th grade Math/Art as well as the Hats Off Program with senior citizens. Sue graduated with a B.A. in art from Hope College and received a Master's in Social Work from Jane Addams School of Social Work in Chicago. She is a licensed clinical social worker and really loves working with children and women each day. In addition to teaching, Sue is currently working as a social worker at a women's shelter in Chicago.The shelter is unique, since women are able to stay there with their children for 5 years as they work on education and job training. She enjoys using art with therapy, especially in her work with children.

Jill King
Jill is an artist and arts educator with over 30 years of experience teaching at schools and art centers. She has worked with Art Encounter in many capacities over the years, including as the leader of our River North Design District Tours and co-leader of our trips to New Orleans, Toronto, Montreal, and two trips to Detroit. Jill also welcomed us into her studio in 2020 for our Night Visions program, where she shared her unique process for creating her ethereal, nature-inspired sculptures using metal, fabric, and mixed media. Her work can be found in public and private collections and has been exhibited at EXPO Chicago, SOFA, and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, among other spaces.

Leslie Luning
In addition to being Art Encounter’s Community Outreach Manager, Leslie has been a teaching artist since 2013. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from National-Louis University and taught kindergarten and 1st grade at University of Chicago’s North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School. She first met Joanna in 2001, when she partnered with Art Encounter in her 1st grade classroom. Now, as an Art Encounter teaching artist, she loves working with teachers and children throughout Chicago and Evanston. Her job at Art Encounter combines two things she loves - art and teaching children!

Sarah Packer
Throughout her teaching career, Sarah has led Art Encounter programs in schools and senior residences. She currently leads Art Encounter's Night Visions programs for adults and periodic outreach workshops, and is also our Public and Member Programs Manager. Outside of Art Encounter, Sarah created and taught cultural enrichment programs for children for more than a decade in Glencoe, Illinois, and she is also a ceramicist creating both functional and non-functional sculpture. Sarah has an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and received an MAT from National Louis University in 2010. 

Jess Patterson
Jess Patterson is a teaching artist, muralist, and painter in Chicago. Through her brand Jess Timeless, she aspires to enhance people’s self-expression while bringing out their inner artist. In all her work, she is committed to providing creative opportunities to bring us all together. Jess has been painting murals and teaching with Art Encounter in community workshops since 2022.

Courtney Reed
Courtney has worked with youth in Chicago and Evanston for over ten years, incorporating art in out-of-school-time learning. While working at Howard Area Community Center, she worked with the youth to connect art to community justice issues. Together they organized a series of peace events in Rogers Park and created a traveling mural which community members could add to. Today, in addition to her work with Art Encounter, she facilitates STEAM teen programs at the Evanston Public Library including sewing, cycling and printmaking. Courtney and her daughter also enjoy creating together at home and filling their home with art from friends.

Sholo Beverly
Sholo is a mixed media artist and experienced muralist living on the north side of Chicago. In her work, she advocates for social change related to racism and women's rights. She has worked with Art Encounter since 2022 on teen programs at Curt’s Cafe and Mercy Home, as well as at community workshops.

Alexandra Stevenson
A long time educator and painter, Alexandra lives in Chicago and paints in her Ravenswood studio. She exhibits regularly in Chicago and beyond. In addition to working with young artists through Art Encounter, Alexandra’s teaching experience includes years of teaching high school art, art/architectural history, and English, as well as teaching English as a Second Language to adults and volunteer adult literacy tutoring in Chicago. Alexandra loves the creative challenge and inspiration teaching provides, whether she is working with an elementary student or an older adult. 

Betsy Zacsek
Betsy has been a Teaching Artist with Art Encounter since 2011. She is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago who has created and curated art in galleries, moving trucks, public spaces, parks, and schools. She works as an illustrator at Being Bold and teaches art programs across Chicago. Betsy is a gardener, home chef, and house-rabbit enthusiast. She believes that art can be one of our tools for making the world a better place, one student at time.