About
Jiyoung Park and Jamie Parganos began designing enrichment programs together in a church basement in Queens 20 years ago. Since then, they have held roles at organizations throughout New York City, including the YWCA, Manhattan Youth, SAYA, LEAP, Cambridge Learning Center, GOProject, Broadway Housings, Teach for America and Good Shepherd Services. During this time, they managed program partnerships with the Department of Youth and Community Development, The After School Corporation, the Department of Education, The United Federation of Teachers and dozens of private and public schools.
Inspired by the need for fresh program design in informal education programs with limited resources, Jiyoung and Jamie teamed up to design a new model for youth and adult programming centering creativity and mindfulness. Joined by Jon Soto, who also has a decade of experience in multi-disciplinary youth development, they formulated the basis for the creative process and the values that now shape the organization.
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As an artist-led organization, the company was also founded with the goal of providing mentorship for adult artists. It followed that our staffing model for youth programming would do the same. The co-founders made a commitment to center artists in their strategic planning.
We believe one creative idea can change the world
Our Mission
Creative Muse provides comprehensive programming and mentorship to youth and adults with an emphasis on creativity and mindfulness as 21st century skills needed for holistic success and innovation.
Our Vision
Creative Muse believes all youth and adults should have access to creative skills and emotional coping mechanisms that can help them unlock their potential to be change-makers in their lives and in the world.