Our Founder
Monique Rutherford
(she/her)
Monique is passionate about bringing clay to children and believes all children should have access to art, regardless of socioeconomic status. A sculptor herself, Monique understands that clay has the power to reduce anxiety, awaken creativity, foster socialization and heal from trauma. She knows the power of Clay provides all these qualities and understands that it is sorely needed in our schools today.
Our Instructors
Muna Halabi
(she/her)
Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan, MFA
Muna’s strong passion for working with children stems from her own understanding and work as an artist. She brings of the wonder and joy of clay to our kids by encouraging them to explore and discover their uniqueness through clay.
Iris Mayhew
(she/her)
A Mom and artist herself, Iris understands the importance of art in the lives of young children and brings that passion along with her own experience into our program.
Sophia Hoggatt
(she/her)
San Francisco State University
A strong advocate for children in the arts, Sophia’s brings her knowledge, experience and passion along with her infectious sense of humor into the classroom making her an invaluable addition to our program.
Shy Alderman
(they/them)
Cal State East Bay
Shy is an artist and youth advocate. With skills in art and sculpting, youth counseling, social work and case management, Shy’s experience makes them uniquely qualified and an excellent addition to our team.
Linda Nygard
(she/her)
Rylee Laugen
(she/her)
Rylee is an artist who loves working with children. Since her early days in babysitting, Rylee has been sharing her love and knowledge of art to kids. She has become a wonderful mentor and excellent role model for our children. We are very pleased to have Rylee join us in bringing the joy of clay to kids.
Kahlia Laszlo
(she/her)
University of San Francisco, CA
Kahlia is an artist who loves kids and enjoys communicating with those who use English as their second language. She is fluent in Spanish and finds joy in engaging children in clay activities. Her love for kids and art along with her language skills makes her a unique and valued member of this program.