ABOUT US
A Gymnasium for the Imagination
Founded in New York City, The People's Creative Institute serves as a gymnasium for the imagination—an atelier where underserved and immigrant communities grow ever more resilient through interdependence, collective visioning, shared artistic practice, and leadership training.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our Values
Creativity & Transformation
We believe imagination is a powerful force for reshaping systems and opening new possibilities for public life.
Dignity & Joy
Every project affirms the humanity, resilience, and brilliance of the people we work alongside.
Collaboration & Mutual Exchange
Our work is co-created with communities, institutions, and public leaders, honoring shared knowledge and collective authorship.
Color & Wondrous Beauty
Beauty is not decoration. It is a fundamental human right and a catalyst for hope, pride, and transformation.
Self Determination & Interdependence
We support communities in shaping their own stories while strengthening the networks of care that bind us together.
THE TEAM
Our Staff
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Ana Lucia Hincapie
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Jessica Cortez
Seabass Immonen
THE TEAM
Our Board
Jenny Larios Berlin
Jenny Larios Berlin is an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Martin Trust and a Lecturer at MIT Sloan. She was the co-founder and Chief Operations Officer for Optimus Ride, an MIT spinout, whose mission was to deploy inside of geofenced communities safe, sustainable, and equitable autonomous mobility solutions through shared and electric vehicle fleets. She earned her bachelor’s at the University of Maryland, College Park, and two master’s – an MBA from MIT Sloan and a master’s in City Planning from the MIT School of Architecture and Planning. Jenny has a background in public-private partnerships and incorporating new business concepts or leading-edge technologies to create businesses that improve everyday living. She is passionate about positively impacting the way people engage with themselves and the world around them, and is excited to bring these skills to the Trust Center.
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Maria Canela
Maria Canela is a writer, artist and activist from the Dominican Republic, living in the United States since 2006. She currently works at Material for the Arts as the Community Engagement Director. Previously, Maria served as the Community Coordinator at NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Shas worked on numerous projects including Car wash workers Campaign, Make the Road NY, Queens, Housing Organizer NWBCCC, the Bronx. Canela is a longtime Queens Museum member, volunteer, and Dept. of Education worker, and has also worked as Spanish Speaker Student Council Coordinator at Queens Museum. Canela participated in many actions that supports and help immigrants in New York, and is an active member of Mujeres en Movimiento.
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Kate Noble Weitz
Kate Noble Weitz spent a decade working in various fundraising and education positions in the performing arts. After her son was diagnosed with autism, her focus shifted to his in-home intervention program and autism advocacy in Omaha, Nebraska. She serves on several autism-related community Boards and is the Founder and Director of the Common Senses Festival. As a parent advocate, she thrives on connecting clinicians, researchers, professors, autism professionals, and even artists in the hopes of furthering best practice naturalistic interventions and support for individuals affected by autism. Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Beloit College and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Indiana University.
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OUR FOUNDER
Yazmany Arboleda
Yazmany Arboleda (b. 1981, Colombian-American) is an artist, community organizer, and educator based in Brooklyn, NY. He serves as the first People's Artist for New York City at the Civic Engagement Commission and is the founder of The People's Creative Institute.
An architect by training, Yazmany's art practice fosters community connections through expansive public art initiatives. In 2022, as the lead creative producer for Little Amal Walks NYC, he designed 55 events experienced by more than 100,000 people across all five boroughs. He holds the role of Senior Artistic Advisor for the Community Art Network and has been previously commissioned by Carnegie Hall, the Yale School of Management, and the United Nations.