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Teen Arts Apprentice Program

About


The Teen Arts Apprentice Program (TAAP) is an arts-based workforce development program for Bronx based young adults (15-19) in high school and beyond. The program includes comprehensive job training, apprenticeships across several artistic disciplines, and cultural enrichment activities led by world renowned NYC cultural institutions such as the Whitney Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Young Concert Artists, and Public Works of the Public Theater. 


Apprentices are offered a part-time paid position Monday-Friday, with the exception of mandatory enrichment activities (unpaid, at no cost to the participant). Examples of recent activities include: a videography workshop at Ghetto Film School; an original performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Teens Take the Met event, developed in partnership with the Public Works program of the Public Theater; and a 4-week art-making workshop with a teaching artist from the Whitney Museum culminating in a showcase of their artwork and a private tour of the Whitney Biennial. 


TAAP seeks young people who are prepared to learn professional skillsets, serve their community, and participate in—and perhaps become a part of—New York City’s vibrant arts and culture ecosystem! Following high school graduation, we encourage Apprentices to apply for continued employment at Casita Maria as Group Facilitators, and following college graduation to apply as full-time staff. 


How to Apply

Interested in joining TAAP?

Submit an interest form here:

TAAP Google Interest Form

When positions open in the program, Casita Maria will host a family meet & greet for the upcoming season (Summer & Fall). Those who submit the interest form will receive an invitation to attend the meet & greet with a parent or guardian.


To apply, applicants need to participate in 3 free tutoring sessions covering resume writing, cover letter drafting, professional email writing, and interview preparation. Those accepted into the program will be compensated for these sessions.


Following application submission, select candidates may be invited to interview with Casita Maria's Artistic Director and the TAAP Coordinator.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Lives in the Bronx
  • Ages 15–19
  • Passion for the arts
  • Interest in working with young artists (Kindergarten-Middle School)
  • Available Monday–Friday, 12–5PM (Summer) or 3–6PM (School Year), with some possible night and weekend hours
  • Must be available for mandatory Thursday enrichment activities


English language learners are encouraged to apply—fluency in English is not required.


TAAP Bios

Leandro Acosta

Leandro is a Dominican artist who arrived in the Bronx a little over a year ago in search of new opportunities. Since then, he has worked hard to adapt to his new life and get ahead. Currently, he is a Teen Arts Apprentice at  Casita María, where he cultivates his love for art and expresses himself creatively. Casita Maria has helped him grow and feel more comfortable in his new home. He has worked under the direction of Dahlia Lopez Ramsay, the Manager of Community Curriculum of the Public Theater in preparation for Teen’s Take The Met. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and has a keen interest in cars. Leandro dreams of continuing to grow both personally and artistically, while remaining proud of his Dominican roots.

Frida Lenoarda Bido

Frida Bido (Celina) is a Dominican artist and basketball player. She attends The American Dream School, where she earned recognition as Best Basketball Team Captain. Since 2025, she has worked at TAAP, continuing to grow in both her artistic and professional journey.


Frida creates art as a way to express herself and to find a path beyond her environment. Her last name carries a deep artistic legacy, as she comes from a family of multidisciplinary artists. She sees herself as part of that legacy, using her work to continue and expand her family’s creative impact. Her capstone project is a poetry book that reflects her life experiences and the realities of her community, using her words to tell stories that are both personal and collective.

Ashly Casildo


Jerlyn Fernandez


Dulce Garcia

Dulce Garcia is a Mexican-American aspiring educator, majoring in psychology and minoring in early childhood education at Lehman College. She is currently a Teens Arts Apprentice at Casita Maria. She has worked under the direction of Dahlia Lopez Ramsay, the Manager of Community Curriculum of the Public Theater, and performed at Teen’s Take The Met. She had completed art workshops with the Whitney Museum. 


Dulce is from the Bronx, where she was taught the power of education and the importance of creativity. She centers her artistry around themes of creativity and self expression. At Casita Maria she combines her love of art and passion for youth education.


Houleymatou Gory

Houleymatou Gory is an African-American scholar and Teen Arts Apprentice at Casita Maria. Originally from the Bronx, NY, she was taught that art comes in many forms. She believes that art is a way to express yourself and depict your feelings. 


During her time at Iconos Kids, she learned about the casting process in the performing arts industry. She also participated in a non-profit organization called Rocking the Boat, where she learned about the Bronx River and about rowing skills. She is currently attending a Certified Nursing Assistant program, Skillspring, where she participates in health career exploration activities, professional mentorship, and clinical training.


Mariam Gory

Mariam Gory is an African American Teen Arts Apprentice at Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education. She is passionate about using art as a form of expression, storytelling and personal growth. Through her involvement in creative programs, Mariam apprentices and explores techniques, developing her voice as a young artist. She values creativity, culture, and community. Her experience of becoming an EMT has also shaped her identity and perspective. 


As an African American artist, she uses creativity to express who she is and where she comes from. Art gives her a way to tell her story when words are not enough. She is inspired by her culture, her community, and the people around her. Through her work at Casita Maria, she explores themes such as identity, growth and self expression. She enjoys experimenting with different materials, including painting and exploring a variety of artistic styles. Her goal is to create art that feels meaningful and connects with others on a personal level.


Lizmeyri Marte

Lizmeyri Marte is a Dominican teen originally from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. 

Lizmeyri will turn 16 this year. She moved to the United States at the age of 5 and has lived there for over 11 years. Since middle school, Lizmeyri has been actively involved in a wide range of sports. Her athletic experience includes volleyball, basketball, softball, flag football, and soccer. She demonstrated leadership skills by serving as the captain of her soccer team. She's been working as a Teen Arts Apprentice at Casita Maria since February of 2026.


In Casita Maria, Lizmeyri helps with painting boards and boxes in Visual Arts for shows like “In The Heights.” She also assists in bomba, hip-hop, latin-dance  and also works with her other teammates on her Capstone project. Her Capstone project is based on a train (El Tren de los Sueños de Casita). This train offers people that haven't been to Casita Maria a glimpse of every young participant and their dreams.


Camila Minaya

Camila Minaya is a resilient artist and dreamer who was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She is currently 16 years old and has demonstrated an immense passion for arts and sports by participating in different extracurricular activities like softball, TAAP, soccer and basketball. In order to keep pursuing her dreams of becoming a detective, she works on her academic and laboral performance. By being part of the Teen Arts Apprentice Program, she's only not working on her listening, active and speaking skills, She's also learning how to manage the real world and how to become more independent. At the moment she has a great responsibility since she's developing a yearbook for her capstone project and studies for her classes.

Genesis Molina


Shanell Marte Ortega

Shanell Marte is a Dominican arts apprentice with an interest in early childhood development, music, and graphic design. She is originally from Santiago de los Caballeros and now she lives in New York. Previously, she was a part of College Bound at Casita Maria, and she has been a Teen Arts Apprentice at Casita Maria since 2025. Shanell has performed in The South Bronx Cultural Festival, Teens take the Met, and the Winter Spectacular at Castia Maria. She is the captain of the volleyball team at the American Dream School. Shanell is working on a graphic design capstone project at Casita Maria, designing a yearbook for the 2025-2026 programming year.


Rey Sanchez

Rey Sanchez is a Dominican artist (he/him) living in the Bronx. Rey studies at the Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists, has perfect attendance, and a GPA of 3.0. He is currently working in the Teen Arts Apprentice Program for Casita Maria, and his favorite Arts Studio to support is visual arts. Rey enjoys working with his hand, and loves using clay as a medium. Rey joined Casita Maria in 2026, and has contributed to outreach efforts by representing the organization at off-site events at partner sites such as El Museo del Barrio. Rey is from the Dominican Republic, he was born in Santiago de los Caballeros, and came to the United States when he was 6 years old.

Yoslainy Ureña

Yoslainy Urena Almonte is a Dominican artist who lives in the Bronx, NY. She has been part of the Teen Arts Apprentice Program at Casita Maria since 2025, and previously was part of  College Bound at Casita Maria. Yoslainy has an interest in visual arts and musical theater, and has designed lights for The Winter Spectacular and Selections from In the Heights. She has worked under the direction of Gilberto Saenz, the Musical Theater Teaching Artist at Casita Maria, Maria Luisa Portuondo Vila, the Visual Arts Teaching Artist at Casita Maria, and Dahlia Lopez Ramsay, the Manager of Community Curriculum at the Public Theater. She has performed at Teens Take the Met and the South Bronx Culture Festival. Her capstone project is a collection of stories about her life, immigration, and Casita Maria.


Cultural Enrichment Activities

At Casita Maria, we value engagement through the arts. Cultural enrichment activities are an essential part of TAAP. Activities consist of walking tours, hands-on artmaking workshops, movement and theater making classes and trips to NYC cultural institutions. All activity costs such as admission fees and travel are fully covered by Casita Maria. Examples of after-school activities include the following—summer activities may differ:

  • A 5-week artmaking workshop with a Teaching Artist from the Whitney Museum, culminating in a visit to an exhibition at the Whitney Museum. Plus the potential for your artwork to be displayed during a community event at the Museum.
  • A 7-week workshop series with the Manager of Community Curriculum at the Public Theater. TAAPers devise an original, culturally-responsive theater piece to be presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s event, Teens Take the Met.
  • A hands-on videography workshop followed by a group critique led by filmmakers from Ghetto Film School.
  • A mini residency with musicians from Young Concert Artists. 
  • Guided exhibition tours.
  • An acting workshop with the director of ID Studio Theater designed to explore authenticity, confidence, and community building through body and voice work. 

Tutoring

As part of the program, TAAPers participate in academic tutoring focused on increasing literacy for both English language learners and native English speakers, and developing agency as young adults. The TAAPer will meet with the tutor 1:1 to assess their needs and develop a personal plan. The tutoring periods then focus on specialized instruction based on this plan. Because of Casita Maria’s commitment to literacy, these sessions are paid and considered part of Apprentice work hours. Tutoring is optional ONLY if you are 18 and older.

Arts Studios

Assist in After-School Arts Studios in a variety of disciplines while learning from professional Teaching Artists. This is a paid opportunity. Disciplines may include—summer studios may differ:

  • Ballet (K-1st grades)
  • Hip Hop/Step (K-8th grades)
  • Musical Theater (4th-8th grades)
  • Choir (4th-8th grades)
  • Visual Arts (K-8th grades)

Creative Activities

Explore and express your personal creativity through the following activities. These are paid opportunities.

  • Set design, costumes, and props for Casita Maria performances.
  • Document programs and events, and edit photos & videos for promotional purposes.
  • Develop graphic design skills by designing flyers, brochures, labels, and more.  
  • Assist with daily gallery management,installing exhibitions and lead tours. 
  • Emcee events such as the South Bronx Culture Festival and after school culminating events.
  • Work as event staff for gallery openings, after-school culminating events, Bronx Banda concerts, the South Bronx Culture Festival, and more. 
  • Serve as an ambassador and give tours of Casita Maria to guests.

Capstones

The TAAP Capstone Project gives teens the opportunity to explore artistic talents and career possibilities they’ve been introduced to at Casita Maria. TAAPers work to identify real world problems, community needs, or research questions they can address through the artistic discipline of their choice. Teens work on their Capstones throughout the course of their apprenticeship, culminating in a final presentation shared with the Casita Maria community. These projects serve as meaningful resume experiences, projects that can be added to a portfolio, and more.