The Artsy Wagon and our TEAM
Owner and CEO - Ana J Miro Herrans MAED/CI
The Artsy Wagon has been an idea many years in the making, which mixes all the owner's passions in one company.
Ana Miro is a Puerto Rican artist and educator, based in LA for the since 2012. Growing up with a few developmental delays of her own and daughter to an early childhood education specialist, she was introduced to art and dance classes from a very young age. Anything to help her concentrate and re-direct her high-energy onto something productive and fun. She made it a life goal to get as much training as possible in both art and dancing techniques. She attended a Specialized Art High School and earned a BA in Theater Arts with a minor in Special Education and Dance Education, and just finished her Masters Degree in Education- Curriculum and Instruction. The arts became a way of life, helped her surpass all stepping stones and shaped her into the balanced person she is today.
She started working with children at the age of 14, and has never stopped since. She has taught, dance, art, theater to all ages, for the past 18 years. After college, she moved to LA believing she could make the Arts her life career. Her dream always was to open an integrated art school for all ages and abilities. After years of working community and family events, and art-on-the-go programs for the Zimmer Children's Museum, Ana decided to finally venture out on her own...and that's how The Artsy Wagon came to be.
Our amazing TEAM of educators
Aida L Herrans M.A. - Educational consultant
Aida L. Herrans Barreras has over 30 years of experience in the area of special education and early childhood. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master's degree in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood and has 27 approved doctoral study credits in the area of Educational Management and Leadership. She also has a certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and advanced courses in Management and Supervision.
Aida has served as an educational advisor and consultant, has been a University Professor, and worked as a consultant at Franklin Covey, a world-renowned company in Leadership, as one of their educators. She has served as Director and Coordinator for several day care centers, including Rainforest Kids CDC, which under her direction, earned and maintained national NAEYC accreditations for 15 years. She has also served as a resource at various conferences/workshops providing training and as a consultant for various programs related to early childhood.
She is Co-Author of "Family Day Care: A Manual for Developing a University-Based Training Program for Family Day Care Providers" and "Manual of the Uniform Training Program for the Training of Day Care Providers for Infants, Maternal and Preschool with and without developmental deficiencies. She is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Puerto Rican Association for the Education of Early Childhood (NAEYC) and the Association for the Development of Curriculum and Supervision (ASCD).
Testimonials
The Home Kit has been a life saver during this quarantine, my 4yrs old had love the activities! So refreshing having new and original activities to do!
Yesenia
"Great teachers, we have really loved the kids classes during quarantine and the adults events as well. Very entertaining and fun. Fully recommend!!!
Yarivelisse
"Loved the energy! It's a great team building experience for both children and adults."
Nadia
Kelci loring
Kelci Loring is an actor, singer, educator of 6+ years, and co owner of Tangerine Funk productions. She has her Bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre from Russell Sage College in New York, and has performed and taught with several companies including the prestigious Missoula Children's Theatre, The Hangar Theatre, Adirondack Theatre Festival, and the Theatre Institute at Sage.
Some of her favorite roles include Baloo in "The Jungle Book," Thea in "Spring Awakening", Mrs. Givings in "In the Next Room", and Magill in "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs." Kelci is also the lead of the short film "Knocknock "which will be going to film festivals later this year.
I am a neat freak, I was really nervous about opening my home to a bunch of kids under 10 and the mess they would make. Ana was so respectful and considerate leaving our house cleaner than when she arrived. HIGHLY recommend!
I would encourage this experience for my kids again.
Christopher
Alex floyd
"There was no pressure to be perfect...just to CREATE!"
Alex Floyd, born and raised in the mountains of Colorado, trained in dance from age 3 on at Terpsichore Dance Studio and summer intensives with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and Axis Dance. Alex attended the University of Wyoming to receive her BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in international studies.
After graduation, Alex moved to Los Angeles to start her own dance company, OdDancity at age 22. Since then, OdDancity has put up 8 full length shows and has morphed into the nations first company that focuses on immersive and psychological works. Alex also performs and teaches dance in various capacities. She created dance music videos for artists like Cusi Coyllur, and worked with film projects and musical artists as a choreographer.
Alex is on the board of the nonprofit Young Choreographers Project, as well as a mentor and teacher, in which she brings choreography and mentorship to underserved youth in LA. She has also been a professional nanny in Los Angeles for 9 years and has incredible experiences with children of all ages.
Alissa
Teonna GArcia
Teonna was born and raised in Los Angeles. As a child she loved creating and doing arts & crafts with her mother. While attending Fairfax High School, she took every art elective her counselors would allow. She also participated in the Youth Education Department that was partnered with Cedars Sinai Hospital. During her time in the program, she realized that she loved working with children.
After graduating high school, she studied visual arts at The Art Institute in Santa Monica and worked for LA’s Best, an after school program for elementary students. She creates her own artwork using Resin, Watercolors and Digital Art. Teonna currently shares her love of art through her classes at Artsy Wagon, Zooga Yoga, and the Cayton Children's Museum.
Melo Gía -Patricia Lewis
Melo Gía (Patricia Lewis Román) is a multifaceted visual artist and musician born and raised in the island of Puerto Rico. Melo Gía began her artistic journey playing violin and singing in a children's choir for the Puerto Rico Music Conservatory for 10 years while also attending Puerto Rico's beloved Central High of Visual Arts where she became a sculptor. Even though she loved sculpting, the contemporary music culture called strongly and drove her to win a scholarship and study in the very prestigious music school, Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating on Music Business.
Fast forward to the present, She continued her Visual Arts training in New York and became a licensed tattoo artist. She has also toured with international latin reggae band “Cultura Profetica”, performed with Grammy Nominated singer Danny Rivera, and Latin Grammy Winner Composer, Pedro Capo.
Joeanally Gonzalez
From an early age, Joeanally had a passion for the arts, the design and the entertainment world. In 2003, she earned a fashion design certificate from the recognized institution CentroModa School of Fashion Design Lisa Thon, in Puerto Rico. While earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from the School of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico, Joeanally also worked in the Puerto Rican film industry for over six years. In pursuit of her passion for the design and entertainment industry, she relocated to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Walt Disney World® as a costume designer assistant in the department of Creative Costuming.
After eight successful years with Walt Disney, Joeanally moved to Portland, Oregon in 2017. This time with another approach to life and arts, she wanted it to go back to teaching and connect with different communities; specially Latinx communities. She became involved with the Bienestar de la Familia nonprofit to empower women to use art as a way to heal and help them recognize their cultural and social needs. She also became an arts teacher for an after-school program. Through the use of arts, she was able to teach students to be creative thinkers and leaders.