Throughout the past 15 years, Emi has volunteered and worked in the cultural arts, education, environmental, community building, staff development/coaching,  humanitarian and world music/record label arenas. She has made appearances on national television and radio and been featured in print/on-line publications showcasing her various arts in education initiatives and professional projects. Emi believes strongly in a holistic, multi-sensory approach to learning/teaching others –and- makes fun, diversity, connecting with people and curiosity priorities in everything she pursues!

Degrees & Certifications: Emi holds a Masters in Education & Multicultural Curriculum Development from the esteemed Bank Street Graduate School of Education in New York City. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies/International Relations from William Smith College, and has a permanent Teaching Certification for early childhood - Elementary school-aged children. In 1991, Emi received a Certificate in International Studies from the School for International Training upon completion of a work/study program in Japan.

International Work Experiences: Over the past 15 years, Emi has worked extensively throughout the United States and several countries around the world including; Spain, Japan, Guadalupe, Mexico, Israel, Canada and the Dominican Republic. In each of these diverse settings, Emi connected with children, families, renowned artists, teachers and multicultural educators and cultural performers. She has developed multi-media education content and trained over 20,000 teachers & administrators (including family and community members). Whether she was working in the Education Department at the Shibuya Children’s Castle in Tokyo, Training staff within several North American Club Med Family Resorts, running a Science Program at an Elementary School in Manhattan, NY, building community gardens –or- producing Festival performances in public parks -or- producing a 250 person World Beat/Multicultural Drum and Dance Party for an annual Social Venture Network Conference – Emi is comfortable in a range of settings.

Publications: Emi has had several works published including the award-winning series: World Playground Multicultural Activity Kit and Latin Playground Bi-lingual Activity Kit (Putumayo World Music) and How to Be an Environmental Shopper (Pennsylvania Resources Council).

Professional Highlights & Collaborative Partnerships: In 1999 Emi helped create and Directed Putumayo World Music’s Kids Division, and in 2002 following the tragedies of September 11th, she co-founded and ran the Putumayo Cross-Cultural Initiative (a non-profit organization). Some of Emi’s other consulting clients and professional  partnerships have occurred with: Mercy Corps International, Bank Street School for Education, YMCA, the Partnership for Afterschool Education, the International Arts Festival, TASC, the JCCA Early Childhood Department, YM/WCA International, Club Med Family Resorts, Stepping Stones Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Ramaz School, MASS MOCA Performing Center, the NYC Dept of Education, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, DYCD, 21^st Century Community Learning Centers. C.U.N.Y and more…

Emi has had the pleasure of collaborating with and sharing her projects with world renowned music and dance performers including: Mickey Hart, Bakithi Kumalo, Mamadou Diabate. Giovanni Hidalgo, Speech & Arrested Development, Rudy Regalado, Tamika Washington-Miller, Roberta Altman, Dan Leven, Marcus L. Miller, Bamboula 2000, Harold Brown of WAR, Angelique Kidjo, Babatunde Olatunji and others.

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