Staff
Leslie Neal
Founder, Artistic Director, Artist Facilitator Inside
Out
Leslie Neal has been
an active member of the Miami dance community since 1981.
She received a B.S.Ed. in Dance from the University of
Georgia and a M.F.A. in Dance from Florida State University.
Ms. Neal's choreography has been commissioned throughout
Florida and the Southeast, and was presented at a special
tribute to creative southern women at the Summer Olympic
Games in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996.
In 1994, Ms. Neal initiated a multi-disciplined creative
arts program at Broward Correctional Institution, and since
that time has implemented arts programs at five other correctional
facilities for women and female juveniles in Florida and
taught at facilities for women in California and Michigan.
In 1997, Ms. Neal was chosen to serve as an artist-in-residence
for the National Endowment of the Arts at the Federal Correctional
Institution for Women in Tallahassee, Florida.
Ms. Neal is published in The Citizen Artist by Linda Burnham
and Steve Durland, Twelve Secrets of Highly Creative
Women – A
Portable Memoir by Gail McKeegin, The Performer’s
Guide to the Creative Process by Sheila Kerrigan, and Teaching
the Arts Behind Bars, by Rachel Williams.
Nicole
K. Bible
Executive
Director, Artist Facilitator Inside Out
Nicole Bible (formerly,
Thomas) is a Florida-licensed CPA and a Miami
native. Nicole has worked with Leslie Neal since 1989 and
was one of the original company members of ArtSpring when it
was founded in 1992 as Leslie Neal Dance. Ms. Bible
currently holds ArtSpring’s Executive Director position,
formerly serving as treasurer and member of the
organization’s board of directors. Nicole began to assist in
the Inside Out program in January of 1995 at Broward
Correctional Institution and since then has facilitated
classes at Broward and Homestead Correctional Institutions
and the Broward Outreach Center.
Ms. Bible graduated cum
laude from Florida International University (FIU) with
Bachelor degrees in Accounting and Dance as well as a Master
of Science in Taxation. Ms. Bible also holds a Certificate
in Nonprofit Management from FANO/Barry University. She
began her professional career with a sole practitioner CPA,
working part-time for nine years while completing her
studies. She then spent over seven years with a
multinational Big 4 accounting firm, where she specialized
primarily in tax services for nonprofit exempt
organizations. Nicole left corporate America in 2005 when
she was appointed by ArtSpring’s board as the
organization's first fulltime
executive director.
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Board
of Directors
Ellen Shishko – President
Psychotherapist
Marianella B. Solis – Treasurer
Sales and Service Leader, Miami-Dade Central, BB&T
Janice Billie – Secretary
Manager, Big Cypress Landing
Cristina de Cordoba –
Board Member
President, Primas Creative
Pascale Denis Denize – Board Member
Psychotherapist
Amanda Georges –
Board Member
Audit Senior, BDO Limited
Mari Tato –
Board Member
Producer, In & Out Production Services
Milda J. Vaivada –
Board Member
Owner, Soiree - Bagua Gift Shop
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Ruth, Homestead Correctional Institution,
Inside
Out Participant
2002
“During the four years that I was actively involved
in this program as an inmate participant, I was afforded
the opportunity and means by which to delve into my innermost
being, thereby being able to begin to “patch up” the
broken woman that I was and blossomed into the vital, courageous
woman I am today.”
Isabelle 6/8/01, former Inside
Out Participant, now released
“Inside
Out has given me a healthy sense of body awareness and creativity
through
self-expression, which has resulted in an improved self image
and higher self-esteem”
Joyce, Broward Correctional Institution, Inside
Out participant
1996
“After twenty years of
imprisonment I realize I have adapted coping behaviors that
are unhealthy, and that would not benefit me in a free society.
In preparation for my release I joined Inside Out. Though I
was impressed as a member of the audience it does not come
close to my gratitude at being a part of Inside Out and experiencing
the workshop’s unique form of emotional therapy.”
Marilyn, Homestead Correctional Institution, Inside
Out participant 2001
“ Since
I have been incarcerated for a number of years, I
noticed myself withdrawing and closing
down with regard to interacting with others. The program
with its creative cultural abilities has
allowed me to learn how
to work through unhealthy issue and become an active
part of social group. The class has also taught
me
different ways
to deal and cope with my emotions whether it is through
writing or movement. It also gives me the opportunity
to explore
the inner me and constructively work through
my emotions in a healthy
manner.”
Patricia, Homestead Correctional Institution, Inside
Out participant 2001
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