Empower Changemakers: Integrating Creative Action Into Tomorrow’s Lesson Plans

About the Presenters

Sarah Fanslau, Director of Program Impact and Evaluation at Creative Visions, is a seasoned nonprofit professional passionate about creating positive social change. She has an MSc from the London School of Economics, where she focused on social policy and development studies. Afterward, Sarah researched the impact and effectiveness of public programs in the UK before moving into the nonprofit sector in the US, where she developed expertise in health policy and practice, civic engagement, service learning, and youth leadership.

Most recently, Sarah has served as Chief of Impact at a consulting company that leverages positive organizational psychology techniques to help impact-driven organizations and leaders learn to thrive through strategic planning, leadership development, and community building. Sarah is also pursuing a second master’s degree in evaluation and applied research at Claremont Graduate University. Sarah has recently returned to live in Maine, where she grew up, after spending the last 20 years living around the globe in places like Thailand, Brazil, Italy, the UK, and New York City. Sarah is driven by a desire to understand more about how individuals understand and practice belonging and the role of organizations in creating community. Sarah brings a unique global perspective to her work at Creative Visions.

Born in Germany and raised in the United States, Miriam Scott’s academic journey began with a BA in English from Northern Arizona University. While pursuing her MFA in creative writing, she discovered a passion for teaching that would shape her career.

Over the past two decades, Miriam has honed her craft as an English instructor, teaching a wide range of courses from AP literature to creative writing in both middle and high schools. Her commitment to fostering a well-rounded education led her to integrate visual and performing arts into her classrooms, empowering students to find their voices and engage with their communities.

Miriam’s expertise extends beyond traditional classroom settings. As an adjunct instructor at institutions like Northern Virginia Community Colleges and City University of New York, she has shared her knowledge of composition and literature with college students. Additionally, her work in curriculum development for organizations like Pearson and Arizona State University Digital Prep has focused on innovative digital teaching methods that cater to diverse learners.

As Director of Impact Education at Creative Visions, Miriam is excited to leverage her experience in curriculum development, teaching, and the arts to support young creative activists in achieving their goals.

Currently serving as the Director of Partner Impact at Discovery Education, Ricky Lewis is dedicated to creating memorable teaching and learning experiences for students that connect the real world to the classroom. A passionate advocate for education with 15 years of experience in education technology, media, and corporate social impact, Ricky has formed and led strategic corporate education partnerships with Fortune 100 companies, international nonprofit organizations, and volunteers as a mentor to ambitious high school students preparing for college.