Hi, I’m
Karen Eileen Kang
New York,NY
Summary
Creative leader unwaveringly dedicated to the advancement of individuals and organizational systems utilizing a myriad of expertise and skills from 25+ years as a sculptor, project manager, art therapist/coach, professor, community activist and event coordinator. Hardworking and passionate team player who approaches the implementation and evaluation of every project with creativity and critical thinking. Inspired by open and respectful collaborations with colleagues and clients to see successful results that attain or exceed goals.
Overview
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Private Practice & Consultant
Therapeutic Art/Life Coach
06.2011 - Current
Job overview
- Passionate about efficiently streamlining the best practices of art therapy with life coaching to customize plans of action for individuals and organizations
- Committed to building safe and supportive spaces with a sensitivity to multicultural and linguistic needs of clients
- Dedicated listening to evaluate and manage treatment plans to identify and build strengths that solidify foundational beliefs and actions while collaboratively uncovering unsuccessful patterns of being
- Consistent assessing of existing processes with directed questions for clients to curiously seek different perspectives that transparently connect them to honest, reflective awareness
- Supporting clients' reframing of thoughts into reimaging habits to develop individualized tools to exercise self-agency towards new sustainable results in timely and measurable ways
ALL – Artist Network
Founder
01.2006 - Current
Job overview
- Committed to the personal and professional growth of independent artists within the support of community gatherings and collaborative events
- Coordinated and facilitated innovative weekly meetings, monthly art events and mentoring
- Managed the conception and programming of an art auction/performance to benefit art education efforts in several international communities. Organized over 25 passionate artists of varied mediums and genres who donated their artistic practice/works
- Established and maintained strong relationships with strategic community partners and venues
Various Collaborations
Personal Projects
01.2008 - Current
Job overview
- Awarded first What Can We Do? micro grant in 2022 by Asian American Arts Alliance. Designed a Start with My Name community quilt project where participants embroider their names onto transparent cloth that is attached together using a traditional Korean stitch. Names hold a special value and opens paths to be seen and known by another and crosses boundaries. Researched and coordinated 2 separate workshops (15+ participants) with two venues, Museum of Chinese in America and Grand Street Settlement.
- Event manager for 10+ years for multiple performances and annual gala night for Classical Saxophone Project (CSP) coordinating venue, catering, volunteers, set up and clean up. Wrote promotional literature of CSP's mission.
- Curated three women art exhibition in Nashville, TN titled Under Grace. Researched venues, travel logistics, managed art delivery, installed the art, wrote promotional material, built public relations connections, coordinated opening night event including catering and music, and organized and taught carving workshops for community
Nomi Network
Therapeutic Art/Life Coach
11.2016 - 08.2017
Job overview
- Managed an initiative for former students of a sewing training program for women at risk of being trafficked/exploited to become trainers at a new facility in a new city
- Wrote supplemental curriculum incorporating the transformative benefits of therapeutic arts for use in future projects to provide equitable consistent services globally
- Consistently identified program risks and coordinated corrective measures to ensure the pilot program achieved its targets on time in a safe and supportive community
- Assessed and built best practices for trainers through facilitating group sessions and learning discussions to explore and sustainably practice effective leadership skills
- Engaged creative thinking, curiosity and astute listening to effectively communicate in a predominately non-verbal environment where a translator was needed. Multifaceted communication tools were key to successful collaboration with colleagues and trainers
The Well of Life
Therapeutic Art/Life Coach
08.2012 - 11.2012
Job overview
- Collaborated with in-house psychologist to coordinate comprehensive care plans that incorporated creative arts into individual and group therapy for adolescent girls residing in a safe house
- Assessed efficacy of program during an expansion period which resulted in providing individual therapy for staff and developing new strategies to address the emerging challenges to existing processes
- Facilitated group sessions and provided educational resources to clients and staff
City College
Special Lecturer/Adjunct Professor
01.2010 - 01.2011
Job overview
- Taught Introduction to Sculpture Techniques: Stone Carving course, providing instruction to up to 10 undergraduate students.
- Successfully conceived and executed syllabus for new stone carving class structured for individual and group instructive carving techniques to translate 2-D imagery into 3-D sculptures
- Built relationships with students, mentoring on personal, professional and academic goals while assessing their progress and providing feedback to encourage risk taking, building self-esteem and development of skills
Hartley House Community Center
Art Therapy Intern
09.2010 - 05.2011
Job overview
- Assessed and conducted individual and group art therapy for elementary school children
- Facilitated 2 weekly art therapy groups of 10+ participants for in-crisis teenage mothers and a community open art studio
- Maintained case management of evaluations and progress through detailed documentation
Interfaith Medical Center, Day Treatment Center
Art Therapy Intern
09.2009 - 05.2010
Job overview
- Designed and facilitated group(12+ clients) and individual art therapy for adults living with schizophrenia, major depression and other mental illnesses
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary treatment team during daily meetings
- Produced detailed treatment planning and maintained extensive medical charting
Trade Settlement, Inc
Client Support Manager/Project Manager
01.2002 - 01.2004
Job overview
- Participated in extensive marketing: conducting presentations, representing the company at industry trade shows, and building relationships with key stakeholders
- Created and assessed ongoing modifications to system functionality and design to integrate customer requirements to improve program outcomes for successful delivery of services
- Managed continued quality assurance testing and implementation of changes with development team
- Produced Operations Manual and ongoing detailed updates during beta testing, client learning and client support representative training
- Developed efficient processes, including problem and service level reporting and vendor management (Salesforce) for client support team of three
Self-employed
Professional Stone & Wood Carver
01.1995 - Current
Job overview
- Exhibited in solo and group exhibitions and participated in sculpture symposiums and residencies nationally and internationally
- Awarded grants and highlighted in numerous publications
Education
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
MPS: Masters of Art Therapy
Columbia University in The City of New York, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts from History-Sociology & Early Education
Skills
- Coaching and mentoring skills
- Group Facilitation
- Events and client management
- Curriculum and training development
- Effective Planning and Assessments
- Positive Communication Strategies
- Relationship Building
- Collaboration and teamwork
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Professional Working
Timeline
Therapeutic Art/Life Coach
Nomi Network
11.2016 - 08.2017
Therapeutic Art/Life Coach
The Well of Life
08.2012 - 11.2012
Therapeutic Art/Life Coach
Private Practice & Consultant
06.2011 - Current
Art Therapy Intern
Hartley House Community Center
09.2010 - 05.2011
Special Lecturer/Adjunct Professor
City College
01.2010 - 01.2011
Art Therapy Intern
Interfaith Medical Center, Day Treatment Center
09.2009 - 05.2010
Personal Projects
Various Collaborations
01.2008 - Current
Founder
ALL – Artist Network
01.2006 - Current
Client Support Manager/Project Manager
Trade Settlement, Inc
01.2002 - 01.2004
Professional Stone & Wood Carver
Self-employed
01.1995 - Current
School of Visual Arts
MPS: Masters of Art Therapy
Columbia University in The City of New York
Bachelor of Arts from History-Sociology & Early Education
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