Alma Villegas Ph.D.

EDUCATION

• New York University, New York, NY, PhD, 1995
  Educational Theater, Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions,
  School of Education
• Bretton Hall College of the Arts, London & Bretton, England, Summer 1980 & 1981
  Medieval, Renaissance (Shakespearean Theater) and Restoration Theater
• University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, 1979 - 1980
  Theater
• University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CN, MS, 1979
• Université de French-Comté, Besanҫon, France, Summer 1978
  Centre de Linguistique Appliquée, French
• University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, BS, 1969

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

• Producer Development Program
  The League of American Theatres and Producers, 2004 - 2005
• Commercial Theater Institute, 14 Weeks Seminar, 2004
  Sponsor by The League of American Theater Producers
• Commercial Theater Institute, Three Days Seminar, 2003
  Sponsor by The League of American Theater Producers
• Brooklyn Community Access Television (BCAT), 1999
  Producer Certificate
• The Sonia Moore Studio of Theatre, American Center for Stanislavski Theatre Art,
  1988 - 1992
  Studied under Sonia Moore, Boris Leskin, Bobby Troka and Elizabeth Pears
• New York Communication Center, NYC, 1988 - 1989
  Speech
• Stage & TV Makeup, NYC, 1983
  Studied under Bert Roth (Makeup Artist ABC-TV)
• Producciones Cisne's Theater Workshop, Puerto Rico, 1974 - 1975
  Studied under Dr. Myrna Casas (Theater Director/Playwright), Gilda Navarra (Mime), Josie Pérez (Actor) and Enrique Benet (Light Designer)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION

• Founder and President, The Gift of Art, Theology of the Art Seminars, 2007 - Present
• Adjunt Assistant Professor, City College of the City of New York, School of Education, Department of Elementary Education, Graduate Program. To teach principles, objectives and techniques of creative drama; classroom experiences included participation in the dramatic process, mask, puppetry, and improvisation as applied to the elementary school classroom. Spring 1990.
• English as a Second Language, Touro College, 1990 - 1991.
• Theater Instructor, El Puente de Williamsburg, Inc., Brooklyn, NY. Trained and Directed AIDS Theater Ensemble, 26 performances during Summer 1990.
• Adjunt Professor, New York City Technical College of the City University of NY. Taught Latin American History with topics including the development of institutionalized political processes. Spanish colonial political heritage, the modern quest for legitimacy, stability in government, dictatorship, militarism and nationalism. Emphasis on domestic issues and foreign policy as it involves inter-American relations. Fall 1989.
• Theater Teacher, Jardines de Caparra High School, Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Taught theater arts and directed annual school productions, 1974 - 1980.
• Physics, Chemistry and Biology Teacher, Luis Palés Matos High School, Jardines de Caparra High School and Bayamón Vocational School, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, 1970 - 1980.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ADMINISTRATION

EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Música Against Drugs, Inc.
Brooklyn, NY, 1995 - 2005

Responsibilities as Executive Director

Development, coordination, and management of all program services and sites including:

Oversight of three sites (1996 - 2002): Borinquen Health and Crisis Center at 250 Broadway, La Cocina del Pueblo at 66 Moore Street, and Teatro Galería Manny Maldonado at 227 Roebling Street, Brooklyn, NY.

From 2002 - 2005 Música Against Drugs, Inc. move to 622 Broadway and consolidated Borinquen Health and Crisis Center and the Teatro Galería Manny Maldonado into The Art Center for Community Healing.

Program Development - In conjunction with appropriate staff, conceived, developed and initiated program expansion. Monitored program performance; developed and implemented program and budget modifications. I was responsible to initiate strategic planning process in conjunction with staff, consultants, board of directors and other key stakeholders. Also, I was responsible for efficient operations, communication and delegation of responsibilities, and the planning, organizing and coordination of all development activities including grant writing and special fundraising events.

Evaluation - Oversaw the development and implementation of proper data collection. Supervised evaluation planning and ensures that evaluation methodology was appropriate to program activities. I was responsible to ensure on-going needs assessment and program development based on evaluation findings.

Budgeting - With Board of Directors and management staff input, developed overall agency budget and projected specific budgets and monitored spending to ensure fiscal accountability. Oversaw budget modification process and prepare appropriate reports to the Board.

Staffing - Hired, supervised, evaluated and terminated staff as appropriate.

Marketing and Public Relations - I was responsible for the overall promotion of agency efforts and activities within the community and among the public and private sector, and interacted with government officials, elected representatives and local stakeholders. Ensured fund development efforts and appropriate public relations marketing.

Artistic Director, 1995 - 2005

Responsibilities as Artistic Director

Responsible for created, developed and implemented the creative art program with the purpose to empower and educate clients and community in the area of drugs and HIV prevention and to use the arts as an instrument of healing.

Organized 30 art exhibitions produced three poetry readings, four concerts, twelve plays/performance, one video festival and ten outdoor health festivals (concerts, theater, dance, sports and health information).

Created The Saturday Music Program which included Percussion, Keyboard, Music Theory, Mambo Dance, Singing and Creative Writing workshops. The instructors were professional musicians and recognized poets and dancers: Rosateresa Castro, Ray Cruz, Sergio Rivera, Eddie Conde, Willie Serrano and Louis Reyes Rivera, among others.

Designed two Public Art Installations: Música's World AIDS Day Monument, an 18 feet installation at People's Park and The Art Center for Community Healing, and The AIDS Memorial at the Continental Park, both at Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Projects Created at Música Against Drugs, Inc.

The Art Center for Community Healing - 2003 - 2005, conceived as a multi-art center. The Center had the DreamStage Theater, the Galería Manny Maldonado, workshops and rehearsals space, the Ivan Adorno's Counseling Center and the Augie's Café. Raised $515,000 for the development of the Center in six months.

Música's Treasure Hunt - 2002 - 2005, Developed and implemented as a pilot project for a social enterprise initiative.

Teatro Galería Manny Maldonado - September 23, 1995 - August 25, 2005, conceived, designed and developed as an experimental theater gallery. The space was the first theater gallery that opened in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and a pioneer of a grass-root artistic movement for social transformation and community healing. Williamsburg is now recognized in NYC as an art community.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Café Teatro Julia De Burgos
1992 - 1994, East Harlem, NYC

Created, developed and implemented a creative art program that included theatrical productions (Borinquen Mall, Madre Selva), creative arts workshops (theater, poetry, and dance) and a performing and artists' dialogue series (Lunch & Theater and Miércoles de Tertulia).

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TEATRO, CHARAS/El Bohio Cultural Center
1989 - 1990, Lower East Side, NYC

Created, developed and implemented a theater program.

 

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