Teachers & MENtORS

La Picadura del Escorpión (Teatro Esperanza), and MADCAP & BUSTY (Philadelphia Fringe, Best Cabaret/Nightlife 2024). Arantxa also offers workshops on physical theatre and clown techniques for community learners. Previously, she has taught at the Pig Iron School, NYC PhysFest, and Rowan University.

Arantxa started practicing Improv in 2012. She delights in using improv to create, engage in play, and reinforce collaborative skills with her students. She has many years of performance experience with her former troupe, Unsupervised Improv, and has taught Improv all over Colorado Springs, including the Millibo Art Theatre. Locally, she teaches Improv to adults and children through The Unscripted Project and Philly Improv Theater.

ADRIAN ROSAS
(He/him)

Doing good, teachING MENTOR

Hailed by The New York Times as “a stalwart bass-baritone with a burnished voice,” Adrian Rosas brings to Project 440’s Doing Good program a career that bridges performance, education, and arts leadership. An alumnus of The Juilliard School, he has appeared with leading companies and on renowned stages worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Seattle Opera, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

Equally committed to education and mentorship, Adrian has spent more than 15 years guiding young artists in private studios, classrooms, and community programs. He has held faculty positions at the California State Summer School for the Arts and Hunter College, where he emphasized both technical growth and the development of the whole artist. His work consistently reflects an artist-first and community-first philosophy, ensuring that students feel empowered to pursue their unique paths.

Adrian currently serves as Manager of Orchestral Music Programs at The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts, overseeing initiatives that connect world-class musicians with local communities. He is also co-founder of Arts On Site NYC, a New York City nonprofit that provides affordable space for artists to create and perform.

As a Teaching Mentor for Project 440’s Doing Good program, Adrian is passionate about helping young learners harness their creativity and leadership skills to make a positive impact in their communities.

caasi anderson
(she/they)

doing good, co -Teacher

Caasi Anderson, artistically known as "CQA," is a Philly-born poet, lyricist, and video creator. A graduate of Temple University with a B.A. in Africology & African-American Studies, Caasi’s work is grounded in Black history, mental health advocacy, and the transformative power of creative expression. Their academic background fuels a commitment to social justice and a desire to help students see themselves as artists and changemakers.

Caasi brings a decade of experience in youth programming, education, and nonprofit administration. She began her journey as a WorkReady Program Supervisor with the Philadelphia Youth Network, designing college & career readiness workshops for high school students. She later served as a Student Success Coach with City Year Philadelphia, providing academic and social-emotional support while coordinating school-wide events that fostered community and collaboration. Most recently, she completed an AmeriCorps VISTA term with the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, Missouri, where she developed culturally-relevant educational resources and supported public programming rooted in historical preservation.

Caasi thrives in spaces that center equity, imagination, and care. As a Doing Good Co-Teacher, Caasi is honored to empower students to turn their passions into purpose-driven projects. She believes deeply in the power of organizations like Project 440 to change the trajectory of young lives and is committed to helping students feel seen, supported, and inspired to lead.

MAX BRENNEMAN
(HE/hIM)

doing good, co -Teacher

Max Brenneman is a multidisciplinary visual artist from Philadelphia and Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. A proud alum of the Philadelphia School District and Project 440 programs, he seeks to uplift and affirm young people in realizing their creative and expressive potential. 

As an educator and facilitator, Max has worked to establish outlets for students of all ages to tell their stories. In 2021, he worked with the Vassar Education Collaborative to create the Poughkeepsie High School Podcasting Club. He has also served as a facilitator for experimental courses within Vassar’s Education and Prison Studies Programs, bringing together System-Impacted people and college students to create learning communities beyond the classroom.  

Max’s visual art practice encompasses a range of media including oil painting, fibers, ceramics, and papermaking. He embeds personal memories, family histories, and country landscapes within unassuming forms, seeking to explore the way that everyday objects mediate our experience of space and life. 

Max is the winner of the Lilo Stern Prize for writing in Anthropology, as well as the M. Glenn Johnson Thesis Prize. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and is currently pursuing a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Brittany Grason
(she/her)

Instruments for Success, Teacher

Brittany Grason currently serves as the Associate Director of Music Admission at the Wells School of Music at West Chester University. This role allows Brittany to work with students and parents through the admission, audition, and financial aid process. Prior to arriving at the Wells School of Music Brittany has worked at two other undergraduate, private, liberal arts, colleges on the East Coast. At both of those institutions her primary responsibilities were recruiting students and working with them to find the best fit higher education option for them. Brittany completed an undergraduate degree in History at Roanoke College in Salem VA, and holds a Masters in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University with a focus in Enrollment Management.  

Brittany has dedicated her higher education career to helping students and families understand the application process. As a first generation student herself, she did not receive a lot of support when it came to her own college search. Education is such an important piece to many after high school and the process of getting there varies so much between each institution. Her goal is to serve as a resource for students and families to navigate this process and take some of the stress out of what can be an intense time for a student. Getting to serve as a teaching artist for Project 440 perfectly combines her day job with her passion for the field!

DAVID PIERRE
(he/hIM)

Instruments for Success, LEAD Teacher

Dave Pierre is a native of New York who moved to Philadelphia in 2020. He is the Executive Director of Communications, Events, and Operations at St. John's University in New York, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Sport Management in 2005. His enrollment management career spans over 17 years at St. John's, assisting students and their families through the enrollment search process. He has spent 16 years recruiting students from various areas of the country, including the Philadelphia region, to attend St. John's. He now oversees the backend functions of the admission office for both Graduate and Undergraduate Admission offices. Dave is passionate about fostering collaboration and innovation within his team. He believes in the power of effective communication and strategic planning to drive success in higher education initiatives.

Growing up in a single-parent household in New York City, Dave knew that a college education would be an obtainable goal to make life better for himself and his family. He aims to provide the best information so that every student can access post-secondary education equally. He says, “Getting the opportunity to work with Project 440 allows me to help students and their families make college attainable and realistic.”

Dave enjoys trying new restaurants and watching sports (Go Yankees, St. John's U, and Knicks). He works part-time as an EMT for venues such as Barclays Arena and Citifield.

MADELEINE FINLEY
(she/her)

Instruments for Success, CO-Teacher

Madeleine Finley is a Philadelphia-based artist and educator who specializes in arts education and post-secondary advising. She is committed to empowering students through personalized support and innovative strategies and has a strong background in program management and facilitating impactful learning experiences. Finley's work has been exhibited in galleries and museums, including solo exhibitions at ADDS DONNA and Trailer Park Proyects.

Madeleine began her journey in the arts at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. She went on to receive her BFA and MFA in Painting and Drawing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she was awarded multiple merit scholarships and grants for both degrees. She has also participated in several artist residencies, including Penland School of Craft , PADA in Portugal , OXBOW in Michigan , The Rome Residency , and the International School of Painting in Italy.

Her professional experience includes her current role as a Graduate Coach at Ingenius Prep. In this position, she guides students in crafting strong extracurricular profiles for top universities. She is also a Post-Secondary Advisor for the Ed Snider Foundation, where she tracks student progress, provides intervention strategies, and manages records. As an instructor, Finley has designed and implemented Project-Based Learning courses and led a Visual Arts Portfolio Building program for high school students.

Cigus Vanni
(he/him)

instruments for success - advisor

Cigus, AKA “Cigus the College Fairy”, knows stuff. Lots of stuff, particularly about the college application process. He has forty-two years of experience in college search and selection, and has worked as a college admissions counselor, and school counselor and a school psychologist, among other things. The first member of his family to attend college, he earned his BA from Swarthmore College and certification in school psychology with course work in Education and Child Development from Bryn Mawr College. Cigus “refuses to add to the stress of college search and selection” with the knowledge that there are nearly 2,250 four-year colleges and universities in the US alone from which to choose. He will NOT “get your kid into Harvard” – he will help your kid figure out what the right fit is for her. Cigus enjoys spending one-on-one counseling time with young people but he makes them pay (literally) for this. He does not want his fees paid by parents/guardians but rather by the students he serves. (You can find his unusual fee schedule at cigus.net.) Cigus is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, the New Jersey Association for College Admissions Counseling, and an associate member of the Pennsylvania Association for College Admissions Counseling. Most importantly, however, is the fact that Cigus was a five-time winner and undefeated champion on the quiz show Jeopardy! In 1988 and returned for the 1989 Tournament of Champions. That alone make him way cool.

MARCUS BRYANt (HE/HIM)

YOUTH ADVOCACY COUNCIL menTor and Manager of programs & STUDENT engagemenT

Marcus ‘Rated Art’ Bryant, is a well-respected figure in the music industry with over a decade of experience writing, producing, and directing across multiple genres.  He collaborates with renowned artists such as John Legend, H.E.R., Ludacris, and many more.  His songs have been featured on popular shows like "American Idol" and "Black-ish," and in global campaigns like NBA Cares.  Marcus' music was performed during the Democratic National Convention when used as President Obama's campaign anthem.