Esther Netter
Chief Executive Officer
esther@zimmermuseum.org
(323) 761-8999

Esther Netter is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Zimmer Children’s Museum. Esther is also the founder of youTHink, a California arts education initiative which uses the power of art to foster critical thinking, engage diverse learners, promote literacy and serve as a tool for social change.

Esther received her Bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies from UCLA and her Master’s degree in Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. She began her career at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Los Angeles over 25 years ago working in teen outreach at public schools, and she has been involved in the community ever since. She currently lectures and teaches about museum education and informal education in North America, Europe, and Israel. 

Childhood hero: My grandfather, Rabbi Marcus Breger

Museum Staff

Julee Brooks
Museum Director
julee@zimmermuseum.org
(323) 761-8998

Julee Brooks has spent her career dedicated to cultural programming for young people. Julee joined the Zimmer in February 2011. Before moving to LA, Julee served as Director of Education at Nashville Children’s Theatre, where she developed an inclusive, process-based theatre curriculum for ages 3-18, job corps and internship programs for high school and college students, and professional development programs for educators and teaching artists. In her six years with NCT, educational programs grew four-fold with demand greatly exceeding capacity. Additionally, Julee has directed dozens of shows for professional and educational theatre across the country and has developed arts programming for organizations in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Kentucky and South Dakota.

Childhood hero: Punky Brewster

Maria Palazzolo
Associate Director, Play and Learning
maria@zimmermuseum.org
(323) 761-8994

Maria completed her Bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach in the field of Family Studies, with a specialization in Child Development. She received her Master's degree in Early Education in 2008 from California State University Long Beach. Maria has worked in both private and public schools, as well as nonprofit organizations. This unique background has provided a foundation for best practice in working with children of all ages. Maria’s passion for helping children to realize their full potential and access their strengths drives her to become a better human being!

“My passion in life is to inspire parents to be their child’s number one advocate! I strongly believe in the power of love, positive guidance and a free-mind spirit. My number one priority is to create a partnership between parents and educators to insure that children get the best education experience possible”.

Childhood hero: My mom

Belinda Vong
Education Program Manager
belinda@zimmermuseum.org
(323) 761-8912

Belinda is an artist and educator.  She received a BA in Sociology and a BA in Studio Art from the University of California, Irvine, and continues to study Early Childhood Education at East Los Angeles Community College.  Previously she has worked as a Program Coordinator at the UCI Cross-Cultural Center, and as an after-school teacher in the Mountain View School District working with students from Kindergarten through 5th grade.  Her involvement at the UCI Cross-Cultural Center and experience in working with children in underserved communities continues to fuel her passion for creating access for young children to learn about the world around them through creative and interactive play.  When at the museum, you can find her twisting up some quirky balloon animals or guiding your next school field trip!

Childhood hero: Sailor Moon and Martha Stewart

Jessica Sachs
Community Relations Manager
jessica@zimmermuseum.org
(323) 761-8910

Jessica recently graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BA in Community Studies. With a degree in Community and having worked with children for the majority of her life, as both a camp counselor and babysitter, she was bound for the Zimmer Children’s Museum! Jessica loves heading out into the community with museum activities and information, so look for her at the next big children’s event or festival!

Childhood hero: Harry Potter

Administrative Staff

Carrie Jacoves
Development Associate
carrie@zimmermuseum.org
(323) 761-8992

After receiving her Master’s in Business with an emphasis in Non-Profits, Carrie was happy to begin her working career with the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles.  After working nine years in a few management roles in the Center Movement and a short semi retirement she was thrilled to begin working with Esther Netter fourteen years ago to help the Museum grow and flourish. Carrie found her niche with the Zimmer Children’s Museum by producing the fundraising events throughout the year.  Carrie loves working with the Zimmer and youTHink teams and reaching out to the community members.

Childhood hero: Golda Meir

Christine Barber
Director of Finance & Administration
christine@zimmermuseum.org
(323) 761-8993

Christine Barber is the Director of Finance and Administration.  In her native United Kingdom, she received a BA in Business Administration and a Master’s in Psychology and was employed in HR Management, prior to traveling to the U.S. on an extended vacation. 

When she chanced on employment with the New Zealand Embassy, her ‘vacation’ trip to the US became permanent residency.  Based in Los Angeles, she was employed to promote New Zealand as a tourism destination to Americans.

After several years of this fun lifestyle she decided it was time to join the American workforce. She obtained Certificates in both HR Management and Accountancy at UCLA and has for the past 12 years been employed in non-profit management, the last 7 with Zimmer. In addition to the UK and US, Christine has lived in Spain and New Zealand and traveled through much of the world.  Exploring foreign lands and foreign cultures is an on-going passion and is only curtailed by work and financial restrictions.

Childhood hero: None. She was too busy playing.
Adult hero: Nelson Mandela

Arielle Sherman
Development & Communications Coordinator
arielle@zimmermuseum.org
(323) 761-8141

Arielle was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, but it’s been quite a while since she’s lived here. After attending the University of California at Davis, where she earned her BA in Art History, Arielle moved up to Eugene, Oregon to begin a Master’s program in Arts Management with emphases in both Community Arts and Media Management. Most recently, Arielle worked as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Cinema Pacific film festival in Eugene.

Now, this Valley Girl is back. Her position at the Zimmer combines her passions for the community engagement through the arts, youth learning, and- let’s be honest- social media. When she’s not working, Arielle can be found traveling the world (and capturing every moment of it on camera), watching the Food Network, geeking out over marketing blogs, playing on one of her many iSomethings, wandering into a(nother) museum, or waiting in line at a coffee shop.

Childhood hero: Bobby Flay

youTHink Staff

Shifra Teitelbaum
youTHink Director
shifra@youthink.org
(323) 761-8988

For over 25 years, Shifra has worked as an educator with youth and adults in schools, universities, businesses, camps and a range of co-curricular settings.  She has been the director of youTHink, a program of the Zimmer Children’s Museum, since its inception in 1999 and has developed it into a comprehensive education and youth development program anchored in social justice.
Shifra served as adjunct faculty at Antioch University, Los Angeles from 2005-2009 in the graduate Education Department.  Prior to her work at youTHink, she directed OPTIONS, a wellness and leadership program at California State University, Long Beach.  Shifra has a doctorate in education (EdD) from Fielding Graduate University, a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from UCLA, and a Bachelor’s degree from Antioch University, Los Angeles.

Pia Schiavo-Campo
Program Administrator
pia@youthink.org
(323) 761-8311

Pia is the Program Administrator for youTHink, where she does everything from writing grant proposals to working one on one with students. She received her BA in Sociology from the University of Maryland, and a degree in Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.  After practicing design for more that 9 years, Pia switched careers paths and joined the youTHink team, where her love of working with youth, and her ability to keep everyone organized is appreciated.  In her spare time Pia loves cooking, doing improv, dancing and being a total goof ball.  Her passion for traveling has taken her all over the world and taught her the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness. 

Childhood heroes: Her parents, who instilled in her the value of appreciating and respecting people’s differences. She brings that gift to both her work and personal life. 

Tasha Johnson
School Services Coordinator
tasha@youthink.org
(323) 761-8914

Tasha Johnson was born and bred in Sacramento, California. She attended college at Grambling State University in Louisiana earning her BA in English. Always up for an adventure, she moved to Washington DC where she worked in politics for a while before discovering she wanted to effect change in another way through teaching. After teaching 7th grade English for 5 years, she and her family moved back to California. Tasha’s passion for youth continues both as a mom of 3 adorable boys and now as the School Services Coordinator of youTHink. When she’s not working, she enjoys riding bikes on the beach, reading and dancing to old school hip-hop.

Childhood hero: My brother, Autroy Graves stood tall above buildings and when he picked me up it felt like I was flying high in the sky.

Daniel Solis
Youth Services Coordinator
daniel@youthink.org
(323) 761-8318

Daniel is the Youth Services Coordinator for youTHink. Daniel was born and raised in Los Angeles and is the proud son of Salvadoreña/o immigrants. Coming out in high school, Daniel co-founded the first Gay-Straight Alliance at his school and worked to educate students, teachers and administrators about homophobia and discrimination. Since then, Daniel has worked in anti-racist and anti-war organizing in Ohio and Los Angeles, as well as helping students of color overcome barriers and graduate ready for college. Daniel received his BA in Cultural and Interdisciplinary Studies from Antioch College. Daniel is currently pursuing a MA in Education at California State University Los Angeles where he is studying the ways in which community groups working in partnerships with students, teachers, parents and administrators can transform their schools to not only combat oppression but also create learning environments that are just, nurturing and empowering.

Childhood heroes: Bayard Rustin, Jem, Gloria Anzaldua, my grandma, Maria Nicolasa Armengol.

Carolina Couto
Program Specialist, Youth Services
carolina@youthink.org
(323) 761-8356

Carolina Couto graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2007 with a B.A. in Psychology. She is the Program Specialist for Youth Services with youTHink. Carolina loves to be able to work in the community and empower our youth to create change. In her free time she loves to dance, go to concerts, and bake cupcakes.

Childhood hero: Frida Kahlo