Who We Are I think it's really important that children know that there's a place where they can come -- where they feel safe and they feel welcome. Patricia Hart
Our Story |
Neighborhood Studios was founded in 1978 by Patricia Hart, a musician who identified a need for music education for visually impaired students after she gradually lost her own sight. Ms. Hart pursued local foundations and the University of Bridgeport to provide space and funding for her endeavor and Neighborhood Studios was born.
Neighborhood Studios believes art education enhances cognitive and social development in children, thereby increasing their chances for success in all areas of learning. While some program participants and graduates have pursued careers in the arts, it is not our purpose to produce professional visual artists, dancers, actors or musicians. Our goal is to provide educationally creative experiences in a supportive, structured environment where participants will thrive. |
Our Staff |
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
Frank Derico is the Executive Director. He previously served as Program Director for eleven years and has been with the organization for twenty + years. Under his management, the organization won the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities Coming Up Taller Award in 2005. Prior to Neighborhood Studios, he was a founding member of a seven-piece avant-garde rock ensemble, helping compose, arrange and promote the group throughout the Northeast. The group released three recordings and appeared on several compilations. Mr. Derico graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Bridgeport in 1998, where he received a B.Mus. in Performance. He holds a Credential in Afterschool Education from Charter Oak State College. In addition to his work at Neighborhood Studios, he has served as a consultant for the United Way Music Zone initiative and as a curriculum consultant for NAAM. Mr. Derico’s major instruments are soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones. An active performer, his professional experience includes Jazz, Latin, Classical, and Rock ensembles. 
David Goldstein is Director of the National Resource Center for Blind Musicians, a one-of-a-kind referral service at Neighborhood Studios.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Classics and English from Manhattanville College and a master’s in Literature from the American University. He considers his life shaped both by his wide reading and his family, which early on banded with other parents to create opportunities for people like himself who are blind and hard of hearing. An avid correspondent and fan of young people and classic children's books and recordings, he devotes much of his creativity and expertise to helping others find the means to meet their goals. David began sharing information about resources with a radio program he produced for the Connecticut Radio Information System. He gained knowledge and contacts worldwide through editing a magazine for users of the first refreshable braille systems in the 1980’s. David takes most pride in the Resource Center’s Summer Braille Music Institute. This was a residential program held in Philadelphia, which for sixteen years brought students from thirty-one states and four countries to master the skills necessary to transition to the college environment and continue studying music at an advanced level. 
Yvette Trujillo Rose joined the organization recently to share Neighborhood Studios' impact with the Fairfield County business community as the Development Director.
Yvette has extensive fundraising experience and was the Director of Fairfield County Engagement for an international humanitarian aid organization, responsible for cultivating new and expanding existing relationships. She recently completed an 18-month temporary assignment as a federal employee, working as a respected and successful Partnership Specialist with the US Census Bureau. In this role, Yvette met with elected officials and non-profit executives to engage communities and encourage participation in the 2020 Census. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and a long-time resident of Fairfield County, Yvette graduated from Dickinson College with honors and began her career as a successful Corporate Banker at Chase. She was rapidly promoted to Vice President and managed a team of analysts serving the financial needs of Fortune 500 companies in the Energy Sector. Yvette also has over 20 years of experience as an award-winning Realtor, skillfully guiding clients through the complex process of buying and selling homes. Yvette has been an active local volunteer and has held leadership positions with an array of non-profits and community organizations including religious institutions, schools and Girl Scouts of Connecticut. 
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Board Members |
Officers
Board of Directors
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