Our Mission

Circle Creative Collective is a nonprofit organization rooted in the Hudson Valley with a mission of preserving and sharing the wisdom and healing of traditional crafts and creativity. We gather in Circle to weave the fabric of community, inspiring people of diverse cultures and backgrounds to remember the lessons and skills of our ancestors, and embrace the wisdom of each of our unique traditions.

Circle Team

Melissa Hewitt, Executive Director

Melissa Hewitt is a visual artist, cultural producer, and community organizer based in the Hudson Valley. As co-founder and Executive Director of Circle Creative Collective, she leads programs that bring together traditional craft, community arts, and cultural storytelling. A Good Work Institute Fellow with a background in fine art, graphic design, letterpress printing, and publishing, Melissa has spent more than two decades creating collaborative projects that strengthen community, preserve cultural traditions, and expand access to the arts.

stephanie soussloff, chief operating officer

Stephanie Soussloff is a facilitator, event producer, and somatic coach based in the Hudson Valley. Her work centers on tending human ecosystems where our relationships — with our own creativity, with one another, and with the more-than-human world — come alive. As Chief Operating Officer, she helps bring Circle's programs and offerings to life and keeps the organization thriving alongside its community. She has co-founded, stewarded, and grown several creative ecosystems, both in person and online. She holds an MFA in Transdisciplinary Design from Parsons School of Design.

Johanna Cabrera, Artesanía Program Director & Artisan-in-Residence

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Johanna Cabrera is a designer and founder of CASAYOJA Artisan Studio TM. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she brings years of professional fashion experience to Circle's Artesanía program, supporting artisan training, product development, and market preparation. She also helped expand the program's production capacity by introducing industrial sewing equipment. She’s excited to continue sharing her gifts and supporting the growth of the collective.

Ysabel Barreto, Lead Sewist, Artesanía Program

Born and raised in Peru, Ysabel Barreto serves as lead sewist for Circle's Artesanía clothing line. She transforms collaborative designs into beautifully constructed garments and costumes with exceptional precision and craftsmanship. Ysabel also plays an important role in creating costumes and installations for Circle's immersive community events.

Concepción Durán, Lead Embroiderer, Artesanía Program

Born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, Concepción Durán is the lead embroiderer for Circle's Artesanía program. Her intricate hand embroidery brings cultural richness and craftsmanship to garments, accessories, and costumes. She also contributes to the creation of installations and costumes for Circle's community events.

Board of Directors

Nicole Fenichel, chair

Executive Director, The Art Effect

Nicole Fenichel is Executive Director of The Art Effect, where she has led the growth of one of the Hudson Valley's leading youth arts organizations. With decades of experience in arts education, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement, she brings deep expertise in organizational development and strategic planning to Circle Creative Collective.

Mirabai Trent, Member

Co-founder, Circle Creative Collective & Circle Artisan-in-Residence

Mirabai Trent is a fiber artist, educator, and creative producer whose work centers on textile arts, costume, and community-based making. She designs Circle's immersive workshops and public events while supporting the growth of the Artesanía program through artisan training, product development, and commercial sewing. Her work combines traditional craft with imaginative storytelling to create welcoming spaces for creativity and connection.

Sibylle Jud, treasurer

Co-Founder, Iris Studio & Retreat Center

Born and raised in Switzerland, Sibylle Jud co-founded Iris Studio & Retreat Center, a Hudson Valley space dedicated to personal growth, creativity, and community. A photographer, yoga practitioner, and certified Feminine Power coach, she brings a thoughtful perspective on leadership, wellbeing, and community building.

Cláudia Sabino, secretary

Retreat Co-Facilitator & Therapist, The Uplands Center

Cláudia Sabino holds a doctorate in Psychology and has spent more than twenty years working in expressive arts education, mental health, and community wellness. Originally from Brazil, she combines psychology, creativity, and contemplative practices to create environments that support healing, learning, and personal growth.

Advisory Board

Cindy McNabb

Director of Arts Programming, XIT Youth Program

Cindy McNabb has more than twenty years of experience in youth education, curriculum development, and community arts programming. She develops creative opportunities that support young people through education, mentorship, and the arts.

Kathleen C. Mandeville

Founder, IgniVox Productions

Kathleen C. Mandeville is an Episcopal priest, arts producer, and community leader whose work connects performance, spirituality, and civic engagement. She is founder of IgniVox Productions and Executive Director of Sacred Music NY, with extensive experience producing site-specific performances and community arts initiatives throughout New York and the Hudson Valley.

Lori Ruth Federman, LMHC

Psychotherapist, Wellness Embodied

Lori Ruth Federman is a licensed mental health counselor whose work integrates humanistic psychotherapy with body-centered approaches to promote resilience, restoration, and wellbeing. She brings expertise in healing, embodiment, and mental health to Circle's advisory board.

Nati Zúñiga

Founder, Madre Aluna | Doulas en Español

Nati Zúñiga is founder of Madre Aluna and a member of Doulas en Español, supporting families through culturally rooted pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. She also helps develop leadership programs and traditional midwifery initiatives in Peru. Since its founding, she has been a key supporter of Circle's Artesanía program and its work with Latina immigrant artisans.

Why We Gather

Circle brings people together across cultures, generations, and backgrounds to make things by hand. In the making, differences soften and common ground appears — confidence grows, isolation eases, and people move through hard things side by side. The work of our hands has always been how we steady ourselves and find each other. We honor the knowledge of our elders and ancestors, and the truth that every tradition carries something worth passing on.