Hello there, nice to meet you!
Jennifer A. Quintanilla
Community Arts Producer
Jennifer (she/her) forms the heart of RISE Healing Arts Lab. Born and raised in New York by Salvadoran immigrants, from a young age she understood the importance of cultural belonging and the magic of storytelling through image and sound. RISE grew from a desire to buffer some of the hardships many adults face when seeking help for their mental well-being. The program seeks to shed light on the imaginative aspects of healing, and the power of play to deepen community ties.
Across both the U.S. and Canada, Jennifer has worked with various non-profits, festivals, and screen-based programs, passionately fostering community connection through arts and culture curation. She holds a B.A. in Cinema Studies and Philosophy from Purchase College and an M.A. in Film and Media Studies from Concordia University. In addition, she holds an Arts in Public Health Graduate Certificate from the University of Florida. In her downtime, you can find Jennifer spending time in nature, meditating, being a goofball with friends, or watching a comedy.
Diana Marie Castro-Strotman
Wellness Advisor
Diana is a mental health professional who obtained their M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Manhattan College in 2017. Diana uses she/they pronouns and identifies as bisexual. Diana is a New York native who was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was raised in The Bronx, NY. She is passionate about providing effective mental health therapy and thoroughly enjoys those "aha" moments where people can make insightful connections that aid in going from feeling stuck to now unstuck.
Before obtaining her M.S., Diana attended Purchase College where she met Jennifer and Amanda in 2010. The three often discussed collaborating on an idea together to bring in their unique talents and interests. RISE is that idea. Diana believes RISE is innovative, solution focused, relatable, creative, and the sazón needed to add flavor to the way we view community and connection to one another. Diana enjoys traveling, nature, trying new vegan restaurants, painting, chai tea lattes, cats, and animal sanctuaries.
Amanda Mulholland
Editor
Amanda (she/her) has a decade of experience in the book publishing industry. She holds a B.A. in creative writing and literature from Purchase College. In her free time, she loves reading, writing books for middle-grade readers, exploring her home state of New Jersey, and ghost hunting the most haunted places on the East Coast.
Amanda is ecstatic to contribute to RISE. As she continues to build a career in publishing, she strongly believes in the importance of storytelling, as well as the powerful contribution it can have—across all mediums—when one is exploring wellness, mental health, and the human condition.