OUR TEAM

Jaimie Warren, Co-Founder/Co-Director

Jaimie Warren is a dedicated founder and Co-Director of WHOOP DEE DOO and actively teaches in New York City's public elementary, middle, and high schools. Recognized for her artistic contributions, she holds a NYFA Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Arts and has completed artist residencies at the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program, Pioneer Works, BRIC, Abrons Arts Center, and Yaddo. Jaimie is recognized for her educational leadership, having created programs for arts organizations including The Museum of Modern Art, Pioneer Works, BRIC, Brooklyn Arts Council, and Abrons Arts Center. In 2013, she was honored with a United States Presidential Teaching Award by Barack Obama for her outstanding contributions to arts education. 

Sofia Dixon, Co-Director

Sofia Dixon is an established artist and educator based in NYC with a decade of experience both locally and nationally producing large-scale art projects. Sofia has collaboratively designed programming alongside her Co-Director, Jaimie, for notable institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art and Pioneer Works, as well as many community organizations and nonprofits. Sofia received a full-tuition scholarship from The Cooper Union and specializes in teaching art installation design, video directing, concept development, and practical skills like large-scale paper-maché. Dedicated to fostering creative and social connections between project participants through arts education, Sofia continues to develop new skills to expand her interdisciplinary practice.

Emily Flores, Community Outreach Director

Emily Flores serves as the Community Outreach Director for WHOOP DEE DOO, leveraging her multi-media art practice that spans video production, photography, installation design, and sound design. She is committed to fostering collaboration between youth, older adults, and performance groups to enrich WHOOP DEE DOO’s productions. Her role not only involves fostering community relationships but also integrating diverse artistic expressions into the collective vision of the organization.

Sarah Dahlinger, Grants Manager

Sarah Dahlinger is the Grants Manager, focusing on researching and applying to grant opportunities. Sarah is a printmaking technician at Cooper Union School of Art and serves on the Board of Directors for Flux Factory, a Queens-based arts non-profit.

OUR BOARD

Sofia Dixon, Co-President (see “Our Team” above)

Jaimie Warren, Co-President (see “Our Team” above)

Erin Zona, Vice President

Erin Zona is a practicing artist with a special interest in research-based projects that utilize archives and special collections. As Artistic Director at Women’s Studio Workshop in Rosendale, NY, Erin is responsible for the artistic integrity of all programs and projects; including WSW’s artist’s book publishing program, coordination of all exhibitions on and off-site, and panel selection for all competitive programs. Zona co-represents over 200 artists from WSW publishing catalog in the sales and distribution of artists’ books and is the lead artistic organizer of WSW’s upcoming 50th-anniversary program of events. A friend and fan of Whoop Dee Doo since the project began in 2006, Erin has worked with the organization in various capacities from 2006 to current and is excited to join the board at this pivotal time in the organization's growth.

Justin Oswald, Treasurer

Justin is the Executive Director for Latin America and The Pacific Northwest for Honey’s Foundation, and is a life-long supporter of youth enrichment programs with an emphasis on arts and performance. His work has been instrumental to the development of p:ear, an organization for homeless youth in Portland, Oregon, as well as Whoop Dee Doo. Justin has been a supporter of Whoop Dee Doo since he spearheaded a fundraising campaign in 2011 to host a Whoop Dee Doo production through the Time-Based Arts Festival, the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, and an at-risk youth camp called Caldera in Sisters, Oregon, creating a workshop and live show series that is still one of Whoop Dee Doo’s largest and most impactful projects to date.

Emily Flores, Secretary (see “Our Team” above)

Tiffiney Davis, Officer

Tiffiney Davis, a resilient Black female community leader, co-founded Red Hook Art Project in 2009 with a vision to provide her artistically gifted children and others in underserved communities with opportunities for growth. Today, as Executive Director, she leads RHAP's efforts to empower students through free art and mental wellness programming, fostering a safe and inclusive space where they can thrive. Her ability to unite the community has been pivotal in RHAP's success, securing $1 million in federal funding through partnerships with 11 local organizations and advocacy efforts, enabling the expansion of programming and establishment of a dedicated studio space. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in addressing community needs, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

At RHAP, they prioritize holistic education, offering free homework help, visual art lessons, and music lessons that foster skills in leadership, teamwork, and social justice. This integrated approach prepares students for success academically, artistically, and personally. In response to the pandemic, she successfully transitioned RHAP to a virtual setting, hosting over 100 classes and providing meals to address food insecurity. Recognized with awards like the 2023 Woman of Distinction Award, her commitment to the community highlights dedication to arts education, community development, and civic engagement. Featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show as a “RAD HUMAN,” she advocates for the transformative power of the arts and creating inclusive spaces where every child can thrive, emphasizing the importance of breaking barriers and fostering community for all individuals to reach their full potential.

Maria Sanchez, Officer

Maria Sanchez holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Touro University and brings over 12 years of dedicated service to the Spanish Speaking Elderly Council - RAICES. She began her journey as a Caseworker and, through her dedication and skill, has advanced to the role of Program Director of the Red Hook Older Adult Center. Driven by a passion for enhancing the lives of older adults, Maria ensures that the voices and needs of senior participants are heard and supported. Her leadership focuses on advocating for seniors’ well-being through health and wellness education, engaging arts and crafts activities, and collaborations with like-minded community organizations. Her commitment to service reflects a true dedication to fostering a thriving, supportive environment for the Red Hook Community.

Calder Zwicky, Officer

Calder Zwicky is Executive Director of Artistic Noise, a nonprofit arts organization for system-involved young people (juvenile court system, probationary system, shelter system, foster care system, and others). Prior to this, he was the Creative Director at F.Y. Eye, a nonprofit media agency providing free and low-cost resources for NYC-based service providers interested in promoting their programs and initiatives across their various communities. For the past decade, he worked as an Assistant Director at the Museum of Modern Art where he oversaw the institution’s long running Teen and Community Partnership initiatives. In this capacity, he created programming for a wide-range of non-profit organizations and their audiences including HIV/AIDS organizations, system-involved youth, refugee groups, housing providers, and more. Throughout his career he has worked for a variety of museums and arts institutions including the Walker Art Center, the Queens Museum, the Studio Museum in Harlem and the Bronx Museum of the Arts.