MARNEY SCHORR – Founder/ Executive Director
Marney Schorr is an Art Therapist, Author, Teaching Artist and Founding Director of Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY). She designed the program with both her professional background in art therapy and her lived experience as a suicide attempt survivor. AIRY has received four awards including the 2018 MA Statehouse Award and Citations from Sen. Hinds and State Rep Tricia Farley Bouvier.
Marney is the author of the first book on art therapy and youth suicide prevention, DBT and Art for Youth Suicide Prevention: When Art Saves Lives (2022) with Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She has taught art therapy at Springfield College, Annamaria College, Berkshire Community College, Empire State College and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She is an art therapy internship supervisor for MCLA and Springfield College.
Marney earned her Master’s in Clinical Art Therapy from LI University and and her Bachelor’s in Visual Art from Empire State College. She has received extensive training in art therapy, adolescent development, social and emotional learning, suicide prevention, dialectical behavior therapy, internal and family systems therapy, addictions and motivational interviewing, best trauma-informed practices, somatic experiencing, poetry therapy and fine arts including drawing, painting and sculpture, as well as self care practices for secondary traumatic stress. She presents locally and nationally for others in the field and for parents and educators. She presently runs individual, family and group art therapy at an artists cooperative in downtown Pittsfield known as NUarts Studios & Gallery. For more info visit her webpage at http://www.nuartsgallery.com
JACK KELLY – Program Manager & Skills Counselor
After graduating the AIRY program, Jack Kelly returned to become a skills counselor, studio assistant and event coordinator. He was recently promoted to AIRY Program Manager and runs the day to day asks of AIRY in collaboration with the Director. Jack has an extensive knowledge of the foundation and practices of AIRY as well as AIRY’s work in the community. He also serves as a liaison for AIRY in developing community partnerships. Jack is an artist and avid writer. He has regularly presented his poetry at local arts venues like the Whitney Center for the Arts. He has also worked as an art dealer organizing art shows and sales for local artists.
In 2018, Jack presented at the MA State Suicide Prevention Conference. In 2019, he shared his experience on screen and was the director´s assistant in the filming of AIRY’s documentary, Messages of Hope . Jack has a passion for performing arts and is a graduate of the Playwright Mentoring Program at Barrington Stage Company. He has performed in multiple plays at Barrington Stage Company and Pittsfield H.S. Jack is currently a student at Berkshire Community College studying Human Service Methods.
From 2019-2022, Jack has been a Presenter & Coordinator for AIRY´s annual ¨Love Yourself¨ at the Colonial Theatre. Jack has received education and training in program management, fine and performing arts, creative writing, counseling techniques, youth mentorship, peer support practices, best practices for suicide prevention, safe talk, dialectical behavior therapy skills training, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed practices, managing work-related secondary traumatic stress and self care practices and ethics and communication.
RACHAEL BENTZ – Skills Counselor & Digital Art Instructor
Rachael Bentz has been with the AIRY program since 2017. She works as a Skills counselor, Digital Art Instructor and facilitator of the AIRY Digital Art Group for teens and young adults. She is the designer of the AIRY short film (animatic) The Story of Indigo Phoenix (see our videos). Rachael is currently earning her Bachelor´s degree in Animation.
She has received education and training in animation, character design, digital art, fine arts, musical and acting performance, counseling techniques, youth mentorship, peer support practices, fine and performing arts, best practices for suicide prevention, safe talk, dialectical behavior therapy skills training, trauma-informed practices, motivational interviewing, managing work-related secondary traumatic stress and self care practices, and ethics and communication.
Rachael is a masterful digital artist who designs original characters, comic books and short digital films. Her commissions and other art work have been featured in multiple art shows. Rachael takes orders on commission. Contact her at rachaelbentzart@gmail.com.
ISLEY GAGNON – Art Therapist & Skills Counselor
After interning for the AIRY program, Isley Gagnon has joined the AIRY team as a Skills Counselor in our Teen and Young Adult groups. She is in her last semester earning her Masters degree in Art Therapy and Mental Health Counseling in the Graduate Art Therapy program at Springfield College. She earned her Bachelor´s degree in Fine Art at Smith College. She brings expertise in both fine art and art therapy to the AIRY program.
Isley also has experience working in art therapy groups with children. Isley has received education and training in art and psychology, art therapy theories and practices, counseling methods, best practices for suicide prevention, safe talk, dialectical behavior therapy skills training, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed practices, managing work-related secondary traumatic stress and self care practices and ethics and communication.
Arts in Recovery for Youth 