Girls Write Now
I.V. Teach Committee
Intersectional Voices in Teaching
The I.V. Teach Committee focuses on enhancing teaching and mentorship at Girls Write Now and beyond. By prioritizing mentorship and teaching excellence, the committee ensures all participants have access to high-quality education, guidance, and support throughout their experience at Girls Write Now.
Meet the Girls Write Now I.V. Teach Committee
Joi Ysabella Carla Salvino
Mentee
Joi Ysabella Carla Salvino is a multicultural youth advocate currently studying in Canada, with an interdisciplinary focus on social justice and universal rights and freedoms. Experienced in creative design, communications, and research, Joi Ysabella works to make complex ideas accessible and to inspire critical thinking in diverse audiences. She is particularly passionate about the intersection of art, politics, and media. Currently involved with nonprofit, community, and development initiatives, she seeks to contribute to teaching spaces that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, while promoting equity, social justice, and civic engagement. Her advocacy is centered on justice-driven storytelling, while her art reflects her individual and collective experiences with nuance and depth. She was most notably named 1 of the 500 Carnegie Young Leaders of the United States of America.
Raquel Lesser
Mentor, Career Writer Fellow of Adovah
Raquel Lesser graduated from Manhattanville College with a B.A. in Digital Media. They wrote five books, love to dance, and make art. Apart from their many hobbies, they love to write, make mechanics, and robots. For three years in a row, they participated in the Yale Writers Workshop, as well as taught at Champion Kindercare, and are now a mentor for Girls Write Now.
Benefits:
- Join a dynamic group of fellow educators, mentors, and creative professionals who are deeply committed to teaching. Share insights, exchange strategies, and build meaningful professional relationships
- Contribute to the development and evolution of educational practices that directly impact the Girls Write Now community
- Strengthen your leadership capabilities in design, planning, and educational strategy implementation
- Play a key role in creating more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning environments for all mentees and mentors
Activities:
- Research and Learning
Learn from experienced teachers and professionals about all aspects of teaching, including curriculum development and review, pedagogies, classroom management, facilitation strategies, learning styles, and program evaluation - Curriculum Development
Designing and reviewing inclusive educational material and approaches that reflect the community we serve while also promoting a deeper understanding of intersectionality in teaching - Mentor Training
Support creating content and ideas for mentor development workshops to better equip mentors with the skills and tools to foster a more effective and supportive learning environment - Share your Network
Willingness to share professional networks that may help identify additional resources, connections, and opportunities that can support the committee’s work - Collaboration
Work as a committee to promote the teaching efforts of Girls Write Now’s teaching artists and curriculum developers
Expectations:
- Attend quarterly committee meetings
- Contribute to curriculum development process
Eligibility:
Mentors, mentees, members, and educational partners are welcome to join the Committee and IV Teach meetings.
Meetings:
In 2026, the IV Teach Committee will meet quarterly for virtual meetings on:
- Tuesday March 17 at 7 pm ET
- Tuesday July 21 at 7 pm ET
Next Steps:
- Complete the Interest Form below.
- RSVP for our First Meeting: Please register for our next I.V. Teach Meeting through your portal.
- Can’t make it in May? Want to nominate someone to join the committee? Contact Jesse Jagtiani!
I.V. Teach Committee Interest Form
Join the IV Teach Committee!
Staff Leads & Facilitators:
Staff Lead
Jesse Jagtiani
Senior Community Manager
Jesse Jagtiani is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and researcher of Indian-German heritage residing in New York City. Jesse earned her Doctor of Education in Art & Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, complemented by an MFA in Studio Art from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, and a degree in Visual Communications from the University of Arts, Berlin. Her research centers on the formative dimensions of intuition, bridging indigenous wisdom with contemporary scientific perspectives to foster a balance of the intuitive and the rational mind within Western educational paradigms. Jesse’s artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and her scholarly contributions extend to various publications, including chapter three of the book Developing Informed Intuition for Decision Making. Jesse has taught in (and outside of) higher education for numerous years and is passionate about supporting emerging artists, writers, and leaders on their creative, academic, and career pathways.
