We’re so happy to meet you!
We are two moms on a mission to empower young people’s creativity — and give caregivers good coffee and a comfortable place to sit. This is where the Art Cafe story begins.
Hi! I’m Cory.
You can usually find me outside rolling paint balls down a slide or building with wood. I've spent the past 7 years researching the developmental benefits of child-led creative play, and I believe that children deserve the time and space to discover their own creative superpowers. Because one thing we know for sure is that all children have a natural drive to learn, and they learn best when they are given the freedom to explore their own ideas.
Art Cafe is here to deliver endless opportunities for child-led, open-ended creative exploration. I'm so grateful to be bringing this dream to life and I hope you'll join us on this journey!
Co-founder
Mom of 2 in Westfield, NJ
MA in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University
Former researcher at the National Center for Children & Families and Zearn Math K-8
Executive board member of the Westfield Public Schools PTO, Lincoln Early Childhood Center
Member of the Downtown Westfield Corporation Design Committee
Hi, I’m Esther.
Over the past 15+ years, my professional journey has been grounded in Supply Chain & Operations where I spent most of my career in large corporations.
As a parent, I saw how much joy came from simple moments: color, curiosity, creativity, and COFFEE. Lots of coffee. I wanted to build something that combines what I love: art, community, and a welcoming space for children and caregivers.
That’s Art Cafe - a place where kids are free to explore and caregivers feel seen and inspired.
Co-founder
A mom of two in Westfield, NJ
MS in Mechanical Engineering & MBA from MIT
10+ years of operations and retail supply chain experience across multiple industries, specializing in consumer products
Proponent of women and girls in STEAM
Meet Our Team
Lexi Weiner, Lead Teacher
Hi, I'm Lexi!
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember, and today my work centers on mixed-media exploration. I hold a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education and have spent more than a decade teaching art in a wide range of settings, including schools and museums.
I’m continually inspired by how freely and authentically young children express themselves, and I’m deeply committed to process-driven art that honors their curiosity.
You can learn more about me at alexisevelyn.studio.
Jackie Gonzalez, Lead Teacher
Hi, I’m Jackie!
I’m a New Jersey native, and an educator and artist with over 14 years of experience teaching and leading in early childhood settings. I hold a double major in Education and Visual Arts from Wheelock College and have had the joy of teaching children across a wide range of ages, from infants through sixth grade.
As a proud mom to an incredible little boy, I bring both professional insight and deep personal care into the Art Cafe studio. I’m deeply passionate about learning through the arts — especially witnessing the confidence, curiosity, and joy children discover when they try something new.
Joelle Tannenbaum, Studio Intern
Hi, I’m Joelle!
My background is rooted in both creativity and child development. I previously taught at the Maria Montessori School in Perugia, Italy, where I taught English to fourth graders through art and music in an engaging, child-centered classroom experience.
I am currently a third-year Psychology major at Quinnipiac University in the 3+2 dual-degree MSW program, where I study social work policies and practices that support children and families. At Art Cafe, my favorite class theme this semester is Building Your World, because it reflects my passion for hands-on experiences that help kids explore, process, and make sense of the world around them.
Art Cafe classes are designed to help children gain real-world skills through open-ended process art. Our classes will introduce real tools and materials, practical skill-building, and lots of freedom for children to learn through art play!
Throughout our academic research and careers, we have gained a set of guiding principals that inform all Art Cafe classes:
Play-Based Learning: Children are natural scientists and biologically wired to learn. Research shows us that children learn best through guided play, when they have agency to follow their own curiosities and inquiries. Our classes invite children — from 2 to 10 — to experience art play in a supportive and sensory-rich environment.
Child-Led Exploration: Every child has unique creative gifts to offer the world. By giving children the freedom to make choices, take risks, and collaborate with others, we are giving them organic opportunities to hone their creativity and develop essential life skills, such as: self-regulation and self-efficacy, resilience, creative problem-solving, and effective communication.
Community Connection: Inspiration is all around us — in nature, in art, and in our community. For After School and Creators’ Club classes, Art Cafe will partner with local artists, musicians, engineers, and builders to give children an opportunity to connect with inspiring role models and experience real-world creative practices.
If you’d like to connect about child-led process art, sensory play, or anything related to child development, we would love to hear from you!
