Meet our Creative Team!
Meet our Creative Team!
Creatives project planning/executive functioning skills morning at the tiny house block preparing preparing to start their projects for the day.
We have always believed that the right space can spark creativity, curiosity, and connection, which is why each place we’ve called home has become part of our story.
Oh! The Places We Have Taught From! :)
Our Unique Locations
Fall 2026* (Tuesdays - Thursdays)
Huntersville Lake Studio Cabin
(We're Working On It - Coming Soon) A quiet lakeside retreat with indoor and outdoor spaces for creating, reflecting, and working close to nature.
Fall 2026 (Mondays)
Dupp & Swat at Camp North End | Our Monday Creative Studio
nside Camp North End, Dupp & Swat gives our Creatives an authentic studio setting with their own spaces to settle in, spread out, work independently, share ideas, and create alongside one another in the middle of Charlotte’s creative community.
Summer Studio 2026
Town of Davidson Town Hall Auditorium Becomes a Studio
We transformed Davidson Town Hall’s light-filled auditorium into an open art studio for creating, collaborating, and sharing.
Summer Studio 2026
Steele Creek Community Place | Creating in Community
Two classrooms and a café became a warm neighborhood studio where young people could create together and feel at home.
2025
B Ranch, Concord in Two Tiny Houses
Two tiny houses, hammocks, a pond, goats, chickens, and a garden made this feel like our own little creative village. Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Elmore!
2021
Nature Preserves | Nature as Our Creative Guide, Charlotte
This was our first community when we moved from NYC to Charlotte. Trails, creeks, trees, textures, and changing seasons became part of the studio, giving us space to notice, wander, and create.
2020–2021
Learning Under the Tents
By far! One of the cutest and coolest spaces we've imagined up! Pop-up tents, trees, outdoor looms, and art lines became our studio, showing us how much learning can happen outside four walls.
2019
My NYC Apartment Homeschooling and Integrated Arts | New York City
Our NYC apartment became an intimate home studio where homeschooling, integrated arts, conversation, and creating happened together.
2012–2021
NYC Schools, Cafe's, Restaurants, Art Supply Stores, and Yes a New York City Trolley
We created in cafés, schools, art stores, restaurants, and EVEN a NYC trolley, proving an inspiring studio can happen almost anywhere. Red Pipes Café, thank you for giving us our first indoor space in NYC!
2012–2019
Forest Hills, Queens | Where It All Began — Free Art in the Park
Forever we LOVE Queens! Free art in Forest Hills, Queens, brought families together outdoors and planted the earliest roots of what would become LEAF.
Anisha Nannapaneni (Nu-na-pun-nee)
UNCC Student, 2027
Dual Degree
B.S. in Data Science, B.S. in Business Analytics
Hi!
We’re Priscilla Salgado-Diaz and Anisha Nannapaneni (Nun-na-pun-nee), UNC Charlotte students and proud Project Mentor Managers at LEAF Co-Learning Collective. As current students with a passion for empowering pre-teens and teens, we bring fresh perspectives and valuable skills to help learners grow, collaborate, and thrive in a creative, project-based environment.
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Priscilla (Class of 2025): Majoring in Organizational Management with a Minor in Economics, Priscilla brings experience mentoring students through personalized action plans, improving academic performance, and fostering time management. Her dedication to cultural inclusivity and community engagement aligns with LEAF’s focus on collaboration and meaningful connections.
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Anisha (Class of 2027): Pursuing dual degrees in Data Science and Business Analytics, Anisha excels in project management, collaboration, and team-building. Her leadership in mentoring and her success in innovative, community-focused projects reflect LEAF’s mission to nurture curiosity and inspire learners to create real-world impact.
Together, we help LEAF learners transform ideas into impactful projects, cultivating creativity, resilience, and teamwork every step of the way. At LEAF, we’re excited to grow alongside our learners in a space that celebrates exploration and discovery!
Get Involved
Join us in creating transformative learning experiences for pre-teens and teens. Whether you're a parent, educator, or community leader, there are countless ways to get involved—through workshops, mentorship, or supporting our vision. Together, we can nurture curiosity, collaboration, and creativity, building a space where young learners thrive and ideas take root. Let’s grow this movement, one project at a time!
A Day In the Life at LEAF
Get a feel for LEAF! Meet, greet and, connect. Explore the spaces where creativity takes root. SCHEDULE A VISIT
Orient at Root Day
Dive into the LEAF experience! Learn how we collaborate, co-learn, and bring big ideas to life.
Create A Project Plan
Work with peers, by yourself, and/or a Project Mentor to create a SMART project plan with milestones.
Create and Collaborate
It's time to put your plan into action and begin to bring your plan into fruition!
Portfolio Day
Week 6 is special! This is the time when you share your completed project with the collective!