In 2018, a small group of women artists and community activists got together with an interest in completing mural projects in Luzerne County, PA. Street Art Society of NEPA is a grassroots non-profit corporation that formed as a result. Street Art Society of NEPA’s mission is to improve the aesthetic, cultural, and investment value of communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania by initiating and coordinating the completion of public artworks within those communities.
The vision of SAS NEPA is to develop a forward-thinking attitude and awareness of the power of visual art among residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Whether it is a mural, sculpture, community garden, or labyrinth, the goal is to connect people with their environment.
Board of Directors
Jenna Casaldi has dedicated her time to coordinating various aspects of the West Side Mural Revitalization Project. She volunteers on site to work out the logistics, prepare backgrounds, secure supplies, and provide assistance to artists when needed. She has been teaching Art within the Lake-Lehman School District for over a decade, and has a Master’s in Art Education. Jenna is a resident of Kingston and enjoys cooking, hiking, reading, and writing fiction. She is the artist of two small murals at 900 Rutter Ave, and looks forward to expanding her reach as more opportunities become available.
Photographer, artist, and positive energy infused Amy Bezek has been involved in the arts since childhood. After discovering photography as a child and developing a distinct passion for the art form, she began working professionally in 2004 for a corporate photography studio and traveled all over the county for photography. In 2014, she launched AB Photography, LLC and opened up her own studio. She is a passionate entrepreneur founding AB Photography, LLC and Love and Lights, LLC, an up-cycled wine bottle business that turns used wine bottles into lighted decor. Amy currently lives and photographs out of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania. She lives with her fur-babies, Izzy Nitro, Xiola, Lyric, and Paris. Amy is available for commercial brand photography, commissioned portrait work and studio portraiture for families, individuals, and executives, to weddings, real estate photography, fine art, and more. In her spare time, Amy volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters, donates proceeds from photography mini sessions to local non-profits and shelters to build her local communities. Amy is an animal rights activist, an environmental activist and a vegetarian. She is also a huge fan of natural healing.
Laura Holbrook is a mitigation and outreach specialist for the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority. She grew up in Lebanon, PA and returned to Wilkes-Barre in 2016 after graduating from King’s College in 2010. She is currently the volunteer coordinator for the Riverfront Parks Committee and a case worker and fosterer for the Doberman Pinscher Rescue of Pennsylvania. In her spare time, Laura practices her creativity by baking cakes and pastries. Laura believes in the transformation of a community through art and culture, which had led to her interest and participation in the SAS NEPA.
Lisa Murphy is an artist and educator who resides with her family in Wilkes-Barre. She has a B.S. in Art Education and a M.Ed. in Art Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Lisa teaches elementary art in Hazleton Area School District, where her students engage in community-based projects and learn the importance of art and design in the 21st century. Lisa’s artwork ranges from realistic portraiture in oil paint to conceptual art using a wide range of experimental media such as collage, 3D printing, and assemblage. In her spare time, Lisa is an avid cyclist.
Kevin Harger-Blizzard is a Property and Casualty Insurance expert with 14+ years of underwriting experience in worker’s compensation and strategic partnership relationship managing. He manages a team of underwriters that handle all aspects of commercial insurance operations at Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance. He grew up in Forty Fort, PA and currently resides in Shavertown, PA. Kevin graduated from King’s College with a degree in History with a Secondary Education certification. In 2021, he began organizing members of the community to plant close to 10,000 flower bulbs under a project titled “Bloomin’ Byways.” This group’s goal is to beautify the Back Mountain community. This continues to be a yearly initiative, and Kevin hopes to see it continue to grow. He was a graduate of Leadership Northeast class of 2022, and a member of “Team Beezy.” The group’s mission was to connect the community and kids through the arts. As a result of their fund-raising efforts, they installed a bee themed mural and interactive sculpture in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA. After Leadership Northeast graduation, Kevin joined the board of the Street Art Society of NEPA and helped successfully plan their first “Color Fun Walk Run” to raise needed funds for more public murals. He more recently joined a committee for Junior Achievement and is helping plan a Career Exploration Fair for high school students that is scheduled for Spring of 2023. “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” -Mahatma Gandhi