Abbey Weeks is a mental health counselor, artist, and gardener.  She has experience working with all diversities of people, both through art therapy training and teaching art lessons. Abbey prefers creating art with mixed-media, including paint, collage materials, and found objects.  She works from a strengths-based humanistic perspective.  Abbey is personable, creative, and non-judgmental.  She enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs. Abbey is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Connecticut, as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Massachusetts. She received both her BS and MA degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Art Therapy from Lesley University.

With a profound passion for wellness and a deep connection to yoga, Candace Cheatham has dedicated 17 years to her personal practice and 5 years to sharing her journey with others as a yoga instructor. Based at Open Doors, located south of Boston, Candace creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for her students, encouraging them to explore their own paths to health and mindfulness.

Carla has been a licensed Zumba instructor since 2017, and started teaching at BITSS in the summer of 2023. She absolutely loves to create a fun, exciting and welcoming environment for all of her participants, merging the joy of music, connection and movement. Carla is thrilled to have another memorable summer with the amazing BITSS community!

A former BITSS board member, Emily was diagnosed with TS when she was eleven years old. She has served as a nonprofit communications professional for nearly 20 years and is particularly passionate about contributing her energy to organizations partnering with children and teens. Currently she is the director of marketing and communications at YouthBuild Global. A native of Annapolis, Maryland, Emily relocated in 2006 to Somerville, Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband Markian. Together they enjoy exploring New England’s natural beauty in any weather. She received a BA in English and Spanish from the University of Richmond in 2003, and went on to receive an MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from the University of Oregon in 2005. Emily brings a contemplative lens to her work, poetry, and volunteer commitments, as she is deeply engaged in the daily practice of Soto Zen Buddhism at Zen Center North Shore, where she received lay ordination in December 2020. Emily is proud to continue to bring her devotion to community-building and service to the BITSS community.

Kathleen has been a certified yoga instructor since 2006 and has had an impressive dance career -- teaching, choreographing and performing throughout New England. Her passion is modern dance. Most recently, Ms. Smith was an adjunct professor at Dean College in Franklin, MA and Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. She was also an assistant professor at Rhode Island College.  She currently teaches dance and holistic wellness at The Prout School in Wakefield, RI.

Liz is a former teacher turned fitness instructor. She has been a Pound instructor for almost 5 years and can’t imagine life without it. Teaching Pound allows her to share her love of exercise in a way that is accessible for everyone. Liz's background in education paired with her multiple certifications in fitness has been the perfect molding of two of her passions.

Mary Bennett, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience supporting children and families across a variety of settings. She earned her Master’s degree from the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work in 2014. Since then, she has worked in residential programs, schools, and hospital environments, bringing a compassionate and collaborative approach to her clinical work.

Mary currently serves as the clinical social worker for the Pediatric Endocrinology Department and Diabetes Center at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. In this role, she provides specialized support to youth and their families navigating complex medical conditions.

Rebecca Szynkowski (she/her) was born Deaf and has used American Sign Language (ASL) her entire life. She is proud to be a third-generation Deaf individual in her family, and ASL is not just her language—it’s a core part of her identity and culture.  She is excited to be part of BITSS for the third time, and looks forward to sharing ASL with the BITSS kids. Rebecca also loves teaching about Deaf culture, helping others gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the rich, diverse experiences within the Deaf community.