Meet the Amazing Instructors

Maxwell McGleughlin is a music producer, singer, and writer from Cambridge MA. In his free time, he enjoys working with young people of all ages on creative projects spanning from beat making and songwriting to reading and writing-based projects such as screenplays and short stories. Max gets excited about blending genres and collaborating with others, finding joy in working at the intersections of many types of ideas and all kinds of people! 

Simon Morrison is a writer, director, and actor who works in both film and theater. Professionally trained in theater at the British American Drama Academy and Shakespeare Academy at Stratford, Simon brings a passionate and creative approach along with his years of experience as a teacher, youth worker, and private acting coach.  For Simon, helping students explore and discover the joys of theater and storytelling is a reward in itself. Simon lives in New York City. In his spare time, he loves to cook, hang out with his friends and watch sports :)

Sean Michael Conway is an actor, comedian, and producer based in Los Angeles, CA. He attended Bucknell University, where he majored in Managing for Sustainability and Theater. Sean has worked in theater and film, performed stand-up comedy, and taught both. He has numerous film and production credits.

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Some films I've acted in include Dead Till Death, Ellipses and Semicolons, Ouija Witch, and House of Brotherly Love. I also produced and acted in a film called The Associate. You can check out Dead Till Death on Amazon Prime and The Associate on the indie film platform Retrospective of Jupiter.

Juliana Paulo is originally from Brazil and holds a degree in Business Administration. Over time, she discovered that what truly excites her is creativity, communication, and working with people.
At Sunshine Projects, Juliana teaches Portuguese and computer classes, helping participants explore language, technology, and creativity in a fun and supportive environment. She enjoys creating classes where everyone feels comfortable learning new things and expressing themselves.
Juliana is also the person behind much of the organization’s social media and digital content. As a social media specialist, photographer, and video creator, she captures everyday moments, events, and activities that show the spirit of the Sunshine community. Through photos, videos, and creative storytelling, she helps share the joy and connection that happen here every day. What Juliana loves most about her work is seeing participants grow in confidence, discover new skills, and feel proud of what they create.
Her connection to this mission is personal. With a sister who has Down syndrome, Juliana has always believed in the importance of inclusive communities where people of all abilities can learn, connect, and thrive together.

Born and raised here in Maryland, Patrick Gamboa graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2022. After spending two years teaching English across multiple middle schools abroad in South Korea, he discovered a growing interest in education. He now brings that enthusiasm to Sunshine Projects. Outside the classroom, Patrick enjoys working out, cycling, traveling, and never says no to good foods. He’s excited to be part of the Sunshine Projects team and looks forward to what’s ahead!

Hi I’m Ale, I am the SP TGIF - Karaoke Host. Thanks to our director for trusting me with this job. I love working and singing and hosting my fellow
Sunshines during Karaoke Fridays. 

I like pop culture (monga anime dc comics wb animations, adult cartoons, video games), rock music meat dogs, roller coasters laser tag go karts cars hiking and traveling TV and movies, trying food and drinks and snacks and sodas godzilla and transformers and high ropes and sword play and archery and martial arts and biking and swimming and acting dancing and singing And playing games.

Eliana Williams is a storyboard artist, writer, and painter from Maryland. She studied animation and art at both University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Montgomery College. She loves to teach, and help people realize anyone can create art. On the weekends, she teaches the youth class at her church, and experiments with abstract paintings with her twin sister, Tati. Inclusivity is an extremely important message she wants to share to change the world, and believes art as an expression is a strong tool to do so. When she isn’t working on updating her portfolio, she loves to bake, watch animated TV shows, and play video games. 

My formal training began in 1985 with an A.S. degree in Culinary Arts and a B.A. in Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. Since an early age, I have loved food. I come from a family that always had a hot meal on the table and enjoyed meals together.  Dinner time was very important to us, and with immigrant grandparents, there was all sorts of cuisine on our table, from Greek to Slovak. After attending college, I trained and worked in some top-notch hotels, restaurants, country clubs, and food service companies throughout the East and West Coast, holding various management positions. I was also very fortunate to have the opportunity to live overseas in Australia for some time and travel the world for a year, which led me to experience many different cuisines and cultures.  In recent years, I was a former culinary instructor at Anne Arundel Community College and coordinated a kid’s cooking program at a local elementary school. I hold a ServSave Certificate for sanitation and prioritize food safety. Currently, when not cooking for the Sunshine Projects, I also volunteer with Gigi’s Playhouse as a volunteer chef coordinator for their online national cooking program for adults with Down Syndrome.  For my day job, I am a “Catering Consultant” For Main & Market Catering in Annapolis.   I truly love what I do and feel very blessed to be able to share my talents and expertise with so many.  I live in Annapolis, Maryland, and I have been married to my husband, Tim for 21 years. We have a 15-year-old daughter named Lucy.  “Life is good. Keep on cooking.”

Vanessa Carrasco serves as the Marketing Director for Sunshine Projects, where she leads outreach, community engagement, and brand development with heart and purpose. She is passionate about sharing Sunshine’s mission and ensuring families feel informed, supported, and welcomed from their very first interaction.
In addition to her role in marketing, Vanessa is also the on-site yoga teacher at Sunshine. She integrates mindfulness, movement, and emotional regulation practices into her classes, creating a nurturing space where participants can build confidence, self-awareness, and overall well-being.
Vanessa studied Special Education and Marketing at the University of Maryland, combining her understanding of child development with strategic communication expertise. Her unique background allows her to bridge compassion with innovation — supporting both the growth of the organization and the individuals it serves.
She is deeply committed to fostering a positive, inclusive environment where every participant feels seen, valued, and empowered.

Natasha Hawkins began dancing at the age of four at the RJV School of Dance in Washington, DC, and has never loved anything more! Hawkins has trained with local and national talent in hip-hop, ballet, and modern. She was the former Director of DCypher Dance, Joy of Motion Dance Center’s Resident Adult Hip Hop Company, and a dancer with Life, Rhythm, Move Project. Hawkins has performed at venues throughout the region, including the White House, The Kennedy Center, the National Theater, the Atlas Performing Arts Center, and the Jack Guidone Theater.

Pauline Scully is based in sunny California! She has a background in hip-hop dance from high school through college. Though she is currently a filmmaker and video producer, she still shows her love for dance by producing professional dance films that have been screened in festivals. She also started a weekly online hip-hop dance class back in 2020 for her brother Brandon, who currently participates in Sunshine Projects events, and his friends. Pauline is thrilled to collaborate with Sunshine Projects and is excited to dance with you every Monday!

Aren is a guitarist and singer‑songwriter with a lifelong love of making music. He has been creating music for nearly 15 years, focusing especially on songwriting. While music is a full‑time passion rather than a full‑time job, he performs popular cover sets at bars, restaurants, and private events such as weddings, parties, and singing telegrams. He also writes and produces original music, sharing it during concerts at high schools, colleges, and church events, where he aims to tell his story, spark deeper thinking, and build community.