Carla Zanoni has built a life dedicated to storytelling in its many forms. From the streets of New York City to the hills of the Catskills, Carla moves through the world as a writer, poet, journalist, and media executive. Her recently published bilingual Spanish-English chapbook, Knowing/Saber (2024), represents just one facet of her diverse creative practice.
We're absolutely thrilled to have Carla as the Flying Leap’s inaugural board member, where her multifaceted expertise and creative vision have guided us in our growth over the past 18 months. Her unique perspective aligns perfectly with our mission. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Carla – here's what she shared:
1. What made you interested in joining Flying Leap's Board?
Flying Leap's mission to bring art to families who might otherwise miss out really spoke to me. Growing up in an immigrant family, I saw firsthand how free and accessible theater changed my life and opened doors. I wanted to help Flying Leap keep creating those same transformative moments for kids today, especially in innovative ways that meet families where they are.
2. What is a skill or experience you are excited to bring to Flying Leap?
What excites me most is combining my creative side with my strategic thinking to help Flying Leap thrive. I've been fortunate to build and lead teams across different organizations, and I've learned a lot about how to reach people who might not see themselves as "theater people" or "arts people." I'm eager to roll up my sleeves and help Flying Leap reach more families while staying true to what makes their work so special in the first place.
3. What is a difficult subject you think is important that we talk about right now?
We need to get real about how arts organizations can be both financially sustainable and truly accessible. It's a tricky balance, right? We want Flying Leap's wonderful work to reach families who wouldn't normally experience it, but we also need to keep the lights on.The pandemic really showed us how fragile arts funding can be, while also highlighting just how unequal access to creative experiences has become. I think Flying Leap has a chance to try something different - not just copying old models that haven't worked for everyone.
We should be asking ourselves: How do we know we're making a real difference? How can we build real relationships with communities instead of just transactions? And how do we make sure our own team reflects the diverse families we want to reach?
These questions aren't always comfortable, but I believe tackling them openly will make Flying Leap stronger and help us bring more magical artistic moments to children who deserve them.
Bio:
Carla Zanoni is a writer, poet, and journalist whose Spanish-English chapbook, Knowing/Saber was published in 2024. She is writing her first literary memoir on self-worth. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Common, Modern Loss, TueNight, and more. She is a media executive, formerly of The Wall Street Journal and TED, and leads the Engagement Journalism program at the Newmark Graduate School at CUNY. She splits her time between New York City and the Catskills with her husband and their dog and cat, Gertrude and Earnestine. Carla’s monthly newsletter, The Em Dash is at carla.substack.com.