Arlene, a Staten Island resident, has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Temple University and a Masters degree in Social Work from Bryn Mawr School of Social Work and Social Research. While practicing clinical social work, she spent her spare time participating with community theater organizations both on stage (dancing and singing) and behind the scenes. In 2002, she co-founded IlluminArt Productions (which became a 501(c)(3) in 2006) in Michigan with Patty Ceresnie. From February 2005 through May 2009, Arlene was the director of JCC Maccabi ArtsFest at the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America, located in Manhattan, creating and producing week-long arts festivals for teens each summer in various cities which offered workshops and performances in many different art disciplines including acting, musical theater, dance, digital media, visual arts, and vocal music to name a few. This gave her the opportunity to recruit and work with a variety of talented artists-in-residence. In June, 2009, Arlene established IlluminArt Productions in Staten Island, New York, as a way to combine her love for theater and social work. Arlene has served on the board of Nonprofit Staten Island since 2012, co-chairing the annual Community Service Awards.
