Our Team
Phoebe Ho
founder | Artistic Director
Phoebe obtained her Creative Arts Therapy Certification from the New School in Manhattan. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. Since 2007, Phoebe has been involved in creating programs for families within the Chinese immigrant community that have children and youth with special needs. Phoebe also has experience as an art specialist in early education settings, and had spent five years facilitating community programs at the Children’s Museum of the Arts. Phoebe is passionate about making connections through visual arts. In her free time, Phoebe enjoys photography, arts and crafts, and running.
Joanna Tan Cho
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Music Therapist
Joanna is a board-certified music therapist and a graduate of New York University, where she received her Master of Arts in Music Therapy. Joanna has worked with individuals of varying needs and ability levels across the lifespan through music and creative arts therapy programs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Jewish Board's Harlem Child Development Center, Mary Manning Walsh Home, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. Joanna was involved in the NYC pilot delivery of Caregiver Skills Training for Families of Children with Developmental Disorders or Delays - a curriculum developed by the World Health Organization and Autism Speaks - to Mandarin-speaking caregivers. Prior to moving to New York, Joanna was part of music and arts related outreach initiatives in Taiwan, Australia, Southeast Asia, and volunteered as a harpist in hospice and special education settings in Singapore. In her spare time, Joanna enjoys taking long walks and is slowly but surely expanding her harp repertoire!
Wen Chang-Lit
Creative arts Director
Wen is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and a board-certified music therapist. As director of the Creative Arts Therapy Program at the Center for All Abilities, she oversees program development and provides supervision to the team of creative arts therapists. Wen obtained her Master of Arts in Music Therapy from New York University and received internship training at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy. As a former music therapist at the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Wen has extensive experience working with a variety of client populations throughout the lifespan. She currently owns a private practice in Taiwan. Outside of music therapy, Wen’s favorite thing to do is to sing, play, and have dance parties with her three amazing children and her wonderful husband.
Desmond Kwan
Family & Operations Coordinator | blue hat vocational training coordinator
Desmond received his Mentoring Supervision Certification from Big Brothers & Big Sisters of New York City. Effectively trilingual, Desmond is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, and was among the first in NYC to be involved in the training and delivery of Caregiver Skills Training for Families of Children with Developmental Disorders or Delays - a curriculum developed by the World Health Organization and Autism Speaks. Desmond has been with CAA since its inception in 2015, and besides his role as Family Coordinator, also facilitates the Blue Hat Vocational Training Program, where youth and young adults with special needs acquire lifeskills through baking and culinary arts. Outside of CAA, Desmond assists in operations and logistics at Chinese Evangel Mission Church. In his free time, Desmond enjoys cooking, camping, watching movies, and listening to music.
Kenny Li
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION | IT CONSULTANT
Kenny obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History from Brooklyn College, and a Bachelor of Science in Network Administration, as well as Bachelor of Science in Cloud Computing from Western Governor University. Kenny initially began volunteering with CAA in 2015, and now works closely with its leadership in finance and administrative functions. He is also an IT consultant for the organization. Besides his work at CAA, Kenny is employed at Nomura Securities, and has worked in a variety of fields, including accounting, office administration, sound engineering, and music. He was the lead guitarist in the band, Crystal Tear, that has a professionally-released album and has performed throughout the country. In his spare time, Kenny enjoys traveling the world, embracing the outdoors, and running. Kenny has run over ten marathons and aspires to run in all seven continents of the world.
Jasmine Ebron
COmmunications & Outreach Coordinator | Art therapist
Jasmine received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a Photography concentration and a minor in Philosophy from Georgia State University. Jasmine also recently completed her Master's Degree in Art Therapy at New York University. Prior to her pursuit of art therapy, Jasmine was awarded an AmeriCorps ArtistYear fellowship for two years, a position through which she used art education to support underserved students in local schools. In addition, Jasmine served with Josephine Herrick Project, teaching photography in communities with limited art resources and opportunities in order to provide space for self-expression, empowerment, and to strengthen community relationships. In her spare time, Jasmine loves being with people, cooking, and making connections with those around her.
Roy Cho
DONOR RELATIONS mANAGER (VOLUNTEER)
Roy was first introduced to Center for All Abilities through volunteering in the organization's His Toy Store Re-imagined initiative in 2020. Roy has since taken on a volunteer role as its Donor Relations Manager. Using his professional experience in financial planning and public speaking coaching, Roy focuses his efforts on strengthening donor relationships and developing a sustainable, long-term giving model for CAA. He is a Vice President at Fisher Investments, where he has spent the last 10 years working with British clients in a financial planning and relationship management capacity. In addition, Roy is the founder of Best Impressions, a communications coaching firm that works with both corporations and business professionals across the United States. Prior to managing donor relations at CAA, Roy served as a Members Co-chair for the Hope For New York Young Supporters Community. In his free time, Roy enjoys busking and playing with his nephew. A native of Colorado, Roy is an avid supporter of his beloved Denver Nuggets!
Sami Case
Walk WITH U PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Sami is an outgoing introvert and storyteller. Born and raised in California, she earned her Bachelor’s in Film and Electronic Arts at California State University, Long Beach in 2017. Shortly after graduating, she moved to Malawi, Africa, where she taught 5th grade at an international school and developed a deeper understanding of the wide world and how important it is to interact with and listen to its kids. After Malawi, Sami pursued a lifelong dream and moved to New York City. Currently, Sami is pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in East Harlem, where she hopes to gain the skills and knowledge to one day become a trauma-informed child therapist.
Perla De Jesus
Project A (Sewing vocational Training) Program Assistant
Perla is a rising sophomore at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she is pursuing an Associates Degree in Fashion Design and Bachelors Degree in Fashion Design in Special Occasions. Perla is also Fashion Design Intern at ālivia, social impact womenswear brand that features the art and designs of many of Center for All Abilities’ young artists, and collaborates with CAA to provide sewing vocational training to neurodiverse youth and young adults.
