Psacoya Guinn

Psacoya Guinn is building innovative and accessible education and development pathways for students experiencing homelessness in New York City (NYC). Her venture builds bridges between systems—such as the Department of Homeless Services and the Department of Education—to promote accessible and quality education for all students, regardless of their residence status.

Through her work as a trauma-informed theater teaching artist in NYC shelters, Guinn witnessed children’s lack of access to consistent well-rounded education. Her vision is of a new, model system of educational and social supports that will help mitigate child homelessness and generational trauma. Guinn’s nonprofit will help K-5th grade students experiencing homelessness by combating chronic absenteeism, enhancing learning, and increasing social and emotional development through tutoring services, mentorship, and intergenerational drama therapy workshops. 

Guinn has a background in theater education with a bachelor’s degree from Troy University. When she’s not working on her venture or as the Education Associate at the Tony award-winning New York Theatre Workshop, she works out on her Peloton or is binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy.