FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rocío Salceda is a Madrid-born artist, designer, and educator based in East Harlem. She is the founder and driving force behind Repair Café El Barrio, the first Repair Café in New York City, a living platform where art, community, and sustainability meet.

A recipient of the NYC Connect Grant, Rocío leads RCEB’s expansion with the spirit of an artist and the focus of a producer, turning community repair into a form of cultural innovation. She envisions and produces each event as a creative work in itself, where collaboration, artistry, and social repair intersect.

Her work builds bridges across disciplines and neighborhoods, uniting artists, makers, and residents to reimagine what creativity can look like in public life. Through her leadership, Repair Café El Barrio is emerging as a model for community-driven culture and sustainable design in New York City.

IG: @RocioRSalceda

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING Artist Liaison for community and creative partnerships

Ari Tabei is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans visual art, performance, and community-based projects. At Repair Café El Barrio, she serves as the creative link between the café and its extended network of artists and collaborators, fostering communication and collaboration with warmth and clarity. Beyond her role as liaison, Ari actively participates in repairs, bringing her sewing expertise and inventive problem-solving to every session. She also documents the café’s vibrant atmosphere through dynamic photographs that capture the energy and collective spirit of the community. Her presence blends artistry, skill, and generosity, helping shape the educational and creative direction of Repair Café El Barrio.

IG: @runawayaricoco

https://www.aricoco.com/

REPAIR COACH appliances , electronics & creative solutions

Puerto Rico in da house! Miguel was the very first volunteer to join Repair Café El Barrio and has been with us ever since - three years strong. With his iconic salt-and-pepper beard, Miguel has become the recognizable face of RCEB. A multidisciplinary artist, musician, and master of plants, he brings boundless creativity and genius-level problem-solving to every repair. From appliances and electronics to the unexpected, Miguel always finds solutions that are as inventive as they are effective, all while sharing good vibes and community spirit.

IG: @marr_art

HOST & REPAIR COACH appliances

Howie enjoys working on simple machines like lamps, fans, and vacuums, with a special talent for bringing them back to life. He first discovered repair during the pandemic, salvaging appliances from the trash, fixing them, and giving them away. Alongside his repair skills, Howie has become our superstar host—keeping things smooth and making guests and volunteers feel right at home. Based in Queens, he also serves on the board of the Center for Urban Pedagogy. From time to time, his partner Leah joins as a co-host, making the welcoming team truly the best in-da-world!

IG: @hlevine7

https://welcometocup.org/

PHOTOGRAPHY, TECH SUPPORT & REPAIR COACH computers, cameras & electronics

A photographer from Guadalajara, Mexico, now based in NYC, Cuau is our computer and camera expert, often assisting with phones and other electronics as well. Visitors seek him out, return for his guidance, and consistently send glowing praise after every repair. Smart, stylish, and patient, he generously shares his knowledge and is dedicated to solving even the trickiest issues, making technology more approachable for everyone. His perspective continues to shape how technology and creativity meet at Repair Café El Barrio, a bridge between innovation and empathy. Cuau also helps us with our website, and we truly couldn’t do it without him.

IG: @cuautti

https://cuau.work/

REPAIR COACH sewing & knit mending

Brooklyn-based artist and instructor from Germany, Dorke has a gift for bringing knits back to life with skill and creativity. She makes every repair a lesson, inspiring confidence and joy in the process. As one of the founders of Repair Café Brooklyn, she shares her passion for mending with warmth, patience, and contagious enthusiasm.

IG: @endangeredspaces

https://www.repaircafe.nyc/

PHOTOGRAPHY & REPAIR COACH ceramics & sashiko

Hiccup Sibold is a mixed-media artist whose work spans fashion photography, ceramics, and editorial projects. At Repair Café El Barrio, he has done amazing work with ceramics, including his signature Kintsugi repairs, and bakes fabulous matcha cookies that keep everyone energized. He brings along Elliot, whose style and cool energy add extra swagg to the team. As a consultant, Hiccup talks with guests, sharing his creativity and insight with warmth and effortless cool, inspiring everyone who crosses his path.

IG: @hiccupsibold @puck.magazine

REPAIR COACH appliances, electronics & carpentry

Ken is an extraordinary talent whose expertise spans all things electrical, from lamps and fans to a wide range of devices and appliances. Originally from Malaysia, he trained in vocational electronics and has been fixing everything from small projects for friends to more complex tasks at Repair Café El Barrio. Known for his obsessive focus on finishing every repair and his big, generous heart, Ken brings both skill and kindness to the table. He works in tandem with his wife, Ari Tabei “Aricoco”, a visual artist who serves as his interpreter during sessions, making their collaboration as inspiring as it is effective. Together, they form a team that embodies the spirit of repair: patient, creative, and community-driven.

IG: @kenmah2000

REPAIR COACH mechanical repair wizard

Leeis a retired software engineer with a knack for fixing almost anything mechanical. Inspired by his father, who taught him and his brother that with the right tools and a little curiosity, almost anything can be taken apart and repaired, Leland brings both skill and patience to every repair. He’s excited to share his knowledge and help the community at Repair Café El Barrio. Plus he is adorable. We love him!

REPAIR COACH  design engineering & furniture fixes

With a background in design engineering, Mary is the go-to for big, complicated repairs: furniture, moving parts, and everything in between. In the group, she’s the kind of person who keeps everything running smoothly and is also a master at the BBQ grill. As one of the founders of Repair Café Brooklyn, she brings not just expertise but joy and warmth, making working alongside her an absolute pleasure.

IG: @marynmo

https://www.repaircafe.nyc/

REPAIR COACH sewing, patching & visible darning

Kira, an NYU Steinhardt Costume Studies grad, has a magic touch for sewing and patching - and for guiding guests through every step of the process with competence, patience and care. As the first repairer to join us from outside our immediate circle, she raised the bar at Repair Café El Barrio, bringing both skill and a powerful activist voice. Kira reminds us that repair is not just practical, but political: a way to practice sustainability, empowerment, and youth power in action. Kira is a natural leader.

IG: @BrooklynBabeCrafts

REPAIR COACH sewing & serger magic

Julianna is our serger superstar - calm, friendly, and always ready to take on the toughest sewing challenges. From tricky hems to the most complicated fixes, she handles it all with skill and ease, yet stays wonderfully modest about her talent. Sweet, welcoming, and generous with her advice, Julianna makes every visitor feel at home while guiding them toward repairs they thought were impossible.

SPIRIT GUIDE & REPAIR COACH sewing & patching

Susan is the heartbeat of our sewing section. She’s a self-starter who brings in unusual projects and inspires everyone around her. Charismatic and endlessly welcoming, she always has friends by her side and stories that light up the room. A natural coordinator and fabulous host, Susan is truly a pillar of Repair Café El Barrio. To us, she’s not just a volunteer, she’s a legend, a spirit guide, and the kind of person who makes the café feel like home.