Behind the Scenes

Cynthia is a former member of the Board of Directors for Young Artists United’s New York division during the early 90’s. Here she worked closely with other emerging artists bringing creative energy and arts education to New York City’s  Julia Richmond High school students, as well as spearheading mural projects at a Harlem Food co-op. Cynthia worked to facilitate YAU’s programs to feed the Homeless in one of New York’s most dire periods during the “Dinkin’s Years”. She also participated in speaking engagements at high School’s for youth at risk.

Cynthia worked as volunteer support for Northern Lights Alternative, an organization devoted to creating quality of life for people living with HIV and other life threatening diseases, as well as for The Mastery of Acting and The AIDS Mastery under the guidance of Sally Fisher and Dan Fauci.

Her early introduction to the entertainment industry was as a casting intern in New York for what was then named “Myers-Teschner Casting”. After finishing at Oberlin College and then The Neighborhood Playhouse she went on to a position as assistant to Tony award winning Broadway Producer Louis Westergaard (Sophisticated Ladies, Say Goodnight Gracie). She went back and forth from behind the camera, working in several production offices, and continuing to develop her work as an actress. Cynthia was eventually hired on a New Mexico production, an  independent film called Tortilla Heaven. There was an energy beginning to happen in and around film and film making at the time in New Mexico. She choose to stay, indefinitely, in The Land of Enchantment. Cynthia began teaching acting for University of New Mexico, as well as for The Taos Filmmakers Initiative. She was both staff and volunteer support for three years at The Taos Talking Pictures Festival. Cynthia was also instrumental in bringing The VDAY Campaign, and subsequently The Vagina Monologues to Taos in 2002. She produced the launch party for the Campaign, as well as appeared in the cast performing the 2002 tribute piece to the Women of Afghanistan, among other monologues.

Cynthia was a founding Board Member and founding Vice President of New Mexico Women In Film. She worked closely with founding President Janet Davidson, and fellow board members Karen Ochoa, Karen Koch, Jo Edna Boldin, and Sheri Mann among others. During her four years with New Mexico Women In Film Cynthia founded the NMWIF PSA program, producing their first PSA for the local Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center, with Ali MacGraw as spokesperson. The spot ran for two years on local networks. She also created the New Mexico Women In Film Sage Award, which has been awarded to Shirley MacLaine and Ali MacGraw.

Cynthia is married to well known Native American Actor/Musician/Martial Artist Alan Tafoya.
They live in Los Angeles.