About Matanah

Cultural innovation founded by Deaf leaders rooted in Jewish life.

Matanah is a studio for creative direction, access strategy and cultural storytelling, built by founders who have spent their careers shaping community life through visual intelligence and emotionally grounded design.

The founders

Meet Shelly and Sofia.

Creative Director · Co-Founder

Shelly Guy

Shelly leads Matanah's creative vision, educational strategy and cultural authenticity. Her work shapes how stories are carried through performance, sign language, character development and visual direction - helping each experience feel truthful, expressive and deeply rooted.

She works closely with actors and collaborators to refine performance, ASL delivery and character voice, so the cultural story on stage or screen reflects the community it comes from.

Her practice spans theatre, film, experiential design and ASL artistic direction, drawing on years of building visual-first cultural work alongside Deaf and Jewish communities.

Strategy & Partnerships · Co-Founder

Sofia Seitchik

Deaf entrepreneur, storyteller and community builder. Sofia is the founder of Global Deaf Women, a long-standing platform empowering Deaf women through retreats, conferences and creative programs reaching communities worldwide.

Her work as an author, organizer and coach has made her one of the most visible cultural connectors in the Jewish Deaf and global Deaf community - a builder of rooms where people are seen and heard.

At Matanah, Sofia leads strategy, partnerships and community momentum - the relationships and frameworks that turn intention into long-term impact.

The mark

A symbol of stories in motion.

The Matanah logo is built around a bold modern “M”, balanced by a small origami bird - a symbol of stories in motion, ideas unfolding and culture being carried forward.

Its palette combines warmth, clarity and craft: coral for community, teal for trust, and gold for care and cultural value.

The result is a mark that feels both grounded and alive, reflecting Matanah’s work at the intersection of access, storytelling and Jewish cultural life.