ARTS Community Impact 2024
We’re in an exciting moment together as a community that truly believes in the amazing power of creativity! With the help of our incredible supporters, talented teaching artists, and dedicated team, along with our lively community and the incredible youth in our programs, we’ve all seen how creativity can spark meaningful change.
Let’s make a lasting impact together!
ARTS lifts young people in the South County region of San Diego to become confident, compassionate, and courageous community builders through the transformative power of creativity.
Welcome to our new Executive Director
We find ourselves in a unique moment where we, as a community of individuals who believe in the transformative power of creativity, have the opportunity to make a lasting impact. From our talented teaching artists the youth and community partners in our programs, we have all witnessed the incredible power of creativity to foster meaningful change.
This year was a coming together of the past, present, and future of ARTS - and we are honored to do this work, together as a community of artists, creatives, change makers, and so much more. We embrace the opportunity to learn and grow with our youth and one another, to truly elevate our collective impact.
“When we stand alongside our young people and our South Bay community, we can work together to write the story we want to see for our future.”
Lucy Eagleson
ARTS Executive Director
2024
Full STEAM Ahead / STEAM Adelante
Juvenile Court and Community Schools
Mental Health of America
Mesa College, Museum Studies Program
Mueller Charter School
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
National City Public Library
National Conflict Resolution Center, Juvenile Diversion Initiative
National School District
3C Data Alliance
Art of Elan
Bayfront Charter High School
Casa Familiar
Chula Vista Elementary School District (LEAD)
City of National City
County of San Diego/ Health & Human Services Agency
David’s Harp Foundation
Dreams + Ducats
Far South Border North
Fleet Science Center
Ocean Connectors
Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center
Our Safe Place
REACH - YMCA
San Diego County
San Diego Unified School District
San Ysidro Health Center - Teen Clinic
San Ysidro School District
SBCS (South Bay Community Services)
SD Creative Youth Development Network
SDSU, School of Public Health
Southwestern Community College
Sweetwater Union High School District
Taco Bell Foundation / Live Más
The ARC Experience
The Front Gallery
UCSD, College Corps
USC School of Social Work
“This year is a special one for us because it gives us the opportunity to design our programs more intentionally. We can now look at many different learning models and pedagogical frameworks and take what makes sense for us. We have the capacity to read, explore, learn, and try what has worked well for others and do it the ARTS way!”
Olimpia Vázquez Ojeda
ARTS Programs Manager
Our Team
Behind the scenes
Daniel Alvarado
Facilities Coordinator
Katie Carrion
Program Coordinator,
ARTS on Campus
Jose Contreras Jr.
Operations Manager
Lucy Eagleson
Executive Director
Connie Garcia
Communications &
Design Manager
Shanika Lazo
Social Media &
Marketing Specialist
Jose Lopez
Advancement Coordinator
Terry Matsuoka
Program Coordinator,
ARTS 4 Justice/ARTS @ Work
Olimpia Vázquez Ojeda
Programs Manager
Stephanie Rivas
Volunteer & Intern Coordinator
Anna Mia Ruiz
Program Coordinator,
Community ARTS
Guillermo Santiago
Facilities Specialist
Daniela Sebastian
Program Specialist
Ada Shido
People & Culture Coordinator
Board of Directors
Tom Reise
Chair
California Institute of Contemporary Arts
Sam Mazzeo
Vice Chair
Managing Attorney, Better APC
Michael James Rocha
Secretary
Creative Director for Digital, San Diego Union-Tribune
Patrick Stewart
Treasurer
CEO, San Diego Public Library
Amalia Hernandez
Lecturer, School of Social Work
San Diego State University
Lauren Lockhart
Executive Director,
La Jolla Historical Society
Stephen Minix
Senior Director of Community Strategy, UpMetrics
Alyssa Mopia
Producer, Co-Founder, Future’s Past
Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski
Founder and CEO, Sew Loka
Teaching Artists
Lerida Armendariz, Jei Collier, Nicole Deline, Pablo Dodero, Sheena Rae Dowling, Maria Eguiarte, Leah Eria, Hamsa Fae, Ulises Galicia, Jess Garcia, Alejandra Garcia, Christian Garcia-Olivo, Courtney Heald, Zac Keane, Kelsey Kenny, Zade Landegger, Aleya Lanteigne, Gizelle Lopez, Jerry Scott Lopez, Angel MacLean, Adriana Quezada, Iris Rain, Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski, Abraham Romero, Larissa Guereca Ruiz, Barbara Salazar, Rob Tobin, Ell Treese, Christopher Tucker, Lian Verdeflor
Program Assistants
Laura Acosta, Odette Ariza, Isabella Cervantes, Aurora Cruz, Sarai Elguezabal, Emmalei LaFond Felix, Sora Gallagher, Wendy Gracia, Alisha Hensle,Ever Herder, Ever Herder, Vanessa Hernandez, Kimmie Kopp, Amalia Luque, Christopher Monroe, Jannica Pascua, Imani Robinson, Mary Rodriguez, Paris Romo, Bryttney Salvant, Sean Sarmiento, Jeremiah Tatola, Sonya Valle, Adrianna Xibille,
Interns
Aidan Averett, Breanna Baker, Alexandra Blumen, Kate Burgonio, Jazmin Cadena, Amanda Castro, Isabella Cervantes, Julia Cordova, Haley Cromar, Eliot Draca, Meghan Edwards, Amayah Gil, Avery Greenwood, Gutierrez , Janet Hernandez, Carlo Jacobo, Vesna Kerxhaliu, Alan Lojas, Magallon, Yaremi Martinez, Marina McClane, Emily McHale, Liliana Miller, Rodrigo Mora, Carina Negrete, Riziki Omonde, Aileen Puga, Khristine Samson, Ava Smith, Anjeela Thakuri, Ronza Toma, Megan Williams, Kelsey Wismar
As an organization, we’ve been lucky to have the chance to improve the frameworks and standards that shape our programs. We’ve looked into different teaching methods and models, learning from the successes of others and tailoring them to fit our own unique style. By welcoming a variety of frameworks as the foundation of all our programs, we aim to create a truly special and transformative experience for everyone involved!
Youth speak for themselves and know their voices are valuable.
Creating an even playing field where young people’s needs are understood, their stories are heard, and they are treated as equals.
It takes a community to create change, to generate new ideas, and to shake the system.
Program Coordinator:
Anna Mia Ruiz
Teaching Artists:
Pablo Dodero, Sheena Rae Dowling, Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski, Christopher Tucker
Program Assistants
Ever Herder, Adrianna Xibille
Interns:
Breanna Baker, Jazmin Cadena, Julia Cordova, Eliot Draca, Meghan Edwards, Janet Hernandez, Carlo Jacobo, Vesna Kerxhaliu, Yaremi Martinez, Marina McClane, Riziki Omonde, Khristine Samson, Anjeela Thakuri, Ronza Toma, Megan Williams, Kelsey Wismar
A place-based series of creative art and design projects as part of our after-school program aimed at young people aged 13 to 18 throughout southern San Diego County. Our goal is to create a safe space where youth in our community can explore their personal identities, develop their creative and critical thinking skills, cultivate positive mental health and wellbeing, and envision the community they want to live in.
Participants in Community ARTS work collaboratively with local artists and creatives in workshop-style activities, encouraging youth to explore and express their identities through art while guiding them through various stages of the artistic process, including creative thinking, concept design, execution, presentation, and critical analysis across various artistic mediums such as sewing, visual art, music, and media arts. This program aligns with the National Core Arts Standards, Creative Youth Development (CYD) principles, and Healing-Centered Engagement.
Program Highlight
Stitching Generations / Tejiendo Generaciones
We partnered with the National City Community Services Department to undertake an intergenerational art project between the young people in Community ARTS and the FABs (Fifty and Better) of the Kimball Senior Center.
Through Stitching Generations or Tejiendo Generaciones, experienced yarn artists from the National City Senior Center taught young people in our program the basics of crocheting and yarn art. It was a fantastic opportunity to gather community members of all ages in collaborative art-making!
Additionally, we hosted an open community workshop where both FABs and Community ARTS youth shared their yarn knowledge with participants and covered the trees in front of the ARTS Center with crochet art. This much-needed colorful activation has beautified our whole building!
Program Coordinator:
Katie Carrion
Program Specialist:
Daniela Sebastian
Teaching Artists:
Lerida Armendariz, Jei Collier, Sheena Rae Dowling, Maria Eguiarte, Leah Eria, Hamsa Fae, Ulises Galicia, Jess Garcia, Alejandra Garcia, Christian Garcia-Olivo, Larissa Guereca Ruiz, Courtney Heald, Kelsey Kenny, Zade Landegger, Aleya Lanteigne, Gizelle Lopez, Angel MacLean, Adriana Quezada, Iris Rain, Abraham Romero, Barbara Salazar, Jerry Scott Lopez, Ell Treese, Lian Verdeflor
Program Assistants:
Laura Acosta, Odette Ariza, Aurora Cruz, Isabella Cervantes, Sarai Elguezabal, Sora Gallagher, Wendy Gracia, Alisha Hensle, Ever Herder, Vanessa Hernandez, Emmalei LaFond Felix, Kimmie Kopp, Amalia Luque, Christopher Monroe, Jannica Pascua, Imani Robinson, Mary Rodriguez, Paris Romo, Bryttney Salvant, Sean Sarmiento, Jeremiah Tatola, Sonya Valle, Adrianna Xibille
Interns:
Kate Burgonio, Isabella Cervantes, Amayah Gil, Rodrigo Mora, Ava Smith
“ARTS On Campus” offers visual and media arts education to schools and extended learning environments through creative projects. This program can be integrated into the school day as an enrichment experience, using an arts integration approach to enhance learning in core subjects or included as after-school programming.
This program provides dynamic, responsive, and hands-on opportunities for skill-based learning, as well as cultivating communication, creativity, and collaboration through individual and collective art-making. This program is aligned with the California State Standards for Expanded Learning, the Creative Youth Development framework, CASEL, as well as California Visual and Performing Arts standards in Visual Arts (VAPA), and National Core Arts Standards in Visual Arts.
Program Highlight
CVESD Junior Academy Camps
Over the last few school breaks, the ARTS Center has been full of life and activities led by our ARTS on Campus team!
Our group of 16+ team members created a customized mixed media curriculum that focused on multiple themes, such as the connections between art projects and the five human senses, art leaders around the world, and the history of the Olympics.
Students, grades 1st through 6th, participated on a Yayoi Kusama-inspired art installation, painting a collaborative LEAD mural, and wore the Olympics-based laurel wreaths they created.
Program Coordinator:
Terry Matsuoka
Teaching Artists:
Nicole Deline, Pablo Dodero, Sheena Rae Dowling, Zac Keane, Kelsey Kenny,
Guest Teaching Artists:
Dreams + Ducats, Tim Pyles, Mark Rea
Interns:
Emily McHale, Liliana Miller, Anjeela Thakuri, Kelsey Wismar
Innovative internship and paid apprenticeship programs designed to cultivate hands-on professional experience for young people interested in careers in the creative and technical industries. ARTS @ Work can take place both during in-school and as out-of-school time, and across multiple partnerships and locations such as our own Makers Workshop, as well as local businesses, photoshoot locations, marketing agencies, and much more. As part of a vibrant hub of industrial businesses and initiatives, ARTS @ Work aligns California Career and Technical Education curriculum models (CTE), Culturally-Relevant Maker Education approaches, as well as Career Development and Work-Based Learning standards to support young people by equipping them with the skills and real-world experiences needed to thrive and contribute to creative industries in our region.
Program Highlight
Parco Tables
Students participated in a paid internship opportunity, where they collaborated with professional fabricators from Artist + Exile and teaching artist Sheena Rae Dowling- to design and paint tables for the Parco National City Apartment building, to activate the space with dining tables adjacent to local eateries.
Program Coordinator:
Terry Matsuoka
Teaching Artists:
Lerida Armendariz, Pablo Dodero, Sheena Rae Dowling, Kelsey Kenny, Rob Tobin
Interns:
Aidan Averett, Amanda Castro, Alexandra Blumen, Julia Cordova, Kelsey Wismar, Haley Cromar, Meghan Edwards, Avery Greenwood, Alonso, Gutierrez , Alan Lojas, Magallon, Emily McHale, Carina Negrete, Aileen Puga
Through hands-on legacy projects, skill-building workshops, educational field trips, after-school opportunities, and diversion partnerships led by experienced teaching artists, ARTS 4 Justice fosters a creative community for system-impacted youth and opportunity youth, who are directly affected by systems such as child welfare and foster care, juvenile justice, or immigration. Inspired by healing-centered engagement, strengths-based approaches, and restorative practices, ARTS 4 Justice invites young people to choose creative outlets through art-making, connect with peers and mentors, and engage in meaningful opportunities in their community.
Program Highlight
Juvenile Diversion Initiative
The goal of the Juvenile Diversion Initiative (JDI) is to reduce the number of youth who enter the juvenile justice system and engage the community in the rehabilitation of young people while at the same time fostering accountability.
Through interactive, hands-on art workshops at the ARTS Center, youth get a chance to be imaginative and experiment with new artistic techniques and materials, work with professional teaching artists and peers their age, and experience the transformative power of creativity.
