Our Staff

Sarah Beckman is an accomplished and collaborative nonprofit leader with a proven track record of sustaining and growing high-profile organizations. She is known for her agile approach, data-driven decision-making skills, and visionary thinking. Before joining Outside The Lens, Sarah was Vice President of Advancement for Forever Balboa Park. She previously worked for UC-San Diego, The New Children’s Museum and the San Diego Museum of Art. Sarah earned her JBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied journalism, advertising, and gender studies—providing a strong foundation for working at the intersection of critical social issues, informed communication, and creative expression.

Tyler was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. She received her BA in Sociology from University of California at Davis, and her MEd and teaching credential from DePaul University. She taught in Chicago, IL for five years and in Seattle, WA for one year before moving to San Diego. Through her years of teaching she led social and emotional learning as well as restorative justice curriculum and practices. Tyler believes diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to digital media in education allows for both lifelong learning and social change. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, baking, and being outdoors.

Tim is an experienced operations & administrative professional with over 20 years serving San Diego-based nonprofits and schools. From classroom teacher to operations manager, Tim has helped non-profits and schools grow by overseeing program development, finance, grants, HR, strategic planning, and community engagement. In his free time, Tim loves spending time with his family and dreaming about spreadsheets.

Brooke is a dedicated learner and educator with a passion for social-emotional learning and project-based learning that bridges the gap between the classroom and the real world, exploring issues important and relevant to youth. She earned her B.A., multi-subject teaching credential and M.A. in Teaching and Learning from UC San Diego and taught elementary school for 16 years. Brooke is an advocate for youth and teachers alike, promoting storytelling, youth voice, and teacher development. In her free time, Brooke enjoys being with her family, exploring outdoors, cooking, and gardening.

Kevin was born and raised in New York City. He has a B.A. in Sociology from Syracuse University, and a B.A. in Photography from Brooks Institute of Photography. He began his journey with Outside The Lens as a Media Educator, teaching photography and storytelling in various programs throughout San Diego. Over the past few years he has helped build the Media Makers program, bringing Media Arts to individuals with disabilities. On weekends when he’s not at the golf course, he is at the farmer’s market, watching Disney movies with his daughter or playing board games with his family.

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Jana graduated with her M.A. and B.A. in photography from the Manchester School of Art in the North of England. She has extensive experience as a freelance photographer and as a teaching artist for young people and is hugely passionate about both. When not taking photos you can find her dreaming about the ocean or watching sci-fi movies with her husband.

Jeff Valenzuela Garcia is a bi-national photographer, educator, and community organizer. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, he has spent the last several years living and working along the Tijuana-San Diego border. His photography focuses primarily on documenting his immigrant rights movement work in San Diego and with migrant communities in Tijuana. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys drinking coffee, listening to records, and playing guitar.

Juan was raised in both Rosarito, B.C. and San Diego, blending the best of both worlds—an appreciation for the sun, surf, tacos, and the unique cultural contrasts between the U.S. and Mexico. This vibrant, cross-border experience sparked his passion for photography, a medium through which he could capture and preserve moments in time. His journey into photography eventually evolved into a business, allowing him to merge his artistic vision with his love for storytelling. Through his work with Outside The Lens, Juan has discovered not only a deeper connection to his craft but also to the power of education and community. The organization has been instrumental in his growth, both as an artist and as an individual.

Christian Arreguin is a self taught Chican@ multi media artist born and raised in San Diego and is a descendant of the Purepecha people of Michoacan. The focus of his work is centered around the Chican@ experience and identity with a focus on indigeneity. Christian has centered his work around organizing youth within the Chican@ community while keeping the educational and spiritual components at the forefront. His artwork has been highlighted in various group and solo art shows, as well as in murals and community flyers. Christian hopes to consistently create safe and open spaces for community to blend the artistic, historical, ancestral, and spiritual into one cohesive space.

Natalie received her B.S. in Television, Film and New Media from San Diego State University. Prior to coming to Outside The Lens, she worked in schools throughout San Diego County. Natalie is thrilled to be combining her studies in media with her love of working with youth. In her spare time, she enjoys collecting records, playing guitar, catching screenings of midnight movies, and attending fan conventions.

Marcie Frausto is a Chicana graphic & illustrative designer from San Diego, CA. She has achieved formal education in graphic design at San Diego City College along with having a studio arts background where she’s been working with directors over the last 3 years. Marcie maintains a multidisciplinary approach in typography, branding and creative illustration. She is able to introduce progressive media concepts in her teaching, with an emphasis on design. By identifying and working directly in marginalized communities for over 5 years, her work has been largely influenced by the LGBTQIA+ and Chicano community of San Diego, highlighting the beauty of our communities.

Fedella Lizeth is a Nicaraguan and Italian analog photographer born and raised in San Diego, California. Her perspectives within her photographic work showcase her fascination with the true authenticity of everyday life, community, and multicultural perspectives and influences in what is one of the country’s most significant cities neighboring the U.S./Mex. border. She has been published in works such as the contemporary archival book, La Tierra Mia, as well as have been interviewed for ABC10, “Latin In America” and for the San Diego Union Tribune, “A New View of Home: Fedella Lizeth rediscovers her love for her native San Diego” . Her passions have created a deep sense of pride and adoration for her community. With a camera in hand, she aims to document aspects of local culture typically in marginalized communities that often go unrecognized in mainstream media.

Gizelle Lopez is a multifaceted artist and educator passionate about storytelling through photography and film. With a background in TV and film production, art education, and design, she understands the power of creativity in the shaping of our identities. She believes in making artistic exploration accessible to the youth in our communities, showing them that storytelling isn’t limited to the traditional paths, but that it’s an evolving language they are able to use to share their lived experiences, culture, and dreams. Through her work, she hopes to inspire the next generation to embrace creativity as a tool for expression, empowerment, and change.

JC is a multi-media artist born and raised in Barrio Logan and Logan Heights. JC dedicates their time and passion for social justice matters and involves themselves in Xicanx activist spaces. JC focuses their personal and professional career on Special Education healthcare and social-emotional teaching. JC has worked and taught in multiple schools in San Diego County with specialization in SpEd and behavioral intervention and therapy. They are an activist and advocate for peers and students alike. They believe that change starts in the classroom and the work done at OTL can create long-lasting positive experiences in our students. On their days off JC loves taking long walks with their dog Tenoch and creating art while exploring new music.

Eiram is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist, passionate about arts integration and Social Justice. Growing up in Tijuana, the border has inspired them to challenge their own culture. They strive to inspire others to speak out against discrimination and discover themselves through artistic expression.

Sydney was born and raised in La Habra, CA. She attended UC Santa Cruz where she received her B.A. in Art & Design: Games and Playable Media. With extensive experience in digital media education, Sydney is thrilled to bring her passion for nurturing others’ artistic endeavors to Outside The Lens. In her downtime, she enjoys exploring podcasts and tackling puzzles, embracing a spirit of continuous growth and creativity.

As a content creator and educator, Brandon Johnson has a passion for telling stories that matter. He holds a Master of Art in Media Design and Instructional Design from Full Sail University, where he learned how to design and deliver media-rich learning experiences. He joined Outside The Lens after teaching media communication courses at Chicago City Colleges, and Chicago Public Schools, where he empowered students to express themselves through media. He has also been a Content Creator and Producer at Creative Architech, where he worked on projects with clients such as OWN Network, Free Spirit Media, and Pulitzer Crisis Center. He enjoys blogging about food and tech, reading books, and Tik Toking with his daughters.

Eduardo has been freelancing since his high school days, focusing as a graphic designer. His love for the digital arts has introduced him to photography, photo editing, apparel production, web design, social media content creation, and marketing. Thanks to Media Makers, Eduardo has found his passion for educating others about the media arts. He is constantly finding new projects to engage with students, including pixel art, AI art generators & more.

Born and raised in Chula Vista, JR graduated from the SF State Film and started his freelance career in videography after moving back to San Diego. His video projects highlight San Diego’s hidden rock and jazz culture with music videos and live sessions. From teaching Tae Kwon Do to narrative filmmaking and photography, he brings a strong passion for all things art and media into the classroom. His high energy lifestyle and experience in education gives him the perfect balance to share his spirit for art with students and give them the tools they need to succeed. He is always exploring new ways to tell stories or document art and he does this by watching movies, playing music with friends, and traveling.

Melanee is dedicated to supporting individuals with diverse needs. She was born and raised in San Diego and holds a degree in Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene University. Her background includes experience in ABA therapy and working in Special Education classrooms which helped her discover her passion for making a positive impact on those around her and creating an inclusive and nurturing environment for those she serves. Outside of work, Melanee enjoys attending San Diego Wave soccer games, listening to true crime podcasts, and going to concerts.

Born and raised in Chicagoland, Melanie received her B.A. in Studio Arts with a focus in Photography from Illinois State University in 2013. Since her first job as a summer camp art instructor, Melanie discovered she had a passion for working creatively with youth in underserved communities. She continued her work in the non-profit sector serving as an Americorps LISC member at Outside The Lens in 2019. She has also spent time serving homeless and runaway youth while co-running an arts empowerment program that allowed them to freely express themselves through the arts, in an effort to destigmatize mental health. When Melanie isn’t out exploring with her camera, you can catch her enjoying nature via camping or hiking, chasing sunset views, attending concerts and daydreaming of the next place to travel and discover.

Iris has a BFA in Animated Arts with a minor in Art + Ecology from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon. They love working as an art educator to help others develop more confidence in their personal art practice and pursue their dreams. Iris is always drawing or crafting and enjoys nature journaling outside.

Elijah previously served as a guest Teaching Artist as part of the vis(Ability) program in 2023. His four-week series on 3D Animation using Blender was a huge hit with the Media Makers students, leaving them eager for more. In 2024, Elijah joined the Media Makers team as an intern and is teaching 3D Animation and learning about Filmmaking. Elijah is a graduate of California State University, Chico with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Animation and Game Development. In his free time, he enjoys making and playing board games.

Jessica Ballenger has worked with nonprofit organizations for more than two decades, accelerating outreach and engagement to serve children and families in her community. She previously worked for the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation and California CASA Association and serves on the Board of Directors at La Mesa’s MP Dance. As a communications and development professional, she works to strengthen strategic growth and build a sense of community with diverse audiences through collaboration, sensitivity, and trust. Jessica studied Germanic Languages at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, and holds a B.A. degree in Visual Art from the University of California, San Diego and an MBA from the University of Kansas School of Business.

Ella grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and earned a BS in Event Planning and Experience Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Before joining Outside The Lens, she held roles in business operations, event coordination, and office administration. Ella is excited to apply her expertise in event management and operations to create mission-driven events and strengthen relationships between donors and OTL. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring local coffee shops, reading, and relaxing at the beach.

Luisa Martínez (she/they) is a cultural organizer, artist, and transborder educator rooted in the Tijuana///San Diego region. Her work challenges borders as more than physical lines—understanding them as emotional, political, and historical forces. She uses radical imagination, storytelling, and collective making to explore belonging, resistance, and solidarity. Luisa holds an M.A. in Arts Politics from NYU and a B.A. in Sociology and Latin American Studies from UC Berkeley. She co-founded Tijuana Zine Fest and has built numerous community-rooted art spaces along the border. From 2019–2023, she collaborated with Otros Dreams en Acción, first as Artivist-in-Residence and later as Program Director for Florecer Aquí y Allá, mentoring migrant artists and facilitating narrative change. She is a founding board member of Dignity Across Borders, a 2021 California Arts Council Fellow, and co-facilitated the 2023 Transnational Border Lab with faculty at The New School. Luisa continues to cultivate creative spaces for connection, memory, and liberation.