People

We feature underrepresented storytellers from bilingual, multi-generational immigrant, and BIPOC communities.

Team

Melissa Beatriz

Founder / Director (she/her/ella)

Melissa is a documentary filmmaker, journalist, cultural producer, and researcher dedicated to exploring the intersection of social justice, media arts, culture, and policy. Melissa is a 2022 Al Día 40 Under 40 honoree, 2019 Leeway Transformation Awardee, and a 2020 Fellow of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) Leadership Institute.

info@activatestories.org

Erika Ramirez-Lorenzo

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Erika is a Philadelphia native and Temple University graduate. She is a versatile storyteller, excelling in photography, video, and writing. Aspiring to become a screenwriter and director, she is committed to mastering her craft by engaging in every aspect of production and learning from diverse departments and perspectives.

Collaborators & Partners

  • Lila Yomtoob

    Co-Producer, Cultural Justice Project

    Lila Yomtoob has worked in both above and below line in the media space on over 50 productions with budgets up to $65M. This includes films directed by Spike Lee, Mary Herron, The Cohen Brother and John Cameron Mitchell and for the likes of Netflix, Amazon, HBO, IFC and 20th Century Fox. Lila is passionate about social issues, bringing people together, and creating.

  • Two people playing instruments in front of a colorful wall.

    TIMBALONA

    Co-Director/Producer - Philadelphia Rumba

    TIMBALONA Collective is a percussion ensemble in its core, with a focus on folklore and popular music from the Caribbean and Latin America. The focus of the TIMBALONA Collective is to bring spectators a musical experience of rhythm sections, storytelling, and dance.

  • A woman smiles and a brick wall is behind her.

    Shannon Sun-Higginson

    Producer, La Lucha Sigue

    Shannon Sun-Higginson is a documentary producer and director whose work has premiered at Sundance and SXSW, and aired on PBS, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, CNN, and HBO. She is a two time Sundance Producing Fellow and is currently story producing for ABC and Hulu.

  • Shoes Off Media Logo. A circle has three pairs of shoes on it.

    Shoes Off Media

    Production Company, La Lucha Sigue

    Shoes Off Media is led by three Asian women who aim to support and co-conspire with communities of color to uplift their stories with intention and authenticity.

  • SIFTMedia 215

    Executive Producer, We, the Artists

    SIFTMedia 215 is a collective of independent media artists in the Philadelphia metropolitan area dedicated to championing socially conscious women-identified filmmakers, especially from Black and Latinx communities

  • Acheré Percussion

    Music Consultant

    Acheré Percussion is a small artisan handmade drum and repair shop, led by Latino artists.