Embracing Sanctuary and Belonging: Highlights from Our Fall 2025 Planning Retreat
Last week, the ARTS Team came together for an inspiring launch session and retreat focused on our Fall 2025 theme: "Sanctuary and Belonging." This significant concept isn’t just a theme for us; it’s an integral part woven into all aspects of our organization and a guiding principle for how we create impact together. As we enter the season, we recognize the importance of designing spaces and environments where every individual feels safe, valued, and connected.
We began our retreat with a reflective exercise designed to explore what sanctuary and belonging mean to us personally. This activity not only deepened our own understanding of the theme, but also equipped us with insights on how to engage young people in meaningful discussions about these concepts throughout the upcoming fall session.
The day was a blend of both reflection and forward-thinking ideation. We took the time to assess our current standing as an organization, celebrated the journey that brought us here, and envisioned where we aim to go amidst the complexities of today’s world.
We found it motivating to share our successes from the Spring session, particularly uplifting our goals, through presentations by key team members who were instrumental in achieving these outcomes. The presenters included Katie Carrion, Stephanie Rivas, Monica Banuelos, Anna Mia Ruiz, and Adriana Quezada. Their contributions showcased the diverse range of voices and perspectives that support our initiatives to continue to meet the needs of the community.
To fuel our creativity and collaboration, we enjoyed a delicious lunch from The Neighborhood Cafe & Catering, a social enterprise supported by UPAC San Diego and whose mission is to “Equip local youth with skills for today—and greater success tomorrow.” Their commitment to social impact aligns beautifully with our values, and we wholeheartedly recommend their catering services!
After lunch, our Programs and Operations teams took part in strategic breakout sessions. These sessions allowed us to dive deeper into departmental planning and strengthen our collaboration as we get ready for the upcoming season. Additionally, it gave the Advancement team a chance to connect more closely with other teams, continuing to explore innovative ways to tell ARTS’ impact stories.
The retreat concluded with a collective creative reflection on our theme of Sanctuary and Belonging, led by the talented Andrea Moreno, ARTS on Campus Program Assistant. Together, we created a beautiful community banner using fabric collage and embroidery, symbolizing our commitment to cultivating a sacred space for all.
Join us for our October Lunch and Learn, where Andrea will lead this same engaging activity. You'll also have the opportunity to contribute to our Sacred Spaces community banner, which will be displayed at our Youth Arts Festival in December!
As we embark on this journey through Fall 2025, we are filled with hope and determination to bring the essence of sanctuary and belonging to the forefront of our work. Our team's commitment to this theme is inspiring and motivates us to continue building a nurturing environment for our youth and families. We look forward to sharing this experience with our community and continuing to develop a nurturing environment for our youth. Stay tuned for more updates as we dive into this meaningful theme and explore it through creative projects throughout the season!
ARTS Fall 2025 Team!
Programs
Admin Team
Anna Mia Ruiz, Program Coordinator
Community ARTS
Katie Carrion, Program Coordinator
Arts on Campus
Daniela Sebastian, Program Specialist
Olimpia Vázquez Ojeda, Programs Manager
Programs Assistants
Jess Garcia
Alisha Hensle
Ever Herder
Marina McClane
Ray Navarrete
Jannica Pascua
Barbara Salazar
Andrea Moreno
Sierra Roberson
Teaching Artists
Lerida Armendariz Vega
Isabella Cervantes
Teresa Diaz de Cossio
Sheena Rae Dowling
Leah Eria
Ulises Galicia
Kelsey Kenny
Zadé Helena Landegger
Lillian Miller
Adriana Quezada
Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski
Jerry Scott Lopez
Rob Tobin
Christopher Tucker
Adrianna Xibille
Artist & Exile (Ross Majewski + Alma Padilla-Iriarte)
Operations
Admin Team
Ashley Aparicio, Facilities Assistant
Monica Bañuelos, People and Culture Coordinator
Jose Contreras Jr., Operations Manager
Stephanie Rivas, Volunteer & Intern Coordinator
Guillermo Santiago, Facilities Specialist
Laura Vetterman, Financial Advisor
Events Team
Kate Burgonio, Events Assistant
Lucia Head, Events Assistant
Jas King, Events Assistant
CJ Mendoza, Events Assistant
Vee Nguyen, Events Assistant
Joshua Rosas, Events Assistant
Danniella Sanchez, Events Lead
Katie Shackelford, Events Lead
Valeria Valenzuela Lopez, Events Assistant
Advancement
Lucy Eagleson, Executive Director
Connie Garcia, Communications & Design Manager
Shanika Lazo, Communications Specialist
Jose Lopez, Advancement Coordinator
Volunteers & Interns
Yul, 3C Youth Intern
Ada, ARTS @ Work Youth Intern
Lino, ARTS @ Work Youth Intern
Amara Abaquin-Brown
Isabel Castro
Michael Cruz
Jane Madahan Esteban
Sofia Fuller
Melissa Mauricio Galvan
Haley Gonzalez
Carla Labto
Patrick Jimenez
Ashley James
Licia Olisa
