People

We feature bilingual, children of immigrant/immigrant, and POC storytellers.

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. As a co-founder of ¡Presente! Media, a Philadelphia-based collective producing bilingual journalistic articles and documentaries, she champions diverse voices and narratives. Melissa is a 2019 Leeway Transformation Awardee and a 2020 Fellow of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) Leadership Institute.

director@activatestories.org

Erika Ramirez-Lorenzo

Associate Producer

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 & Industry Partners

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

    TIMBALONA

    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

    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

    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

    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

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