TEAM

Kim Mesa, MBA, President of Alliance for Youth Achievement and Program Director
Instructor/Arts Educator
Kim is a former Alum Rock School District Board Trustee and has been on the AYA Board since 2002. She is excited about engaging youth and sharing their journeys as an instructor this summer. “We continue to be excited about providing students with the opportunity to experience art in a very engaging, dynamic, and innovative way. The camp introduces technology tools that further expand the creativity of students, while also providing opportunities for youth to express themselves through personalized visual arts projects. We will also provide our Youth Leaders the opportunity to support the summer program and gain valuable employment skills as paid Summer Interns. We are proud to bring this innovative art and technology driven program to the Alum Rock community.”

Josue Cruz, Instructor/Cartoonist
Josue (pronounced ho-sweh) Cruz is a cartoonist based in San Francisco currently working on their second all ages book, Puppy Knights: Quest for the Golden Bones. Their work is heavily inspired by 90s video games, French comics, and manga. Josue hopes to keep creating comics that will make friends, family, and fans say: “Oh that’s Rad”.

Lauren Cage, Instructor/Content Specialist and Arts Educator
Lauren is an informal educator living in San Jose. She develops educational content and professional development for The Tech Interactive. During non-COVID times, Lauren taught project-based learning workshops at libraries around the Bay Area under the name Magical Thinking. She holds an M.A. in cultural anthropology.

Alyssa Winans, Instructor/ Illustrator and Google Doodler
Alyssa is a SF Bay artist working on the Google Doodle Team. She earned her BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2012. She specializes in imaginative illustration, and has also worked as a visual developer, concept, and background artist. In her free time, she attempts to garden and make pastries. Alyssa has been a guest speaker in the camp since its pilot program in the summer of 2013. She also has attended every end of week showcase critique and contributed valued feedback to the campers. Alyssa is a returning instructor from previous years and is returning to co-instruct during the STEAM Smorgasbord week.

Dennis Chan, Instructor/ Toy Industry Model Maker
Dennis Chan studied sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design, earning his BFA in Illustration in 2012. He currently is employed as a freelance sculptor, most regularly with Rhode-Island based toy company Hasbro. His work includes both traditional and digital sculpture. In his spare time, Dennis also coaches the wrestling team at his alma mater, Gunn High School. Dennis works out of his home in Sunnyvale, California. He has also been a guest speaker in the camp and a vital part of the end of week showcase critiques. Dennis is a returning instructor from previous years and is returning to co-instruct during the STEAM Smorgasbord week.

Amy Brown, Instructor/Artist and Sewist
Amy Brown wants to teach the world to sew- we all benefit from the joy and utility of fabric arts. She is a self-taught artist and sewist, with 15 years of experience in learning by doing. Sewing, pattern-making, surface design, embroidery, needle-felting, manufacturing and materials sourcing are a few skills she brings to the table. Speaking of tables, her current hobby is beginning woodworking!

When she's not teaching, Amy is designing new plush for her Jumbo Jibbles business or creating fabric sculptures, quilts and 3D paintings in her studio at a defunct skating rink in San Jose. Amy has taught sewing to all ages since 2011 and is always interested in learning something new from her students.

Eliane Bauer, Program Coordinator
Eliane received a Bachelors degree from San Jose State University and is interested in environmental and social science education. In her free time she likes to do arts and crafts projects and values the intersection of different disciplines in learning. Eliane will be responsible for providing instructional support, staff supervision, classroom & camper support, and overall documentation and reporting.

Alyssa Alaiafune, Administrative Program Assistant
Alyssa is studying Computer Science and Studio Art at Cornell College. She grew up in the Bay Area and has moved back for the summer to be part of the camp. She has an interest in video game design and in her free time she makes art.

Youth Leader Summer Interns

Penny Medina-Sanchez, Youth Leader Summer Intern/Youth Leader since 2018, Camper from 2016-2019
Penny will be a Junior at Abraham Lincoln High School in the fall. Her experience with Art and Design Thinking Camp has been a 7-year journey, starting the summer after 4th grade. She loves working with circuits and biomaterials. On the side, she loves to thrift shop and read.