Samantha Hoffman – Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor
I moved to San Diego in 2008 to attend SDSU and fell in love with this city! After graduating with a degree in anthropology, I began my career as a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor….
Jami Shapiro – Senior Services
This year will mark 20 years since I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. At the time of my diagnosis, I was a young mother with a three-year-old and one-year-old waiting 10 days for pathology to…
Michelle Lockyer
Michelle Lockyer has been a resident of Escondido for over 25 years. She was in the first graduating class from Cal State San Marcos with a degree in Liberal Studies. She is a mother of…
Kristi Pieper – Philanthropy
Born and raised in La Jolla; involved at a young age in my community with church and Girl Scouts; played sports throughout middle school and high school; graduated from USC (fight on!) and have…
Billy “Lakeside” Ortiz – Community Advocate / Handyman
I am 65 and have lived all those years in Lakeside, CA. I’ve been happily married to my lovely wife Michelle for 2 years now. I grew up on a farm at the North end…
Mack Reese
I am born and raised in San Diego. I have attended many schools around San Diego, and have seen the good and bad all around the city. My love for this city goes deeper than…
Jazzmin Austin
I’m Jazzmin—master stylist, educator, and entrepreneur rooted in San Diego with deep ties to Arkansas. As the founder of Jazz’d Up Hair, I blend comfort-first beauty with community empowerment, specializing in gentle applications and professional…
Lakeysha Sowunmi – Community Housing Works
I was born and raised in Chicago, the Windy City, more than 2,000 miles away from San Diego. When I enlisted in the United States Navy, I was excited about staying physically fit, earning…
Greg Reitman – Blue Water Film Institute, Festival & Summit MARCH 20-23 2025!
Greg Scott Reitman ( born May 10, 1971) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, executive producer, national best-selling author, public speaker, and founder of Blue Water Film Institute, Blue Water Film Festival, and…

