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Our Team
What We Do?
Our Goal:
Break the cycle of poverty by providing education scholarships to children who would otherwise drop out.
Our Work
To date, we have been able to provide more than 70 children an opportunity to stay in school with the help of BajaEd Scholarships. We provide basic tuition and the necessities to stay in school.
Our Success
We are delighted to see our students embrace opportunity and succeed. Our board member, Dr. Karla Carmona, was a BajaEd student who dreamed of being a doctor. She is now a practicing doctor in the community she grew up in.
How we do it?
We can only do this work through the generosity of people like you! We are 100% percent dependent on donations to create opportunities for our students to pursue their dreams, rather than drop out and work in the fields, or other low paying, labor-intensive jobs, to support their families.
It really works!
Many kids are waiting for the opportunity! Don't miss the chance to change a child's life with just a little commitment each month!
Our Board of Directors
Benjamin Gaines, Ed.D.
Board Chair, President
Ben is currently a Vice President for an education software company serving
schools both in the US and internationally. He brings experience as a school
principal and teacher, as well as over 15 years of working with both BEI and Baja
Bound in Maneadero, Mexico. Ben holds a Doctor of Educational Leadership and
is an adjunct professor with a large non-profit university. Ben has spent his career
in the education space with a passion for underserved students. Ben currently
resides in Seattle, WA; however he spends many weekends in Mexico
throughout the year
Ben is currently a Vice President for an education software company serving
schools both in the US and internationally. He brings experience as a school
principal and teacher, as well as over 15 years of working with both BEI and Baja
Bound in Maneadero, Mexico. Ben holds a Doctor of Educational Leadership and
is an adjunct professor with a large non-profit university. Ben has spent his career
in the education space with a passion for underserved students. Ben currently
resides in Seattle, WA; however he spends many weekends in Mexico
throughout the year
Ed Lopez
Vice President, Secretary
Edward Lopez is the President, CEO, and Qualified Manager of Lopez and
Associates, Inc. For the past 30+ years Lopez & Associates has been providing
specialized services to the legal, insurance, and educational communities. In
addition, Ed has been instrumental in the development of three other
corporations; he has applied this knowledge to help give form and structure to
BEI. Although Ed is a native San Diegan, his father was a Central American
immigrant raised in a situation of poverty similar to that which BEI addresses in
Mexico. Ed has been involved in philanthropic work in Northern Baja California for
the past decade, most recently along with his wife Nancy, through BEI and its
sister organization, Baja Bound. He is the proud father of an adult daughter.
Edward Lopez is the President, CEO, and Qualified Manager of Lopez and
Associates, Inc. For the past 30+ years Lopez & Associates has been providing
specialized services to the legal, insurance, and educational communities. In
addition, Ed has been instrumental in the development of three other
corporations; he has applied this knowledge to help give form and structure to
BEI. Although Ed is a native San Diegan, his father was a Central American
immigrant raised in a situation of poverty similar to that which BEI addresses in
Mexico. Ed has been involved in philanthropic work in Northern Baja California for
the past decade, most recently along with his wife Nancy, through BEI and its
sister organization, Baja Bound. He is the proud father of an adult daughter.
Bill Gaines
Executive Director
Bill has been married to his wife Lena for 47 years. They have four grown sons and
14 grandchildren. Bill spent the last 32 years of his career working in the
automotive industry in Michigan, ending his career working as the Global
Automotive Business Development Manager before retiring in 2014.
Bill has since volunteered for various non-profit organizations, starting with Life
Remodeled, an organization which revitalizes neighborhoods and schools in
Detroit. Bill started a tutoring program in the local elementary schools, helping
bring students up to grade level in reading. Bill now serves on the boards of
Pastors Beyond, End of the Road Ministries, and Baja Educational Initiative.
Bill and his wife began their involvement in Mexico with Baja Bound in the 90s
and have continued to this day. They became involved with Baja Educational
Initiative over 3 years ago. They are excited to see how children receive an
education through the resources provided by Baja Educational Initiative.
Bill and Lena continue to live just outside Detroit in Brighton, MI.
Bill has been married to his wife Lena for 47 years. They have four grown sons and
14 grandchildren. Bill spent the last 32 years of his career working in the
automotive industry in Michigan, ending his career working as the Global
Automotive Business Development Manager before retiring in 2014.
Bill has since volunteered for various non-profit organizations, starting with Life
Remodeled, an organization which revitalizes neighborhoods and schools in
Detroit. Bill started a tutoring program in the local elementary schools, helping
bring students up to grade level in reading. Bill now serves on the boards of
Pastors Beyond, End of the Road Ministries, and Baja Educational Initiative.
Bill and his wife began their involvement in Mexico with Baja Bound in the 90s
and have continued to this day. They became involved with Baja Educational
Initiative over 3 years ago. They are excited to see how children receive an
education through the resources provided by Baja Educational Initiative.
Bill and Lena continue to live just outside Detroit in Brighton, MI.
Nancy Alvarado
Board Member
Nancy has been involved in philanthropic work in Mexico since the 1980s, first with the Maryknoll Sisters in Oaxaca, then with Truck of Love in Tijuana, and currently with Baja Bound Ministries and Baja Educational Initiative, both in Ensenada. Her work in Mexico has included teaching elementary school, caring for the elderly, volunteering in orphanages, teaching English, prison ministry, food and clothing distribution, and building houses, as well as supporting students and
education through her work with BEI.
She has been an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years, working in communities which face socioeconomic challenges. She has taught in San Ysidro, on the US-Mexico border, since 2000.
Nancy holds a BA and an MFA, both in writing. She is an award-winning author,
with work published in literary magazines and a local newspaper.
Nancy is the proud mom of two adult children, Susana and Julian.
Nancy has been involved in philanthropic work in Mexico since the 1980s, first with the Maryknoll Sisters in Oaxaca, then with Truck of Love in Tijuana, and currently with Baja Bound Ministries and Baja Educational Initiative, both in Ensenada. Her work in Mexico has included teaching elementary school, caring for the elderly, volunteering in orphanages, teaching English, prison ministry, food and clothing distribution, and building houses, as well as supporting students and
education through her work with BEI.
She has been an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years, working in communities which face socioeconomic challenges. She has taught in San Ysidro, on the US-Mexico border, since 2000.
Nancy holds a BA and an MFA, both in writing. She is an award-winning author,
with work published in literary magazines and a local newspaper.
Nancy is the proud mom of two adult children, Susana and Julian.
Felicia Newbern-Kelley
Board Member, Treasurer
Felicia Newbern-Kelley is an entrepreneur and the VP of a large National Title
company. Her biggest passion is philanthropy and serving underprivileged
children. Felicia was raised by her grandparents and grew up around nonprofits
through her grandparents’ involvement. She has served on multiple nonprofit boards. She is very involved with foster children in the US, and has fostered children herself. Other areas of philanthropy important to Felicia are orphans in Africa and Mexico, sex trafficking victims, hosting house builds in Mexico with our
sister organization Baja Bound, and hosting blood drives. She fell in love with BEI years back and knew that she had to be involved with the cause.
Felicia lives in San Diego with her husband Adam Kelley, who she met on a house building trip in Mexico. In her free time she loves working out and going on adventures which include anything with adrenaline, traveling, skydiving, playing
sports, riding dirt bikes or street bikes, or taking her therapy-certified mini horse
and mini donkey to visit children and elderly folks in the hospital.
Felicia Newbern-Kelley is an entrepreneur and the VP of a large National Title
company. Her biggest passion is philanthropy and serving underprivileged
children. Felicia was raised by her grandparents and grew up around nonprofits
through her grandparents’ involvement. She has served on multiple nonprofit boards. She is very involved with foster children in the US, and has fostered children herself. Other areas of philanthropy important to Felicia are orphans in Africa and Mexico, sex trafficking victims, hosting house builds in Mexico with our
sister organization Baja Bound, and hosting blood drives. She fell in love with BEI years back and knew that she had to be involved with the cause.
Felicia lives in San Diego with her husband Adam Kelley, who she met on a house building trip in Mexico. In her free time she loves working out and going on adventures which include anything with adrenaline, traveling, skydiving, playing
sports, riding dirt bikes or street bikes, or taking her therapy-certified mini horse
and mini donkey to visit children and elderly folks in the hospital.
Dr. Karla Carmona
Board Member, BajaED Alumn
Karla Carmona, MD, holds her medical degree in Mexico as well as her A.S.
Degree in Science and Quantitative Reasoning as an Honors graduate in the US.
Born in Mexico, Karla was raised by a single father. In order to help cover her
school expenses, she began working during middle school and held such jobs as packaging vegetables at local farms, babysitting, and house cleaning, just to name a few.
Karla was BEI’s first college graduate! She currently works as a physician in Siloe
Ministries, a clinic in a rural community in la Mision B.C. Mx. For the past 18 years
she has been involved with different ministries and associations to help in her
community. She currently also participates in medical outreaches in Tijuana for
patients with difficulty accessing medical care. Karla is passionate about medicine and encouraging education. “I have come this far not just because of my passion for learning but because of all of the people who believed in my dream and encouraged me: my family, Agua Viva, friends, Baja Bound, and BEI. Through BEI, I hope many more students will have the same opportunity that I had.”
Karla Carmona, MD, holds her medical degree in Mexico as well as her A.S.
Degree in Science and Quantitative Reasoning as an Honors graduate in the US.
Born in Mexico, Karla was raised by a single father. In order to help cover her
school expenses, she began working during middle school and held such jobs as packaging vegetables at local farms, babysitting, and house cleaning, just to name a few.
Karla was BEI’s first college graduate! She currently works as a physician in Siloe
Ministries, a clinic in a rural community in la Mision B.C. Mx. For the past 18 years
she has been involved with different ministries and associations to help in her
community. She currently also participates in medical outreaches in Tijuana for
patients with difficulty accessing medical care. Karla is passionate about medicine and encouraging education. “I have come this far not just because of my passion for learning but because of all of the people who believed in my dream and encouraged me: my family, Agua Viva, friends, Baja Bound, and BEI. Through BEI, I hope many more students will have the same opportunity that I had.”
John Van Laar
Board member
John N. Van Laar holds an MA in Education. He has been a teacher for 31 years,
and is currently teaching 2 nd grade in Pasadena, California.
John grew up in Ohio on a produce farm working with migrant workers in the field
and packing plant. Hard work and the success of the family farm helped him
achieve a college education. He is grateful for the opportunity to help other students achieve higher education.
He is married to his amazing wife Sonia, a nurse and Fuller Seminary
graduate. They have three teen/preteen children: Isabelle, Joseph and Audry.
John N. Van Laar holds an MA in Education. He has been a teacher for 31 years,
and is currently teaching 2 nd grade in Pasadena, California.
John grew up in Ohio on a produce farm working with migrant workers in the field
and packing plant. Hard work and the success of the family farm helped him
achieve a college education. He is grateful for the opportunity to help other students achieve higher education.
He is married to his amazing wife Sonia, a nurse and Fuller Seminary
graduate. They have three teen/preteen children: Isabelle, Joseph and Audry.
Nicole Soares
Administrator
Nicole Soares holds a BS in Business/HR. She is currently working as a School Administrator at Ascension Montessori Children's Center.
Nicole has been in church and nonprofit administration for over 15 years. She has been active in a variety of roles within church ministry.
She is passionate about empowering people to serve in a way that gives meaning and texture to their life.
Nicole and her husband Marvin are natives of San Diego, CA, and proud parents to Brielle and Liam.
Nicole Soares holds a BS in Business/HR. She is currently working as a School Administrator at Ascension Montessori Children's Center.
Nicole has been in church and nonprofit administration for over 15 years. She has been active in a variety of roles within church ministry.
She is passionate about empowering people to serve in a way that gives meaning and texture to their life.
Nicole and her husband Marvin are natives of San Diego, CA, and proud parents to Brielle and Liam.
Our Staff
MS. Gabriela Smith
Field Coordinator
MS in Biotechnology and Bionanomedicine.
Born and raised in Ensenada, Mexico, Gabriela is the Field Coordinator of BEI in Mexico as well as a volunteer in various programs to help orphans and orphanages in the area. She is passionate about helping children in need and bringing them to understand the love God has for them.
Gabriela is married to
Caleb, a missionary to Mexico and they love serving together.
MS in Biotechnology and Bionanomedicine.
Born and raised in Ensenada, Mexico, Gabriela is the Field Coordinator of BEI in Mexico as well as a volunteer in various programs to help orphans and orphanages in the area. She is passionate about helping children in need and bringing them to understand the love God has for them.
Gabriela is married to
Caleb, a missionary to Mexico and they love serving together.
Dr. Elea Medina
Baja Bound and Broken Rib Coffee Liaison/
Sara Morales
BajaEd Center Coordinator and Student