Our Staff

Sophie Stenbeck: President

Sophie has dedicated her life's work to improving the condition of young people all over the world. With a family background in international media, she serves in a number of philanthropic roles. She is an ambassador of Corporate Social Responsibility for the Stockholm-based Kinnevik Group and a founding board member of Queen Silvia's World Childhood Foundation, addressing the social, emotional and material poverty of children around the world through its support of 90 programs in 15 countries. From 2003 to 2005 she served as brand manager for Metro International, the world's largest and fastest-growing newspaper group. Stenbeck served on the Board of Directors of the Glocal Forum, an international non-governmental organization which promotes peace-building and development activities through city-to-city partnerships and youth empowerment. Since 2004 Sophie has served on the board of the Hugo Stenbeck Stiftelse, a Swedish based charitable trust. In 2006 she worked to promote Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's public school reform legislation. Stenbeck founded Remedee in early 2007 to merge her passions for education reform, global youth advocacy, and media as a tool for change. Sophie also serves as the President of the Stenbeck Foundation. She graduated from New York University with a degree in English and American Literature.

Mara Abrams: Executive Director

Mara brings experience in journalism and United States politics to her latest pursuit of social justice. She began her career in Washington, DC at Doak, Carrier, O’Donnell and Associates, a Democratic media firm where her research and television ad production led to the success of statewide, mayoral and issue advocacy campaigns. In 2006 she returned to her home state of California to serve as a press liaison on State Controller Steve Westly’s Gubernatorial bid. Following the election she worked with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on his legislative campaign to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she met Sophie Stenbeck. Recognizing media literacy and production as a critical component of education reform, she and Sophie co-founded Remedee as an independent initiative to improve the academic performance and self-esteem of young people through creative empowerment. Mara holds a BA in Communication and Psychology from the University of California at Davis.

Lee Davis: Classroom Instructor

Writer/Director Lee Davis teaches Remedee's film production class at Fernando Pullum Performing Arts High School. A protégé of Spike Lee, Lee has worked at 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks, on such films as Mo Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, and Crooklyn, and on a host of commercials and music videos.

In 2000 Lee Davis was named as one of Variety Magazine's Top Ten Screenwriters To Watch.

In 2000 Lee directed 3AM, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The Showtime Original Film starred Danny Glover, Pam Grier, Michelle Rodriguez, Bobby Cannavale, John Ortiz and Sarita Choudhary, and was executive produced by Spike Lee.

He also wrote and directed A Gut Feeling, a short film starring Saul Williams and Ruben Santiago-Hudson, executive produced by Spike Lee; Flicker, a HI-DEF long form short film for the Sci Fi Channel; and Dance On Two, purchased by Miramax Films; and Christmas At Waters Edge, starring Keisha Knight Pulliam, Pooch Hall, and Tom Bosley.

In 2006 Lee completed filming his latest film, Hoop Realities, a documentary shot on location on the West Side of Chicago. The film examines the life of Arthur Agee after basketball, and heir apparent, Patrick Beverley, a high school senior who has his eyes set on the NBA.

Presently Davis is focusing on his original screenplay Why The Willow Weeps, a true crime thriller set in New Orleans, with Danny Glover and Zoe Saldana attached.

Joanna Ong: Program Assistant

Jill-of-all-trades Joanna Ong is Remedee's in-house researcher, grant writer, designer, administrative assistant, tech guru, teacher's assistant and sounding board to the inner-city teenagers with whom we work. Skipping several grades in high school and getting an early start to college, there is very little that this prodigy cannot do. Just as apparent as her intelligence is her passion for Remedee's mission to give young people a voice. The daughter of a Vietnam War refugee, she is a true believer in global community and its ability to eradicate poverty. When Joanna is not providing part-time support to Remedee, she is in school, double majoring in Political Science and History with a minor in Creative Writing. She dreams of living abroad in New Zealand, Paris and South Africa, and admires Josephine Shaw Lowell, Vaclav Havel, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mara Abrams and Sophie Stenbeck. We did not tell her to write that.

Adam Jones: Accountant/CFO

Reny Sultan: Bookkeeper

Sophie Sorensen: Volunteer

Actress Sophie Sörensen was born in the UK but moved to Sweden at the age of eight. Though she knew she wanted to become an actress from an early age, she studied nursing and worked as a RN for two years. She also spent time in Bangkok, Thailand working for a non-governmental organization. Soon after her change of career she moved to New York City and studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is currently being mentored by Tony-nominated actress Eve Best, who also directed her in a much-appreciated production of Three Sisters. She is also involved in several soon-to-be-released film projects. Sophie has a solid commitment to entertain and educate through her profession and currently contributes her talents to Remedee by incorporating improvisation and song into our film programming. Known for her brave, emotional and adventurous performances, we are happy to have her on board.

Barney: Volunteer

Barney has a wealth of experience from the international media arena. He has spent the last seven years of his life traveling the world, learning about different cultures and smells and listening to the locals' stories. Barney is very generous with his time, working on a volunteer basis, offering 24/7 emotional and moral support to our team. To offset his grueling work schedule, he enjoys long walks in Malibu, long naps, and In N' Out burgers (no bun, no salt).

Mentors and Advisors

Brian Amyot: Mentor, Editor, Web Series Creator

Joakim "Jay" Baage: Advisory Board Member; Digital Strategist; VP, Digital Media Wire

Kenhalo Bernet-Millan: Mentor, Filmmaker

Antoine Bandele: Mentor, Filmmaker, Inner City Filmmakers Alum

Chris Denson: Guest Classroom Speaker; Advisor; Digital Strategist; Founder, Genius Effect LA

Kim Estes: Program Advisor, Actor, Producer

Griff Griffin: Guest Classroom Instructor, Mentor, Director of Photography, Camera Operator, Photographer

Michael Hall: Mentor, Filmmaker, Student, Inner City Filmmakers Alum

Tamika Lamison: Mentor; Filmmaker; Founder, Make a Film Foundation

Lisa Osborne: Advisor; Digital Strategist; Founder, Jigsaw Global

Miles Regis: Artist, Community Activist, Remedee Advocate

Christian Rozier: Mentor, Editor, Filmmaker

Devindra Somadhi: Mentor, Editor

Sophie Sorensen: Advisor, Support-Provider, Actress

Ben Stein: Mentor; Producer, Current TV