501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Our Mexican Staff
Alma Jimenez
Alma began with Lantern Hill in 2013. After completing her high school diploma, she went on to receive a Master's in Education in a local university. Since 2016 she has worked as the program director.
Iracema Adame
Iracema began teaching math at Lantern Hill the summer of 2016. Since then she has remained an essential part of our teaching and administrative team. She also received a Master's in Education in 2022.
Walfre Adame
Walfre first joined us to help build our current program building during the Pandemic. When we were able to reopen, he became a permenant member of our teaching staff. This year he will begin studying Architecture in a local university.
Issac Avalos
Issac became an official member of our staff in 2021. Having formerly taught math in a local high school, Issac has helped many of our older students with their upper level courses and university entrance exams. He is also our technology guru and keeps our program running smoothly.
Ofelia Bonilla
Although her children have been a part of the program from the beginning, Ofelia began working with Lantern Hill in 2018. She keeps our program buildings clean and well maintained. She even learned to lay tile during the construction of our new building!
Rufina Bonilla Jimenez
Rufina is the newest member of our staff. She prepares delicious meals for the children so that they can focus on their studies, full and content.
Marcela de Jesus
Though many think first of the beautiful bracelets and bags that Marcela sells, she has also worked in our kitchen since 2018.
Manuel Jimenez
Not a single part of our program buildings would exist without Manuel. He has worked with Lantern Hill longer than any other staff member. So much more than a caretaker, he keeps our buildings running, fixes whatever breaks and builds whatever we need.
Isaí Jimenez
Isaí has helped ensure our building are well maintained since the beginning. He is always ready to help with whatever the task. In 2016 he obtained his high school diploma. This year he will begin studying civil engineering at a local university.
Our Executive Director
Abby Williams
Abby has a BA in Spanish Literature and theater. Throughout her twenties, Abby learned spanish, traveled throughout Central and South America with different volunteer organizations. After getting married and moving to California, Abby and her husband, JJ, co-founded Lantern Hill in 2007. They moved to Mexico with a desire to make a change and help eradicate poverty. As they led volunteer groups from churches across the United States, and worked with other non profits in Mexico, they realized that long term change would come from education. If children didn't drop out of school to help work and support their families, then there could be more opportunities for the future. After adopting five Mexican siblings and having a surprise biological baby in Mexico, Abby and JJ began their own education center in Canon Buena Vista. It quickly grew into an educational and feeding program as the neighborhood was in great need. They spent years creating a foundation alongside the Mexican leaders in the community. Abby took over the role of director in 2015. She continues to oversee Friends of Lantern Hill, the US non profit and Linterna del Camino, the Mexican non profit. Abby currently lives in San Diego and goes back and forth to Mexico. Abby works closely with the staff in Mexico and the board of directors. She still leads our volunteer groups, travels, speaks and raises money for the one hundred students that Lantern Hill currently serves.
Our Board of Directors
Jennifer Hare Mirabella - President
Jennifer is honored to serve as president of Friends of Lantern Hill. She first visited Lantern Hill on a mission trip with Maricopa Lutheran Church and was deeply inspired. After 11 years as a United Methodist pastor, she transitioned to nonprofit leadership, serving as Executive Director of Family Promise – Salt Lake and the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center. She later spent two years teaching English in China. Now living in Phoenix, AZ, Jennifer works part-time and volunteers at her church and with Lantern Hill. She is passionate about building community and helping transform lives through Lantern Hill’s mission.
Robert Harper - Treasurer
As a retired teacher and coach in the St Louis area, Rob is passionate about education. He believes that children everywhere should have access to a quality education. From his first visit in 2014, he has believed in the mission and vision of Lantern Hill and has been an integral part of our growth and development. In 2018, Rob helped form the non-profit Friends of Lantern Hill and was the first president of our Board of Directors.
Alissa Burrall - Secretary
Alissa has been teaching Spanish in a Maryland middle school for 26 years. She first visited Lantern Hill for a week in 2013. She connected with the people and the vision and has returned every summer since for as many weeks as possible. (Except for the first summer of the pandemic!) Her first summers were spent coordinating the summer program and mentoring teachers. Now each time she returns she marvels at the growth and strength of the program. Through education, lives are being changed.
Kellie Reiman - Marketing
A part of Lantern Hill in the early years, Kellie lived in Mexico with the founders of Lantern Hill, Abby and JJ, for 2 years, working with community members and volunteer groups. Kellie now lives in Las Vegas with her two children. She has a business degree from Southern Illinois University. Kellie is excited to be once again partnering with Lantern Hill to change lives.
Shana Nielsen - Member at Large
Shana lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters. She is a pediatric Occupational Therapist and manages the pediatric therapy department at Providence Swedish Medical Center. After joining a mission team from Saint Andrews Lutheran Church in 2019, she experienced Lantern Hill firsthand and joined the board in 2020. What she once doubted as “life-changing” became real after visiting Canon Buena Vista. Shana believes deeply in Lantern Hill’s mission—breaking the chains of poverty through education. Seeing children learning, playing safely, and being nourished inspires her. She’s proud to support a program that empowers kids and uplifts the community.
Stephanie McMullan - Member at Large
Stephanie McMullan fell in love with Lantern Hill and its mission during her first trip in January 2025, unexpectedly feeling like she was coming home. With a background in Psychology, Spanish, and a Master’s in Social Work, Stephanie has 25 years of experience as a trauma-focused therapist. Her time at Lantern Hill reawakened her passion for Spanish and community healing. She now volunteers locally as an ESL assistant teacher and in a Spanish conversation group supporting immigrants. As her children leave home, Stephanie is excited to begin the next chapter—building partnerships and serving with purpose in both communities she loves.
Natalie Kratzer - Member at Large
Natalie was born, raised, and still lives near Hershey, PA with her husband and son. She earned her degree from Lebanon Valley College and leads Roots Financial Group with Thrivent Financial, where her team focuses on holistic financial planning. Her passion for serving communities beyond the U.S. began through leading Habitat for Humanity teams with Thrivent Builds, especially in Guatemala. In August 2024, she visited Lantern Hill and was deeply moved by its mission. Natalie believes in the power of relationships, offering a hand up—not a handout—and witnessing the transformation that happens when people come together to create lasting change.