- Arianna, EDGE executive Director
Arianna is the Executive Director of Edge Project, which transforms lives from the inside out. As an inspirational speaker, educator, mentor, and arts and cultural philanthropist, she is passionate about relationships and connecting people through their own unique skills and creative ideas. Using her own gifts of storytelling and dance to inspire, Arianna is a family educator, childbirth educator, but above all, a mom, wife and follower of Christ.
Having lived in Europe since 1986, she enjoys sharing life experiences and her passion for God, to build global respect for faith, culture, community and artistic spiritual expressions and to challenge this generation to live with purpose. Her philosophy on leadership is simple: People first. Always. She will inspire you to live out your passion and help you discover purpose. She has sought to be a mentor to those who want one, a mom to anyone who needs one and a friend to everyone.
Arianna and her husband Steven have raised their family in Greece, Germany and Spain, so she speaks four languages. They are parents and friends to their four beautiful daughters and two precious grand-children.
When not in Europe, she spends her time in southern California, and loves to dance, travel, eat healthy food, enjoy good literature and music, teach family yoga, and swing dance.
- Xara
Xara Caligiuri
From: San Diego, CA Associate Director of Edge Project
lover of people, Encourager of all cultures, Community minded, Hospitable, Massage therapist, Professional Nanny, Esthetician, Speaks 3 languages, and is European at heart.
Xara has lived in more parts European than North American. She has spent more time on the Mediterranean sharing life with others than driving down the I-5 with a Starbucks to go. If you asked her where home is, she would tell you Altea as much as it is Southern California. A woman of deep empathy, rich faith, and cultural perspective, Xara leads by example, living her life by loving others wherever she is.
Matt Barrios From: La Mirada, CA Spiritual Director at the center, I know my identity is in Christ, and sometimes I even feel like it is. I really want to live a life obedient to the Spirit’s prompting (or at least how I discern his prompting). I’m a heck of a sinner who’s really intentionally pursuing the saintliness Christ calls me to. Music matters a lot to me, along with writing, telling stories, and talking. My training is in spiritual direction — a form of counseling dedicated to helping people explore the spiritual dynamics in their lives — and I just finished my M.A. in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. I love to sing and dance, but rarely both at the same time. Two mottos I live my life by: “If it ain’t vulnerable, it ain’t Barrios” and “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil — this is God’s gift to man” (Ecclesiastes 3:12, 13 ESV). Noah Jenks From: Sonora, CA 6th and 7th grade English teacher i truly believe that creativity and adventure are defining themes in our life. I love creating, music, photography, cooking, finding new things to do to at our house or exciting places to visit. I love to be outdoors whenever possible — hiking through Yosemite, week long backpacking trips, trails near our home or just working around the house. Family is a focal point of our life and it is amazing getting to live so close to so much of our family. We are so excited to build and live in community with you all this summer; learning and growing together!
- Amanda Garcia
EDGE Creative Director
Amanda Garcia Creative Director Creatively speaking, I am a writer and artist who just self-published her first graphic novel: Good Friday and Other Misconceptions. On a personal level, I left the States right after high school to live abroad in Russia, for a short time and Hungary for much longer. I met my husband, Armando, there and together we traveled, visited bookshops, drank Grappa and made memories that launched me into a life of writing. I believe the majority of who I am today was forged in the fires of these years and by the people I met. By day I spend my time enjoying my husband, raising our two hilarious kiddos, missing Europe, marketing pap about the life changing effects of Botox and other shallow capitalistic marketing schemes, and trying to figure out my faith while posing as a pastor’s wife.
