What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
When I got out of college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do.  I got a job as a commercial property insurance broker, but realized quickly it was not fulfilling. I read a book called Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow, which led me down a path to finding affordable housing development as a career and I never looked back.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
Its commitment to tenant rights and racial equity as the grounding to all of our work.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
Work! LOL. I love a walk on the beach or happy hour near the beach.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
Growing up in a community where resources were scarce, I’ve made it a mission of mine to find an organization that provides resources to the most vulnerable

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
The support and care provided to our residents

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
Going to the beach, enjoying the sun, and eating ice cream is the best on the Westside

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
There are many, but three big ones are: the things that my parents taught me from a very young age about social justice and caring for each other; living in Venice in the 90s leading to a lasting love of the neighborhood; and my 20 years of working in Skid Row teaching me so much, especially the lifelong commitment required of all of us to demand and advance housing and racial justice and other human rights in Los Angeles.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
The people! All of our tenants, program participants, staff, board members, supporters and donors, members of our home neighborhoods, and others that make up our collective VCH community.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
My answer to this forever will be skating in Venice.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
When I was 19 years old, I spent over 2 years in Cairo, Egypt. Until then, my world was extremely small and sheltered. Up to that point, I had never experienced nor seen poverty like what I witnessed there. When I returned to the states, that feeling of wanting to help those less fortunate than myself stayed with me. Since then, serving the underserved has become a passion of mine. Although initially, I had the desire to help, but little resources to do much beyond volunteer work. While working in Property Management, I discovered affordable housing and permanent supportive housing. It wasn’t until I started working for non-profits in this field that I truly felt like I was making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
I’d have to say that it is the passion for mission and team approach to serving the unhoused and low-income families.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
It’s such a unique town; Ultra-hip, great food, diverse people and eclectic architecture. C and O Restaurant has always been one of my favorite eateries.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
After earning a Master’s of Science degree, I began my career working as an English instructor at Kansas State University and then at Los Angeles Community College District. While teaching I was given many opportunities to work with student services programs. In those roles it became crystal clear to me that students who struggled in the classroom, were facing major struggles outside of the classroom. That awareness ignited a sense of responsibility to put myself in spaces where I could work to address some of those societal challenges. My need to serve lead me to VCH. When I began here, VCH had a tag line: “Housing for People Not for Profit.” That tag line still resonates with me today. I am 100% dedicated to doing work that strengthens people.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
My favorite thing about working at VCH is that I have always gotten do work that encourages and celebrates people.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside? 
Stroll down the boardwalk and people watch.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
Enrolling in the YouthBuild program to complete my high school diploma as well as learn construction skills while being paid was a perfect opportunity for me at the time and I’ve been with VCH since. I’ve worked on various programs.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
My favorite part is helping others who are less fortunate and doing it in the community that raised me.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
Visiting/trying new restaurants and bakeries in the area.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
I am fortunate to have never had to worry about my basic needs being met and know there are so many people who cannot say the same. I’m at VCH because I want to do everything I can do to change that, and housing and supportive services are what work.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
My favorite thing about VCH is the community- the people we serve, my VCH family, our supporters, always can brighten my day. I love when I’m walking around Venice and run into VCH stakeholders out and about.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
Nothing beats a Venice summer beach day. I can spend all day at the beach swimming, reading, eating ice cream and biking around.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
I’ve had varied roles in multiple industries and a myriad of responsibilities. The one connecting thread between these roles is the aspect I enjoy the most and where I shine: enabling my peers to excel in what they do best.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
The camaraderie. Everyone has lots to do but is very willing to help out, and there’s a great feeling of purpose in what we’re doing.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
I love exploring new places to eat and enjoy a Saturday afternoon sitting outside a brewery. Lately, it’s been afternoon strolls with the baby.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
I grew up in a military family and we were always secure in our housing and basic needs no matter where we were stationed. We finally settled near an affordable beach town on the east coast. I started my career in Los Angeles with the realization that many, many people did not have the security I’d had and I wanted to help change that. I’ve lived on the Westside for decades and watched it become less and less affordable.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
I am proud to work at VCH because they have been champions for low- and moderate-income people to continue to be able to live in Venice and the surrounding communities.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
My favorite thing to do on the Westside is go to the beaches and piers.

Coming soon!

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
I’ve known VCH as an organization and a number of the employees for a long time, and I had admired the work from afar.  I wanted to further my career in non-profit work and got the chance to work with VCH.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
The entire VCH staff is so dedicated to the work we do, at every level.  Everyone is interested in being involved and making sure our tenants receive the best possible services from us across the organization.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
On bright sunny days, I like to grab a sandwich and go up to the top of Bill Bott’s field in Culver City.  You can relax and see the whole city from there, all the way from the ocean to the mountains, and downtown.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
Working in the Real Estate Industry over 25 years has allowed me to see a growing demand for affordable housing. So, I wanted to be apart of a non-profit that works in affordable housing, be an asset and lend some of my real estate knowledge.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
Knowing that I am helping someone have and maintain their own place to live.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
Enjoy the various restaurants and other retail centers within proximity to VCH.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
I’ve always enjoyed working with people and helping others.  Before experiencing homelessness,  I was a part of the PTA  for 3 years. My first job was program assistant at VCH, connecting families to resources and helping in different ways became one of my biggest strengths. While I was part-time at VCH I became more knowledgeable about various programs and resources, then the opportunity of my current position came available and I  was able to continue doing what I loved most, helping others.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
I love that it has given me the opportunity to grow professionally and helped me to be a better person, it has given me stability. I also love the people I work with. They are all so talented and creative and it’s always a pleasure to be around them

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
My favorite thing is to take a walk to the beach and grab some ice cream

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
I participated in programming as a pre-teen and then became a volunteer when I was in high school. I eventually got hired part time for the same program that I attended, ClayWorks. Eventually I got a full time position and I have worked with several departments.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
My favorite thing about VCH is that we have a fun and friendly work environment. 🙂

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
I like to go to the beach. I enjoy tanning, bike riding , and going for walks on the beach.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
I always knew I wanted to find a career helping people. Initially, I thought that would be through nursing but later found myself working in non-profits at Skid Row. Being able to help people achieve something that should be a human right has been the most rewarding experience for me.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
The VCH culture is unlike any other agency I have worked for. Everyone is always ready and willing to help where they are needed.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
I love watching the ocean from the Ferris wheel with my family.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
There were a few things that let me to my role at VCH. First, I was born and raised in south central Los Angeles so I grew up in an environment where services and affordable housing was scarce. Secondly, I majored in Law and Public Policy within the Chicano Studies department at CSUN. My focus was reviewing how certain laws and public policy decisions once implemented; affect people of color, working class communities, and other disadvantaged groups of people either by design or as an unintended consequence. Both of these things led me to VCH which not only helps the unhoused but fiercely advocates for change.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
My favorite thing about working for VCH is working with an amazing group of people. I like knowing that every single person, no matter their role, is passionate about helping our residents and the unhoused.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
Visiting one of the many bookstores and finding the right time to avoid traffic.

What life experiences led you to your role at VCH?
I have a parent who is a social worker and professor of social work, so I grew up in and around nonprofit organizations. From an early age I was taught the value of community empowerment and public service.

What is your favorite thing about working at VCH?
Being able to see the end result of our collective efforts (housing for individuals). Knowing that you share common values and goals with your coworkers/teammates makes the work that much more fulfilling.

What is your favorite thing to do on the Westside?
My favorite thing to do on the Westside is go out for a nice dinner or go to a bar to watch a sporting event.