Jennifer Thomas has over twenty years of management experience in the field of community and economic development with a core concentration in public housing redevelopment. Currently, Ms. Thomas is the Vice-President of Build Hope, Inc. and oversees the day-to-day operations.

She holds the Assistant Director position at the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Strategic Initiatives Unit where she leads the People component of the HACLA 25 year Vision which includes building strategic partnerships, the Workforce Development Unit, Contracts and Procurement, and other special initiatives. Previously, she was the Development and External Affairs Officer at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), where she raised capital for the Los Angeles office and established new business development opportunities in South Los Angeles and East Los Angeles. She also led the launch of the Building Sustainable Communities Initiative for the LA Office. Prior to that she was also a Program Director for the Ross Minority Program in Real Estate at the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate where she managed a $1M Endowment and oversaw operations- fundraising, student recruitment, board stewardship and donor development-to name a few.

She holds a Masters Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Social Work and Urban Planning, where she was a HUD Fellow and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern University and A & M College in Louisiana.

While a single cup of coffee is necessary to jump-start her day, Jennifer maintains her energetic equilibrium as both BHI operations lead and part-time adjunct professor at the University of Southern California through yoga and bike rides in nature.