THE BUILD HOPE LOS ANGELES TEAM
BUILD HOPE INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Margarita Lares
Margarita Lares is the Chief Programs Officer at HACLA, responsible for Oversight of Public Housing, Section 8 Housing Subsidies, and Project-Based Contract Administration. Prior to HACLA, she worked at HACoLA. Margarita has also worked in various industries including education, banking and health care.
Margarita grew up in East Los Angeles, and was the first in her family to receive a university degree. She attributes much of her success in life to having housing stability, and to the guidance she received from caring mentors. For these reasons, Margarita is fully committed to the mission and vision of HACLA and BHI. She enjoys mentoring youth and emerging professionals, while caring for her extended family. She lives by the “Si se puede” motto!
Cielo Castro
Cielo Castro is Chief of Staff at Fairplex, a public-private partnership with the County of Los Angeles and is home of the LA County Fair and more than 500 year-round events.
Cielo’s past includes Transparency Officer for the City of Los Angeles Office of City Administrative Officer, acting as executive liaison with external stakeholders and providing oversight support for the City’s $8 billion budget. She was also Deputy to LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, where she was responsible for discretionary grant making; staff hiring, recruitment and development; and policy issues including immigration, housing and community development. Cielo served the Obama Administration as Special Assistant at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C., where she advised the Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development on policy and political matters regarding a $50 billion grant portfolio and over 1,200 grantees.
Cielo enjoys her book club, and her role as the Los Angeles co-coordinator of Las Comadres para las Americas, and Professional Development Advisor for Latinas Promoviendo.
Marisa Hall
Marisa Hall is an accomplished leader in the biopharmaceutical industry with over two decades of experience. With influential roles at renowned Fortune 500 companies, she has established herself as a seasoned professional. She currently serves as a Senior Healthcare Account Executive at Eisai, Inc., leveraging her expertise in healthcare disparities and community engagement to contribute invaluable insights to the company’s success.
Marisa is dedicated to addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare. She advocates for underrepresented communities, striving to eliminate barriers and ensure that everyone receives the care they deserve.
Beyond her professional achievements, Marisa is deeply committed to advocating for the welfare of women and children in her community. She passionately champions causes related to education, housing, financial literacy, and healthcare. Marisa actively engages with her community by organizing events and programs that empower children through education, creativity, and personal growth.
Through organizing empowering events and collaborating with local organizations, she actively engages with her community to create sustainable solutions and amplify the voices of the underrepresented.
In her personal time, Marisa enjoys the arts, traveling, and cherishing moments with her family. Her commitment to making a positive difference serves as an inspiration to others, driving her to create a better future for all by addressing healthcare disparities and fostering community engagement.
Steve Zimmer
Steve Zimmer is the Stategic Partnerships Administrator for the Community Schools Initiative at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Before joining LACOE, Steve served as Deputy Superintendent for Student Support Services at the California Department of Education where he led California’s community schools implementation as well as school-based mental health programs and college and career development departments for the State.
A 30-year veteran public school teacher and counselor, Steve has previously served as the President of the Los Angeles Board of Education and the Senior Education Advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Steve is also an adjunct faculty member at California State University, Los Angeles and Occidental College.
Lourdes Castro Ramirez
Unanimously appointed by the HACLA Board of Commission, Lourdes Castro Ramirez leads the second-largest public housing authority in the nation, serving over 200,000 individuals.
As President and CEO, Castro Ramirez is strengthening the agency’s collaborative commitment to people, place and pathways by expanding affordable housing, creating greater access, investing in people and building strong communities.
Before joining HACLA, Lourdes served as Chief Housing and Homelessness Solutions Officer for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. In this role, she led the Mayor’s comprehensive citywide priorities focused on preventing and reducing street homelessness, fast-tracking affordable housing production, forging partnerships that lead to increased housing and service coordination, and developing unified regional solutions by working closely with city, county, state, and federal partners. She continues to serve as housing advisor to Mayor Bass.
Previously, she was the Secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency under Governor Gavin Newsom. She led 12 entities, including 40 boards and bureaus, responsible for preserving and expanding affordable housing, advancing statewide efforts to prevent and end homelessness, protecting consumers, and safeguarding California’s civil rights.
Castro Ramírez has held other prominent positions, including her appointment by former President Barack Obama to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Public and Indian Housing, her leadership as President and CEO of the San Antonio Housing Authority, as a Director at HACLA, where she oversaw rental assistance and resident development programs, and as President of the University Health System Foundation in San Antonio.
Castro Ramírez earned her Master of Arts in Urban Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Chicano Studies at UCLA.
BUILD HOPE INC. EXECUTIVE TEAM & OFFICERS
Jasmine Taylor
Jasmine Taylor is a proud Compton native and lifelong advocate for racial and social justice. With over 30 years of leadership experience, she has dedicated her career to empowering underserved communities and creating pathways to opportunity.
Jasmine’s journey began at just 16 years old, running her first nonprofit with the Constitutional Rights Foundation and Rebuild LA in the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles uprisings. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Public Policy from the University of Southern California, she co-founded a charter management organization, leading the establishment of Community Harvest Charter School (CHCS) and Community Harvest Foundation (CHF) in South Los Angeles. CHCS achieved a 99% graduation rate and was recognized as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 High Schools.
Since then, Jasmine has spearheaded transformative initiatives to expand educational access, address intergenerational poverty, and strengthen communities nationwide. Guided by the belief that a zip code should never determine a person’s trajectory, she has worked tirelessly to ensure equity and opportunity for those most impacted by systemic inequities.
Jasmine holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University in addition to her undergraduate degree. Her dedication has earned her prestigious honors, including the Reinhard Mohn Fellowship, the National Urban Fellowship for social entrepreneurs, and the CORO Women in Leadership distinction and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. As the founding Executive Director of Build Hope, Inc., Jasmine continues to lead with purpose, championing equity and creating transformative opportunities that empower Los Angeles communities to thrive.
Jennie Ta
Jennie Ta is a dynamic leader with a passion for driving organizational excellence and expanding access to education and opportunity. With over 15 years of executive leadership experience in higher education and nonprofit management, she has dedicated her career to building sustainable institutions and empowering communities through strategic innovation.
Jennie’s journey began with a deep commitment to mission-driven work, co-founding and leading a nonprofit graduate university through regional accreditation while developing programs that fostered real-world impact. As a senior executive, she oversaw all operational functions, including finance, human resources, student affairs, marketing, and admissions ensuring institutional growth and long-term sustainability.
Holding both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration, Jennie has leveraged her expertise to develop strategic initiatives, streamline operations, and build strong teams. She is committed to creating efficient, mission-driven organizations that adapt to evolving needs and make a lasting impact.
Patina Butler
Patina Butler is a visionary leader who transforms strategy into reality through thoughtful program development, strong community partnerships, and data-driven decision-making. With a keen ability to identify opportunities and bring them together into a cohesive, impactful whole, she helps organizations expand their reach and drive meaningful change.
As an influential voice in decision-making, Patina is deeply respected for her expertise in building programmatic infrastructure, fostering partnerships, and ensuring initiatives are grounded in measurable outcomes. She is a bridge between strategy and execution, inspiring action through compelling storytelling while delivering tangible results.
Most recently, Patina served as Assistant Director at The People Concern, one of LA County’s largest social services agencies and a leading advocate for evidence-based solutions to homelessness. In this role, she oversaw project-based housing sites, ICMS teams, and client services across the county, ensuring effective program implementation and support.
Previously, as Senior Program Manager, Patina led highly complex program development efforts, including needs assessments, grant administration, contract development, policy creation, and fiscal oversight. Her ability to design and implement sustainable programs has been instrumental in improving services and outcomes for vulnerable communities.
Patina holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and is a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. She brings to BHI a proven track record of leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to social impact, making her a vital addition to the executive team.
Lesley Turner
Lesley Turner brings a deeply personal and generational commitment to philanthropy and storytelling. Inspired by her grandfather, William Gargan—a renowned author, actor, and spokesperson for the American Cancer Society—Lesley began her own philanthropic journey supporting nonprofit fundraising efforts across Los Angeles.
Her career took a pivotal turn when she became the first Director of Philanthropy at the Blind Center of Nevada in Las Vegas. During that time, she also co-owned a helicopter tour company and guest ranch with her husband, using both her business and community ties to help raise millions in funds and in-kind donations for nonprofits.
In 2019, Lesley’s life was upended by a series of devastating losses, including the passing of her husband and the destruction of their homes and business. During this incredibly difficult chapter, it was local nonprofit organizations that became her anchor—offering housing, mental health resources, and critical support. That experience ignited a new sense of purpose: to give back by using her talents to uplift the very organizations that helped her rebuild.
Combining her background in writing and commercial production with her fundraising expertise, Lesley began creating powerful outreach and fundraising videos for nonprofits—using storytelling as a tool for healing, advocacy, and change.
Her dream was to one day dedicate her time and heart to a single mission-aligned organization. That dream became a reality when she joined Build Hope Inc. (BHI) as our first Director of Development & Communications. In this role, Lesley works alongside a passionate executive team to elevate BHI’s visibility, deepen community impact, and foster a culture rooted in hope, equity, and possibility.
A third generation Angeleno, Lesley lives in West Los Angeles with her twin teen daughters. Her favorite quote is from Maya Angelou, “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
Jenny Scanlin
With over 30 years of economic and community development work, BHI President Jenny Scanlin is a community-centric and highly devoted leader.
Past positions include Assistant General Manager of Economic Development for the City of Los Angeles’ Economic and Workforce Development Department, Regional Administrator for the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles’ Downtown, Eastside, and Harbor Regions, as well as Senior Operations Officer for CRA/LA’s Successor Agency overseeing project management/compliance, disposition of all real property assets, planning and land use as well as the Public Art Program. Jenny became an expert in public real estate development, policy and finance, and broad-based economic development strategies in these capacities. With dual bachelor’s degrees from UC Berkeley in Social Work and Political Science, Jenny started her early career in social work and non-profit administration and leans on those aspects of her education and skills to artfully lead Build Hope, Inc.
When Jenny isn’t directing resources that uplift our residents and program participants, she enjoys creating immersive experiences for her family that enable them to unplug and reconnect fully. Everyday adventures keep her in tune with her passions, whether through tasty topics discussed at the dinner table or exploring new landscapes during local hikes and short getaways.
Marlene Garza
BHI Treasurer Marlene Garza has over 20 years of experience in housing and non-profit management. She has served as the Chief Administrative for HACLA, managing the agency’s financial, legal, information technology, and human resources.
Prior to that, Marlene was the Assistant General Manager for Administration for the City of Los Angeles Housing Department, where she oversaw the department’s fiscal and administrative functions, was the CEO of the Housing Rights Center, a non-profit legal services agency which investigates and litigates housing discrimination complaints, and a Diversity Training Monitor for the Office of the Civil Rights Monitor. Marlene also taught junior high bilingual math and science for LAUSD.
Marlene has a JD from the UCLA School of Law and a BA in Philosophy from UC Berkeley.
While finance, contracts and legal matters are Marlene’s stock-in-trade, hiking and travel help her unwind. A bucket-list trip to Patagonia combined the two for a journey of discovery that tested her endurance while soaking in the transformative vistas.
Tiffany Prescott
Secretary Tiffany Prescott has held positions as Executive Assistant at HACLA, Section 8 Management Clerk and Eligibility Interviewer, and later in Intergovernmental and Community Relations as an Administrative Assistant.
Tiffany received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton and is working on her MBA from Grand Canyon University. She is a member of the Iota Phi-Lambda Sorority Gamma Mu Chapter Sisterhood and continues to participate in their outreach and community events that seek to empower the youth and young adults through civil and social service activities, leadership, and business education.
When she isn’t guiding board operations for the team as expert governance lead, Tiffany deepens her connection to her family and hones her artistic expression through writing and illustrating children’s books. Tiffany is also active in many organizations in her community, volunteering regularly to provide hot meals to local homeless and underprivileged families.
