EXECUTIVE TEAM
Siris Barrios
Director of Social Impact and Community OrganizingSiris Barrios served as the Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) Manager. Ms. Barrios is an expert in developing and implementing social impact initiatives that centered around community organizing. In the last seven years, Ms. Barrios organized stakeholders around placemaking strategies that inform land entitlements that resulted in Community Benefits Agreement embedded into new zoning. Ms. […]
READ MORESiris Barrios
Siris Barrios served as the Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) Manager. Ms. Barrios is an expert in developing and implementing social impact initiatives that centered around community organizing. In the last seven years, Ms. Barrios organized stakeholders around placemaking strategies that inform land entitlements that resulted in Community Benefits Agreement embedded into new zoning. Ms. Barrios is a geographer and community action researcher with nearly 25 years of community organizing experience.
Previously Ms. Barrios served as Director of Youth Programs at Community Coalition; a prominent nonprofit organization based in South Los Angeles established by Congresswoman Karen Bass. Ms. Barrios had the opportunity to work on the “Communities Rising,” a community-organizing space-based redevelopment model focus on resident engagement.
She was born in El Salvador and raised in Los Angeles (Watts), California, and has explored fourteen countries. Ms. Barrios loves spending time with her two boys, her husband, and her family.
Arrens Castro
Finance DirectorArrens had fifteen plus years of progressive experience handling all aspects of daily accounting operations, financial reporting, month end closing, internal controls, financial planning and analysis, ERP management with Big 4 audit, large advertising and public cpa firm serving small to mid-size retail, non-profit organizations, petroleum, construction and manufacturing clients before she joined TRUST South […]
READ MOREArrens Castro
Arrens had fifteen plus years of progressive experience handling all aspects of daily accounting operations, financial reporting, month end closing, internal controls, financial planning and analysis, ERP management with Big 4 audit, large advertising and public cpa firm serving small to mid-size retail, non-profit organizations, petroleum, construction and manufacturing clients before she joined TRUST South LA on 2012. She is a graduate of Bachelor of Science major in Accountancy and a graduate of Master Executive MBA Program from Ateneo Regis University-Philippines. She is an active member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountant and California Certified Public Accountant. She is also a Certified Global Management Accountant and a Certified Tax Preparer.
Oscar Monge
Interim Executive DirectorOscar Monge, currently serving as the Interim Executive Director of T.R.U.S.T. South LA, has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission since 2017 to reclaim land and housing from the speculative market for permanent affordable housing, racial and economic justice, and community empowerment in South LA. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit and public […]
READ MOREOscar Monge
Oscar Monge, currently serving as the Interim Executive Director of T.R.U.S.T. South LA, has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission since 2017 to reclaim land and housing from the speculative market for permanent affordable housing, racial and economic justice, and community empowerment in South LA. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit and public sector leadership, Oscar has played a key role in leading transformative community ownership and affordable housing initiatives at T.R.U.S.T. South LA. Collaborating closely with the executive team and board of directors, he guides strategic directions and operational decisions, with a focus on project management, fundraising, and advocacy for climate justice.
Oscar’s dedication to combating displacement and promoting tenant ownership policies is demonstrated through his leadership and coalition-building efforts in Los Angeles and across California. Since assuming the role of Board President of the California Community Land Trust Network in 2021, Oscar has been pivotal in advancing the Community Land Trust (CLT) movement statewide.
In addition to his responsibilities at T.R.U.S.T. South LA, Oscar recently joined the Board of Directors of LA Mas, where he co-chairs the Community Housing Committee, further expanding his impact on community-driven housing initiatives.
Oscar holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dickinson College and a Master’s in Urban Planning from USC, specializing in climate change, community development, and sustainability. His commitment to stabilizing gentrifying neighborhoods underscores his vision for equitable community building and empowerment through community control.
TEAM MEMBERS
Arlon Tuazon
Office ManagerArlon joined T.R.U.S.T. South LA in 2019. She has 11 years experience as an Executive Assistant to the CIO in one of the largest banks in the Philippines. She has a degree in Business Management. She is part of the team that handles the day to day operation of T.R.U.S.T. office, providing clerical support, updating […]
Read moreArlon Tuazon
Arlon joined T.R.U.S.T. South LA in 2019. She has 11 years experience as an Executive Assistant to the CIO in one of the largest banks in the Philippines. She has a degree in Business Management. She is part of the team that handles the day to day operation of T.R.U.S.T. office, providing clerical support, updating member files, social media and website management.
Sandra McNeill
Development and Real Estate AdvisorMs. McNeill has been involved in community building work for over twenty years, working with community-based organizations and coalitions, which have each approached the problem of wealth and resource inequality through a range of strategies. As principal of Sandra McNeill Consulting, Ms. McNeill is committed to enhancing the capacity of non-profit organizations and community-based initiatives […]
Read moreSandra McNeill
Ms. McNeill has been involved in community building work for over twenty years, working with community-based organizations and coalitions, which have each approached the problem of wealth and resource inequality through a range of strategies.
As principal of Sandra McNeill Consulting, Ms. McNeill is committed to enhancing the capacity of non-profit organizations and community-based initiatives by offering her experience, skills and services in policy and program development, community education and technical capacity-building, and strategic planning for organizations and campaigns. From 2007 to 2017, Ms. McNeill served as the Executive Director of T.R.U.S.T. South LA (Tenemos que Reclamar y Unidos Salvar la Tierra-South LA). Her previous work also includes co-founding Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE), an economic justice organizing group, and coordinating the Figueroa Corridor Coalition for Economic Justice (predecessor to UNIDAD) and the Share the Wealth coalition
Ms. McNeill holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, with a concentration in Community Economic Development, from University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA); and currently instructs the Community Collaborative program at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. She also holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science, with a minor in Spanish Language and Literature, from Williams College in Massachusetts.
Aishah Abdala
Community Development AssociateAishah (she/they) was border town raised with the privilege of growing up between Tijuana, B.C., and San Ysidro, CA. Their experience as a fronteriza led Aishah to dedicate their time and service to understanding health as a social effect, health as an institution, and abolition as a process of regeneration towards community-led systems change. While […]
Read moreAishah Abdala
Aishah (she/they) was border town raised with the privilege of growing up between Tijuana, B.C., and San Ysidro, CA. Their experience as a fronteriza led Aishah to dedicate their time and service to understanding health as a social effect, health as an institution, and abolition as a process of regeneration towards community-led systems change. While receiving her B.A. in Public Health with a minor in Public Policy at UC Berkeley, they served local community-based organizations centered on Environmental Justice coordinating service events and developing an EJ curriculum for UC Berkeley students that centers narratives and efforts toward systems change by impacted communities and away from the academy. After graduating, Aishah served capacity-building initiatives for community-based organizations, and initiatives to influence public health departments, and philanthropic institutions to uplift grassroots efforts for health equity. While pursuing her dual Master’s in Social Welfare and Public Policy at UCLA, Aishah developed skills in developing therapeutic relationships as they counseled high school students through the COVID-19 pandemic and supported incarcerated men completing their community-based treatment programs toward a housing placement. Aishah is now an associate project manager with T.R.U.S.T. South LA supporting preservation and small-scale development initiatives to stabilize South LA neighborhoods and its residents by expanding access to quality permanently affordable housing and shared ownership models.
Gabriela Nunez
Community Development CoordinatorGabriela Nunez was born and raised in South Los Angeles. She has been volunteering weekly at T.R.U.S.T. South LA since summer 2017. At T.R.U.S.T. South LA, Gabriela has been involved in projects like the “Welcome to Our Neighborhood Dream” Slauson & Wall community event and their resident-led Sustainable and Stable Slauson plan. In addition, she […]
Read moreGabriela Nunez
Gabriela Nunez was born and raised in South Los Angeles. She has been volunteering weekly at T.R.U.S.T. South LA since summer 2017. At T.R.U.S.T. South LA, Gabriela has been involved in projects like the “Welcome to Our Neighborhood Dream” Slauson & Wall community event and their resident-led Sustainable and Stable Slauson plan. In addition, she has worked in T.R.U.S.T.’s office; organizing files, drafting and publishing bilingual social media posts, drafting letters, and assisting with many other clerical needs. She is earning her Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Ángeles, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Chicana/o Latina/o Studies.
Jessica Melendez
Director of PolicyJessica was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Inspired by hearing her father’s experiences growing up in South Central as an immigrant during the crack-cocaine epidemic, she pursued her BA in Politics from the University of San Francisco. After graduating, she began her professional career as an organizer in South Central LA organizing around […]
Read moreJessica Melendez
Jessica was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Inspired by hearing her father’s experiences growing up in South Central as an immigrant during the crack-cocaine epidemic, she pursued her BA in Politics from the University of San Francisco. After graduating, she began her professional career as an organizer in South Central LA organizing around criminal justice policies, policies in education involving equitable funding, and gun reform. She’s worked towards building thriving and sustainable communities, rooted in justice and equity through systems change work, by implementing a community school model in LAUSD schools and coordinating the South Los Angeles Building Healthy Communities collaborative while enrolled in UCLA’s Masters in Urban and Regional Planning Program. She graduates in June 2022 and looks forward to working with TRUST South LA as their Director of Policy to combat displacement, develop innovative strategies to create community-controlled development, and build power among residents in South LA.
Kristinia Kirkwood
Director of DevelopmentKristinia Kirkwood began her development career in 2017 in the South Bay, where she has been pivotal in tackling issues like homelessness, food insecurity, and low-income affecting individuals and families throughout Los Angeles. She has contributed to key initiatives, including Mayor Karen Bass’s “Inside Safe” program in collaboration with Harbor Interfaith Services, which has helped house […]
Read moreKristinia Kirkwood
Ivana Munguia
Climate Justice OrganizerIvana Munguia was born and raised in South Central, Los Angeles. As a first-generation Latina, Ivana attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science, and double minored in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Public Affairs in 2022. During her undergraduate years, Ivana was a member […]
Read moreIvana Munguia
Rashad Douglass
Climate Justice OrganizerRashad Douglass is a dedicated political science scholar with a passion for progressive politics, housing/transit advocacy, and community organizing. Receiving his B.A. in Political Science & Government at Dickinson College, where he graduated magna cum laude, Rashad has distinguished himself through his academic excellence and commitment to social justice. Born and raised in South LA, Rashad’s experience […]
Read moreRashad Douglass
Rashad Douglass is a dedicated political science scholar with a passion for progressive politics, housing/transit advocacy, and community organizing. Receiving his B.A. in Political Science & Government at Dickinson College, where he graduated magna cum laude, Rashad has distinguished himself through his academic excellence and commitment to social justice. Born and raised in South LA, Rashad’s experience growing up in a predominantly Black and Brown community and being raised in a single-parent household informs the community-centered and socially conscious work he does now. He enhanced his global perspective through a prestigious study abroad program at the University of Oxford, where he focused on Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Rashad has extensive experience in organizing and coordinating campaigns aimed at increasing voter turnout, advocating for affordable housing, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. His roles have included serving as a Voter Engagement Coordinator at Dickinson Votes and as a Community Organizer with the Dolores Huerta Foundation in Los Angeles. He has also interned with T.R.U.S.T. South LA, contributing to policy research on housing advocacy and facilitating community engagement events. Throughout his career, Rashad has led and participated in multiple projects focused on racial justice, food insecurity, and environmental sustainability while pursuing personal interests in transportation and housing policy, environmental justice, and urban planning. In addition to his professional experience, Rashad has earned numerous honors, including the Howard Lane Rubendall Senior Scholarship and the Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Scholarship, a leadership and career development program that focuses on supporting students of color in historically disadvantaged communities through college and beyond. He is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and has actively contributed to organizations such as the President’s Commission on Environmental Sustainability and the Black Student Union (now the Afro-Diasporic & Cultural Collective), where he served as treasurer. With a unique blend of policy knowledge, leadership skills, and a commitment to community empowerment, Rashad continues to advocate for equitable social change.
Sim-Marcel Bilal
Lead OrganizerSim Bilal is an seasoned organizer and activist from South Central LA. He was raised by a single mom and is Korean, Black, and Chickasaw. Sim roots his work through his identity, as an anchor and guide for systematic change. His primary focus has been organizing on the intersection of climate, housing & the environment […]
Read moreSim-Marcel Bilal
Neyda Quintanilla
Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) ManagerNeyda Quintanilla was born and raised in South Los Angeles, having experienced racial and social injustice growing up influenced her decision to follow a career in politics and law. The housing crisis of 2010 personally impacted her life, which led to her volunteering with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), where she learned […]
Read moreNeyda Quintanilla
Neyda Quintanilla was born and raised in South Los Angeles, having experienced racial and social injustice growing up influenced her decision to follow a career in politics and law. The housing crisis of 2010 personally impacted her life, which led to her volunteering with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), where she learned about the speculative housing market, and the effects of predatory lending and banking. During her time at ACCE, she participated in direct action organizing strategies that helped bring attention to the housing crisis and inequality experienced by South Los Angeles residents.
In 2012, Ms. Quintanilla earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from California State University, Northridge. Ultimately in 2016, her focus on law led her to obtain a Paralegal Studies Certificate. She brings a diverse background and experience that led her to become an Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Manager at T.R.U.S.T South LA. Ms. Quintanilla and her ERAP teammates have helped award 6 million dollars to South LA tenants impacted by Covid-19. In addition, she has helped community members access and navigate legal resources to address illegal evictions as well as other local resources. Ms. Quintanilla is invested in seeing South Los Angeles residents thrive to reach self-determination.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones at concerts, amusement parks and exploring new places that Los Angeles offers.
Karely De La Cruz
Civic Engagement OrganizerKarely De La Cruz has been shaped by a multifaceted upbringing across Tijuana, South Los Angeles, and Compton, and has been deeply ingrained in community work since her early years. She discovered her passion for activism at a young age, getting involved in various grassroots initiatives focused on supporting marginalized individuals and families experiencing housing […]
Read moreKarely De La Cruz
Karely De La Cruz has been shaped by a multifaceted upbringing across Tijuana, South Los Angeles, and Compton, and has been deeply ingrained in community work since her early years. She discovered her passion for activism at a young age, getting involved in various grassroots initiatives focused on supporting marginalized individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity.
After earning her degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Dominguez Hills, Karely dedicated herself to addressing the challenges faced by those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her unwavering commitment to assisting vulnerable populations was evident in her work with mutual aid programs, where she played a crucial role in preventing evictions and providing essential services to those in need during times of crisis.
As a key member of the team at T.R.U.S.T. South LA, Karely contributed significantly to securing $6 million in rental and utility for the state rental assistance program for local residents. She actively participated in advocacy campaigns such as Measure ULA, which successfully generated additional funding through a tax on luxury property sales in Los Angeles city. Through her tireless efforts, Karely has helped bridge the gap for many individuals seeking resources like rental aid and legal support, ensuring that they can maintain stable housing and overcome financial hardships. Karely has always been deeply connected to community service and social advocacy.
Driven by her belief in the fundamental right to safe and affordable housing, Karely continues to be a vocal advocate for tenant protections and community-driven solutions. With a deep-rooted connection to the housing struggles faced by many families, she channels her experiences into meaningful action, striving to create a more just and equitable society for all. Through her involvement in community spaces like Compton Rising, Compton Tenants Union and East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, Karely remains steadfast in her mission to promote social justice, housing rights, and environmental sustainability, embodying the values of inclusivity and empowerment in every endeavor she undertakes. Karely actively fights against oppressive systems, standing firm in her belief that housing is a fundamental human right.