Projects

Casa Amparo (House of Refuge)

Casa Amparo is a 21-unit transitional housing community and supportive housing program located in Forest Grove. Centro Cultural acquired the property using Project Turnkey funds and has leveraged federal, state, and regional funding to complete rehabilitation in three distinct phases. The third and final phase was completed in 2025.

Project role: secure and manage $6.125M in federal, state, regional and private grants, and lead the acquisition, design, development, and revitalization of the property.

Apatzingan Market Revitalization

Apatzingan Market is a privately owned grocery store and kitchen offering culturally specific foods and grocery items. The City of Cornelius Urban Renewal Agency (URA), in partnership with Consultative Partners, launched a “catalytic project” to revitalize the historic storefront next to Centro Mercado, using a combination of state and URA funds. The initial phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2026.

Project: secure and manage $300,000 in Oregon Main Street and URA grants and leading the design, development, and revitalization of this historic commercial property.

Portland Mercado

The Portland Mercado, a marketplace known for its variety of cuisine in the Lents neighborhood, was closed after suffering significant damage from a fire in January of 2024. Prosper Portland awarded a $750K grant to the Latino-led Hacienda Community Development Corporation for post-fire restoration and upgrades. An additional $300K is covered by a Fire Relief Fund and $900K has come from insurance. Construction is currently in progress and scheduled for completion by early 2026.

Project role: temporary management of $2M in local grants, private fundraising and insurance, and restructured the general contractor’s operating model for restoration and upgrades of the property.

Backyard ADU

Cities across Oregon are encouraging the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as a practical way to expand affordable housing within existing neighborhoods.

Our family chose to lead by example.

We developed a 486-square-foot backyard ADU, transforming an underutilized portion of our property into a functional and welcoming living space. The project also included a full landscape redesign — integrating a pergola, paver patio, and connecting pathways to create a cohesive outdoor environment.

Through this project, I coordinated the full development process, including:

  • Site planning and feasibility

  • Architectural design coordination

  • Permitting and municipal approvals

  • Contractor bidding and selection

  • Financing considerations

  • Construction management

This hands-on experience informs how I help homeowners and organizations navigate the practical realities of small-scale housing development.

If you're considering an ADU, we can workshop the possibilities together — turning your backyard into a new housing opportunity, a family residence, or a long-term investment.

Let's explore what’s possible to transform YOUR backyard!

Community Connection Workgroup

WESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY network to bolster capacity, cooperation, and financial resources of services to those experiencing social and economic hardship. Its mission: to strengthen and carry out a community-based response to poverty.

The workgroup set out to increase the capacity of the local social service system to fill a gap through community-wide cooperation, fundraising and advocacy, creating an involved and connected culture that restores community for everyone. 

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the workgroup was activated as an emergency taskforce of government, business, and nonprofit leaders that directed over $14 million of new investment (federal, state, and regional funds) into local community programs. These investments scaled local service providers to address increased housing and food insecurity; local programming that still thrives today.

Forest Grove Foundation Reimagined

Served as Board President and Interim Executive Director (ED), converting the 25-year fiscal sponsor to a service organization and recruiting a new board of directors.

A new strategic plan was developed to center the organization on housing and food security in Western Washington County, and expanding local partnerships to bolster the local food system

Another multi-year endeavor to bring people together, leverage resources effectively, and enhance the effectiveness of partnerships and programs.

Family Promise Restored

Served as Board President and Interim Executive Director (ED) to restore the affiliate from a COVID-19 shutdown and departure of a long-standing ED.

Inspiring others toward a common goal, a merger was negotiated with a local affiliate to form Family Promise of Greater Washington County in 2023.

$750,000 of new investment (federal and regional funds) was directed to redesign and restore a historic home to accommodate up to 3 families for transitional living.

This multi-year endeavor demonstrated an ability to bring people together, leverage resources effectively, and enhance the effectiveness of partnerships and programs.