Board of Directors 2022
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Azalea Renfield, President
Community Services Manager City of East Palo Alto Azalea is passionate about equality, equity adjustments (when needed), social justice, and combating discriminatory practices. Housing is no exception, as she views access to affordable housing as a human right. Since her arrival to the organization in 2015, she has been drawn to the area of Fair Housing Rights - specifically the federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing across the United States on protected classes. Azalea has been living in Marin for over ten years and loves ballroom dancing and spending time with her family and friends.
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Paula Allen, Vice President
AVP, Financial Services Manager Mechanics Bank Paula was first introduced to the agency many years ago when she brought Nancy Kenyon, the founding executive director, a donation check from Mechanics Bank for the annual fundraising event. Ms. Kenyon asked her to attend a meeting to see what the organization does and to know how the donation was being spent. Paula joined the Board of Directors and has been a member for over ten years. The area of our work she is most passionate about is providing free comprehensive counseling, complaint investigation and assistance in filing housing discrimination complaints.
Paula has been a Financial Service Manager with Mechanics Bank since 2008 and has been in the financial industry for many years. She has lived in Marin County for over forty years. She loves driving out to the coast and picking up oysters at Hog Island to have with a nice glass of Sonoma Chardonnay. |
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DeVera Boyd, Secretary
Senior Unit Leader Full Circle Research DeVera, who goes by the name Dee, joined the board at the beginning of the housing crisis. Her mission was to become educated in the rights of those impacted by unfair lending practices and help those impacted find resources to fight the mortgage lenders. She works in the tech sector. Dee has lived in Marin County for over 23 years. She enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her family.
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Lisa Mennucci, Treasurer
Director of Finance NES Administrative Services, Inc. After attending the 2018 Anniversary of Fair Housing conference hosted by FHANC, Lisa felt compelled to participate in improving the injustices in housing in our local community. Lisa is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Emergency Room Staffing, Management and Medical Billing. Lisa has lived in Marin County for over 40 years and enjoys spending time with her family and playing tennis.
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Cesar Lagleva, Board Member
Project Management Consultant, Educator and Facilitator Cesar Lagleva Consulting Cesar has had a long history of connection with the organization dating back when the late Luther Wallace and Nancy Kenyon were alive. Cesar has always appreciated the commitment and dedication of FHANC to address social and housing justice issues that have systematically segregated and discriminated many underserved residents of our community. Cesar is an Adjunct Professor at Dominican University, an organizational consultant and trainer on the subject of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He also has a private psychotherapy practice providing clinical counseling to individuals, couples and families. Cesar has been a resident of Marin County since 1978 after immigrating from the Philippines with his family, and grew up in a diverse working class neighborhood in San Rafael called the Canal District. In his spare time, Cesar enjoys the outdoors (hiking, camping/backpacking), traveling, sports and spending time with family, friends and community.
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Nyala Thompson, Board Member
Head of Marketing, Events, and Fundraising United Educators for Housing and Literacy Nayla found FHANC in 2021. Working in property management for three and a half years, she had experienced unfair treatment to minorities and individuals that are financially strained especially in more affluent communities. Nyala wants to not only see the change but contribute to it and that is what brought her to this organization. She is most passionate about our fight to ensure underprivileged families have equal opportunity in Marin County and are treated fairly according to fair housing laws and those that discriminate are legally reprimanded. Nayla has been familiar with Marin for over 5 years. She loves to go for runs through the neighborhoods of Larkspur and Corte Madera.
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Audrey Perrott, Board Member
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Consumer Action Audrey is drawn to Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California by its mission of ensuring equal housing opportunity and educating communities on the value of diversity. She has strong interests in affirmatively furthering fair housing and appraisal discrimination investigations.
Currently, she is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Consumer Action. Consumer Action is a mission-driven nonprofit that empowers consumers to assert their rights in the marketplace and financially prosper. Prior to her position with Consumer Action, Audrey worked for a nonprofit fair housing counseling agency as a Compliance and Outreach Coordinator and Grant Developer. She also worked for a number of years as both a Housing Specialist and Eligibility/Section 8 Supervisor for the County of Alameda Housing Authority and the City of Benicia Housing Authority. She is not a resident of Marin County, but Audrey has spent a lot of time in the area over the years attending fair housing events, going on day trips to Muir Woods and Sausalito, taking scouts on camping trips at Camp Bothin and attending events at the Marin Art and Garden Center. When Audrey is not working or serving in the community, she enjoys traveling with her family. |
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Casey Epp, Esq., Board Member
Co-owner of Epp Properties Casey was the former supervising attorney for Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California until late 2020 and had worked for the agency as an attorney for several years. She feels fortunate to return as a member of the Board. She is passionate about FHANC’s fair housing counseling and complaint-based and systemic investigations.
She currently is an attorney and co-owner of rental properties in San Francisco. She lived in Marin County for 22 years prior to moving to San Francisco. Her favorite thing to do is travel (pre-Covid). |
A Note from Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California's Board
FHANC's commitment to combating housing discrimination has never been more important than now. The pandemic has not only threatened job security, but it has placed thousands of families at risk of housing discrimination. Help our organization by donating today! Our board has decided to challenge all of our families, friends, and acquaintances to raise $2,500.00 before June 30, 2022. All donations are used to support the organization to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and that staff is available when needed. Remember, every little bit that you commit goes a long way in helping us fulfill our mission. ALL donations are tax deductible so every dollar you donate is a dollar used to help those on the verge of unlawful discrimination and/or eviction. So donate today, stay involved, and spread the word! With gratitude: Azalea Renfield, Lisa Mennucci, Paula Allen, DeVera Boyd, Cesar Lagleva, Nyala Thompson, Audrey Perrott, and Casey Epp.
FHANC's commitment to combating housing discrimination has never been more important than now. The pandemic has not only threatened job security, but it has placed thousands of families at risk of housing discrimination. Help our organization by donating today! Our board has decided to challenge all of our families, friends, and acquaintances to raise $2,500.00 before June 30, 2022. All donations are used to support the organization to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and that staff is available when needed. Remember, every little bit that you commit goes a long way in helping us fulfill our mission. ALL donations are tax deductible so every dollar you donate is a dollar used to help those on the verge of unlawful discrimination and/or eviction. So donate today, stay involved, and spread the word! With gratitude: Azalea Renfield, Lisa Mennucci, Paula Allen, DeVera Boyd, Cesar Lagleva, Nyala Thompson, Audrey Perrott, and Casey Epp.
