Team
PUHC Leadership
Gloria Farias
Executive Director of PUHC
Gloria Farias has been PUHC’s Executive Director since 1993, and has been a committed community leader for over 30 years, working with Pico-Union residents to improve their living standards and economic welfare. She has developed over $74.3 Million dollars of quality affordable housing under various programs such as tax credits, tax exempt bonds, 221 (d) 4, 202, CRA, LAHD and home financing. Through her contributions, PUHC has developed over 1000 units of affordable housing in the Pico-Union neighborhood in addition to a daycare and a computer center. She has also spearheaded community groups and business enterprises, organized graffiti and waste cleanups, and continuously conducts gang member and at-risk youth outreach.
Originator & Director at The GraffLab.
At the age of 10, Ricky attended community art classes in Pico Union. He taught over 200 fellow classmates art techniques that he learned from reading craft books. He then began his career in retail design. He brought his talents back to Pico Union by starting the Graff Lab. He saw children getting in trouble in the neighborhood and he wanted to create a safe place for them to learn and to demonstrate their art. When they cut the summer school program and cut the art programs, Ricky wanted to find a solution for his community. The solution was The Graff Lab.
Ricardo Guerrero
Board Members
Mario Morales - President
Born in USA 1954, immigrant parents from Nicaragua and Cuba, graduated from Cathedral High School, Earned his associate degree from L.A. Trade Tech. 1988 he was victim of a tragic accident on the freeway, rear ended by a drunk driver. Suffered multiple complications, permanently disable was confined for two years on a wheelchair. Retired from General Motors was a team leader and union representative. Elected Board Member in 1978 as Treasurer of the Board, became President of the Board in 1987.
Rosa Novoa - Secretary
Migrant from Managua Nicaragua, at the age of 22 arrived at the USA. Worked as a house keeper. Resident since 1989 in one of the complexes of Pico Union Housing, raised three children in the community. When her third child was born; Mrs. Novoa and her husband decided for her to stop working and become a full-time house wife to care for her three children, engaging part time work at home as seamstress for 35 years. One child born with down syndrome, one child is a former U.S Marine and the third child graduated from Cal State University as a Social Worker. Mrs. Novoa has dedicated her life to making sure her children were successful. She was elected as Board Member of Pico-Union Housing in January of 2015.
Wilfredo Pineda - Treasurer
Migrant from Managua Nicaragua, at the age of 22 arrived at the USA. Worked as a house keeper. Resident since 1989 in one of the complexes of Pico Union Housing, raised three children in the community. When her third child was born; Mrs. Novoa and her husband decided for her to stop working and become a full-time house wife to care for her three children, engaging part time work at home as seamstress for 35 years. One child born with down syndrome, one child is a former U.S Marine and the third child graduated from Cal State University as a Social Worker. Mrs. Novoa has dedicated her life to making sure her children were successful. She was elected as Board Member of Pico-Union Housing in January of 2015.