Housing Claremont Board

President

Martha Morales

Martha Morales is an ordained deacon, retired in the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She served 21 years at Claremont UMC and her work focused on education ministries, pastoral care and the promotion of social justice in the broader community. In retirement Martha is active in work on affordable housing. She serves on the board of Housing Claremont, in addition to The Clinebell Institute.

Vice President of Strategy & Treasurer

Rev. Gene Boutilier

Gene moved to activist retirement at Pilgrim Place in Claremont in 2004. For over 70 years, since he was a teenager, Gene has been building non-profit organizations. He has been in leadership, founder, and organizer roles in many advocacy, labor, and movement groups confronting poverty, homelessness, hunger, wars, and injustices against immigrants, low-wage workers, and marginalized voters. He has hosted, produced, or edited radio and TV series, numerous media and technology events, and publications. He has pastored congregations, led councils of churches, and participated in multi-faith regional, national, and world-level activities.

In government service, he was the founding Executive Director of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the initial Administrator of the nation’s highest-funded FEMA food and shelter local board, the chair of anti-poverty boards in Los Angeles, Fresno, and Wisconsin, and a lobbyist in Washington DC, Sacramento, and Madison. He is grateful to be a musician and a loved and loving member of a large diverse family, which now includes five great-grandchildren.

Vice-President and Secretary

Ilsa Lund

Ilsa Lund is a Claremont resident who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience
working on issues related to housing and homelessness. As immediate Past President
of Housing Claremont, she has been integral to the foundation of our organization and its initiatives, with a special focus on working with stakeholders and community members to increase Claremont’s affordable housing stock.

She has worked in the non-profit field since 1996, dedicating her career to agencies in Minnesota, New York, Wyoming and California committed to addressing poverty, its impacts and its root causes. She has worked in a variety of roles at Larkin Street Youth Services since 2004, and currently serves as the Chief of Strategy. Ilsa has worked in many aspects of non-profit management, including oversight of public grants and contracts, project management, and implementation of strategic initiatives.

Board of Directors

as of August 2025

*Martha Morales, President

*Rev. Gene Boutilier, Vice President of Strategy & Treasurer

*Ilsa Lund, Vice President & Secretary

*Nancy Treser-Osgood, Secretary

*Lee Kane, Organizer

Rachel Forester, Mt. Baldy League of Woman Voters

William A. Reed, Claremont Presbyterian Church

Lynne Marsenich, Social Work Educator and Researcher

Katrina Mason, Claremont Friends Meeting

Rev. Jessie Smith, St Ambrose Episcopal Church

Ann Taves, Monte Vista Unitarian-Universalist

Rev. Dr. Frank C. Oliver, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church

Veronica Hernandez, Claremont United Church of Christ

Rev. Jay Campbell, Claremont United Methodist Church

Lanita Tademy, Exec. Director, Family Promise San Gabriel Valley

Laura Mulroy, Monte Vista Unitarian-Universalist

* = a member of the executive committee

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Vivian Wilson-Tarry, Housing Advocacy Research and Outreach Coordinator

Rachel McDonnell, web developer

Many thanks to our former fellows who have provided invaluable assistance and energy

in advancing Housing Claremont’s mission.

Gwen Tucker

Gwen Tucker served as our Joseph Lyons Fellow in the spring of 2023 focused on the Tenant Protection Ordinance that prevailed in Claremont. Gwen brought a wealth of organizing experience and passion for affordable housing.

Gwen is a student at Scripps College majoring in Politics and Sociology. Originally from Evanston, Illinois, she spent her high school years organizing with Chicago’s diverse Jewish community around issues of community safety, immigration justice, and economic justice. Since starting college in Claremont, Gwen has become passionate about meaningfully engaging college students in local issues. As the lead organizer for Inclusive Claremont, a sister pro-housing group, she has worked with students and community members alike to advocate for affordable housing and tenant protections in Claremont.

She is proud to have been a part of powerful efforts to amplify community support for the Larkin Place development, and to pass an ordinance restricting unjust renovation evictions at City Council. Gwen believes strongly in the power of building political coalitions, making an impact at the local level, and pursuing justice in all facets of life.

Jessica Gallegos

Jessica Gallegos is a student at Claremont McKenna College, studying public policy and environmental analysis. Through an internship with Tenants of LA, Jessica worked on raising awareness about tenants rights.

She was also a member of the La Habra Water Guardians and helped promote the importance of water conservation in the community.

Virginia Paschal

Virginia Paschal is a student at Pomona College, studying Public Policy and Environmental Analysis. She has been a student advocate for affordable housing issues in Claremont for the past four years. She has worked with Councilman Jed Leano on housing advocacy both within the City of Claremont and at the regional level, attending SoCal Association of Governments meetings and advocating for Measure H funds for projects such as the affordable housing development on Baseline Road. She has worked with Housing Claremont since early 2021, assisting in report writing and ADU development work.

Virginia has also worked with the Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Sustainability on electrification projects to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals and with the City of Alameda on efforts to fund the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. She is currently working for the Farm and Energy Initiative at Vermont Law School to make information on statewide farmland solar policy more accessible to stakeholders. Following her graduation, she hopes to continue to work in the realm of housing advocacy and climate resiliency at the city level.

Jordan Hoogsteden

Jordan Hoogsteden is a student at Pomona College studying Public Policy Analysis and Computer Science. Through coursework, Jordan has researched Measure H and evaluated the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative strategies. Jordan has also worked as a District Intern for California State Senator Scott Wiener. Through this opportunity, Jordan has advocated for progressive housing legislation while connecting constituents with housing resources. Jordan has been a fellow with Housing Claremont this past year, focusing on ADU development, Claremont’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, and website expansion for the organization.

Housing Claremont | a chapter of Abundant Housing LA

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