Housing Story:
I joined HLC in June 2024 as the Operations Coordinator. I was born in Oakland, California, and spent my early childhood between Richmond and Daly City. But by the time I was 9, the rising cost of living forced my mom to move my sister and me to the Midwest.
We lived in a busy house with extended family —some newly arrived in the U.S from El Salvador, others relocating from California—each of us trying to find stability.
When I returned to San Francisco to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, housing quickly became a challenge. I was fortunate to live with my aunt in Daly City while finishing school. During that time, I saw many classmates struggling with housing insecurity, which fueled my determination to support others navigating the same.
Staying in Daly City hasn’t been easy, but it’s still home for me and my family. That’s part of why this work matters so much. Everyone deserves the chance to stay rooted in their community.
Bio:
Crystal graduated from The Art Institute of San Francisco with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing & Design. She has a strong background in operations, administration, and marketing, with several years of experience in the real estate industry before transitioning to the nonprofit sector.
As Operations Manager at HLC, Crystal leads day-to-day operations, manages memberships and donor systems, coordinates communications, and supports event planning efforts across the organization. She also contributes to HLC’s language justice initiatives through bilingual outreach and interpreter training programs. Her range of experience helps her support collaboration across the team and contribute to HLC’s ongoing work.