After founding Mi Casa, Inc. and serving as Executive Director for more than 30 years, Fernando Lemos will retire from the organization on April 1, 2024. As we thank Fernando for his service, the Board is pleased to announce that Deputy Director Elin Zurbrigg and Chief Operating Officer Juan Pablo Vacatello will take the helm as Mi Casa’s Co-Executive Directors.

In 1992, Fernando and colleague David Wiley founded Mi Casa with a mission to create affordable homeownership opportunities and maintain diverse and thriving neighborhoods. Under Fernando’s charge, Mi Casa has channeled the power of community by creating more than 2,800 units of affordable housing throughout the city, assisted in the development of nearly 30% of the District’s limited equity cooperatives, and created the Genesis Intergenerational Community—the first program of its kind that provides multi-generational support for single mothers exiting foster care and seniors living on fixed incomes.

Elin, who joined Mi Casa in 2002, and Juan Pablo, who joined in 2006, bring more than 40 years of combined leadership experience in affordable housing development, financial stewardship, organizational development, strategic planning, and program implementation. Their transition follows years of joint senior leadership in their respective roles. Juan Pablo and Elin are well-prepared to carry forward Mi Casa’s mission and strategic vision, while Fernando stays on as a senior advisor. 

We are grateful for Fernando’s unwavering commitment, tireless work ethic, and dynamic vision that has led Mi Casa from its inception to the thriving and impactful organization that it is today. And we are confident that his legacy  will continue to grow and evolve under the capable leadership of Elin and Juan Pablo. 

Mi Casa’s work has always been guided by the principle that housing is a human right. I am proud to be a part of this organization and confident that with this principle guiding our work, what lies ahead will only strengthen our efforts to advocate for and implement creative solutions to the affordable housing challenges that the D.C. region regretfully faces. 

In partnership,
Christina Sturdivant Sani, Board Chair
February 28, 2024 — Washington, D.C.

About Mi Casa, Inc.

Founded in 1992, the mission of Mi Casa, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Washington, D.C., is to provide quality affordable housing to low- and moderate-income households in the Washington D.C. area to foster healthy, thriving and diverse neighborhoods. Learn more at micasa-inc.org