Michelle Meghrouni has been involved with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) for several years; however, her commitment to ending homelessness and advocating for affordable housing spans decades. Habitat LA is fortunate to have Michelle as a member of our Board of Directors and equally thrilled that she is returning to serve on our 2019 Los Angeles Builders Ball® Host Committee for the fifth time.
Michelle was kind enough to share with us how her deeply rooted desire to help others gain stability is something that has been ingrained in her by her family.
2019 Los Angeles Builders Ball® Host Committee member, Michelle Meghrouni (right), and a friend she made during the Habitat Global Village Trip to Fiji in 2017.
What or who inspires you to give back to your community?
As the granddaughter of immigrants that fled atrocities in their homeland and came to this country with nothing, I feel extremely fortunate for all that I have because those before me sacrificed everything and dared to live. It takes very little to make a positive difference in someone else’s life, and I hope that by giving back even just a little here and there that I can be a part of that.
Why do you support Habitat for Humanity? How long have you been involved?
Throughout my 30+ year legal career, I have been committed to various organizations and efforts throughout Los Angeles seeking to ensure access to safe and affordable housing. I’ve been involved in advocacy and assistance for the homeless, organizing tenants’ groups to acquire their Section 8 housing developments and public-private development of low-income residential units. Habitat for Humanity provides the perfect synergy for my interests in homelessness/affordable housing and my professional experience. Habitat LA has extraordinarily talented leadership and staff with a proven track record for making huge differences, not only in the lives of individuals, but in whole communities. Being involved with Habitat LA has been such a rich and rewarding experience, and I’ve met so many wonderful people doing phenomenal work.
What does “home” mean to you?
Home is any place where love, a sense of security, and community all come together.
Please share a special Habitat memory.
My most special Habitat memory is going on the Global Village trip to Fiji in 2017. The entire local village, from youngsters to the elderly, all came out to help build a new home for one of the village families in just 5 days. Whether pounding nails, hauling materials, making us a wonderful lunch, or just encouraging us, it was truly a community effort. It was also a unique opportunity to spend quality time with my amazing fellow board members, Habitat staff and other wonderful Habitat volunteers that came along on this great journey.
Please tell us which 3 emojis best describe you and why.
😜- This pretty much sums up how I feel most of the time.
🐴- Anyone that knows me knows horses are a big part of my life.
🐂- I’m a Taurus born in the Year of the Ox, so I’m extra stubborn, but fiercely loyal and pretty grounded.
More about Michelle Meghrouni
Michelle Meghrouni is a Real Estate and Commercial Law attorney in Downtown Los Angeles with over thirty years of experience. She spent fourteen years in private practice with one of the City’s oldest firms and was one of only two women partners at the firm at the time she left to become in-house counsel at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). During her eleven years at LAUSD, as lead real estate counsel and eventually, the manager of the facilities legal team, Michelle was responsible for the legal oversight of the construction of more than 140 new schools in Los Angeles County. For the past several years, Michelle has served as in-house senior counsel for Southern California Gas Company, with a significant portion of her work focused on natural gas pipeline safety and reliability projects. Michelle has dedicated countless hours to pro bono services in the areas of wildlife preservation and education, children’s rights, affordable housing, and homeless rights advocacy. Ms. Meghrouni received her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and attended law school at the University of San Francisco.
Missed our 2019 Los Angeles Builders Ball®? Check out the event highlights!
