Staff
Steven E. Chavez, Executive Director
NAMLA Founder and Executive Director Steven Chavez was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. He is a licensed landscape architect and Founder of SCLA (Steven Chavez, Landscape Architect). Steven currently teaches landscape architecture at UCLA Extension.
Steven’s core values include creating experientially-rich and long-lasting public spaces – especially in underserved communities. Close observations on racial inequality in landscape architecture prompted Steven to start NAMLA. The lack of people of color who are decision-makers in how American landscapes are apportioned, utilized, designed, and taught, fuels his commitment to the organization.
Steven holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington and a Master of Fine Art in Photography, with an emphasis on urban landscape photography, from the University of Ulster.
Chavez is an avid photographer of interstitial public spaces — and utilizes photography to hybridize art, architecture and landscape to explore new types of affordable small-scale urban prototypes.
Brenda L. Rodriguez, Secretary
NAMLA Secretary and Treasurer Brenda L. Rodriguez was born and raised on the Texas-Mexico border — in Brownsville, TX. She’s been a journalist for 25 years, covering news in Texas and currently producing entertainment news stories in Los Angeles. Additionally, she has managed news websites for MSN and AOL.
Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
While her career has spanned print, digital and television, one thing has remained constant: she is passionate about contributing to her community and helping minorities succeed in the workplace. She believes in the work NAMLA is doing and wants to see students and professionals benefit from the resources NAMLA has to offer.
During her spare time, Brenda volunteers with Hang Out, Do Good (HODG) and the Los Angeles Community Fridges (LACF) group. For Hang Out, Do Good, she makes lunches for the Hollywood Food Coalition to feed people in need; in addition, to contributing other resources.