Save the Date: 2026 Partners Celebration
Mark your calendars! Merritt’s Annual Partners Celebration is taking place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in Oakland, California!
Each year, we set aside an evening to celebrate the partnerships that make our work possible. From sharing laughs and delicious food to recognizing the milestones we’ve achieved together, it’s our opportunity to thank each of you who play an important role in strengthening our communities.
We look forward to celebrating with you. Stay tuned for an invite with more details!
Property Closings & Announcements:
Lakeside Apartments and Fox Courts
Congratulations to Resources for Community Development on successfully bringing two affordable housing projects to life: Lakeside Apartments in Concord, CA, and Fox Courts in Oakland, CA.
Both properties are rehabilitation and resyndication projects serving low-income households, with dedicated units for residents with special needs, including individuals with disabilities and those living with HIV/AIDS.
Merritt is proud to support these projects by providing $16.0M in tax equity to Lakeside Apartments and $10.5M in tax equity to Fox Courts. Thank you to our financing partners at BMO Bank as well as the City of Concord, the City of Oakland, Contra Costa County, Alameda County, the California Department of Housing & Community Development, and Century Housing for making these projects possible!
Commitment to Community (C2C):
Honored to Receive the 2026 LARC Employment Pathway Award
We’re humbled to receive the 2026 Los Angeles RC (LARC) Employment Pathway Connector Award!
This recognition celebrates organizations that serve as a bridge between education, industry, and community—creating meaningful career pathways and opening doors for students. We’re grateful to be recognized alongside so many industry leaders committed to strengthening tomorrow’s workforce.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees and thank you to Santa Monica College for your partnership.
Pictured: Steven Sedky, Interim Associate Dean, Career Education (Santa Monica College); Ari Beliak, President & CEO (Merritt); Celina Pacana, Impact Manager (Merritt); Lisa Lewenberg, Project Manager, Regional Strong Workforce (Santa Monica College)
People Updates
Congratulations on Your Promotion, Carla Vásquez Noriega!
Please join us in congratulating Carla Vásquez-Noriega on her promotion to Director of Investor Relations!
Since joining Merritt in 2022, Carla has played an integral role in strengthening relationships with our investor partners. Her thoughtful leadership, solutions-oriented approach, and unwavering commitment have made a lasting impact on our team and the communities we serve.
In her new role, Carla will continue leading Merritt’s investor relations strategy, fostering trusted partnerships, and helping connect mission-driven capital with affordable housing opportunities across California and beyond.
Congratulations, Carla, on this well-deserved promotion!
Happy 7-Year Anniversary to Ari Beliak!
Congratulations to Ari Beliak on his 7-year anniversary with Merritt!
More than the milestones, Ari leads with our core values always in mind: People-First, Solutions-Oriented, Trust, Openness, and Kindness. Ari’s belief that lasting impact is built through strong partnerships and investment in people continues to shape Merritt’s culture and mission every day.
Congratulations, Ari, on seven years of leadership and service as our President & CEO. We are grateful for your commitment and vision to create more communities where people can thrive.
Happy 2-Year Anniversary to Darné Lang!
Congratulations to Darné Lang on 2 impactful years with Merritt!
Since joining, Darné has been a welcoming presence and an invaluable member of our team. As Administrative Assistant, she helps keep our day-to-day operations running smoothly, supports our President & CEO, and approaches each task with positivity and a “People-First” mindset.
Please join us in congratulating Darné on this milestone!
Happy 1-Year Anniversary to Pavlin Buchukov!
Congratulations to Pavlin Buchukov on his first anniversary with Merritt!
As our CDFI Director, Pavlin has played a pivotal role in expanding our ability to meet affordable housing developers where they need us most. His leadership, expertise, and “people-first” approach have helped lay the foundation for our growing CDFI, creating more flexible financing solutions that support affordable housing across California.
Please join us in congratulating Pavlin on an impactful first year!
Get all the latest Merritt news, updates, and announcements!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead, American cultural anthropologist and author
About Merritt Community Capital Corporation
Merritt Community Capital Corporation is a mission-oriented affordable housing funder that serves the state of California. For more than 35 years, Merritt has been a trusted partner, investing more than $1.7 billion and creating over 12,500 affordable homes across California. Beyond investing in properties, Merritt invests in people. Through its Commitment to California initiative (C2C), Merritt proudly spearheads programs across the state that attract, train, and retain current and future affordable housers.
Merritt is also the west coast member of the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds (NASLEF), which empowers locally engaged, mission-driven housing and community investment partners to build thriving communities. By partnering with mission-aligned organizations and developers in the affordable housing space, Merritt ensures the most critical communities are developed and maintained for low-income residents.