Paul Bains, Co-Founder and Chairman

Pastor Paul Bains is the co-founder and chairman of United Hope Builders and WeHOPE. Pastor Paul has been a leader and mentor and working with his community for over two decades to be a better place. He has been leading the congregation of Saint Samuel Church in East Palo Alto since 1999. He is a community leader and an acclaimed speaker, speaking on the issues of affordable housing, food insecurity, and workforce development. Pastor Paul is deeply-rooted in his community and the region. He is a board … [Read More.]

Cheryl Bains, Co-Founder

Cheryl Bains is the Co-Founder of United HOPE Builders and WeHOPE, and serves as Director of Human Resources at WeHOPE. Cheryl has been working in the non-profit sector for over 20 years. She has spent her entrepreneurial career helping organizations in the areas of Human Resources, Accounting, and Business Development. In addition, Cheryl is the founder of Alpha Prime Youth Volleyball Club which provides an opportunity for low-income youth to participate and compete in a competitive league. [Read More.]

Robert Cowan, Co-Founder

Pastor Robert Cowan received his JD in 2001 from Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. Experienced in large and medium firms, Mr. Cowan is the principal of Cowan Legal Services, a solo practice providing legal counsel and representation to businesses and nonprofit corporations. Since 2004, Mr. Cowan has served as Executive Director of Liberation House, Inc., a transitional housing program, providing support in personal finances, education, physical and spiritual healthfulness.

Alicia Garcia, Member, Board of Directors

Alicia Garcia holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and brings over 15 years of experience in building and managing high-performing teams. She has successfully helped launch more than 20 small businesses and has guided over 100 entrepreneurs in developing comprehensive business plans.

Her expertise includes operational structuring, team leadership, and the design and implementation of impactful programs. Since 2012, Ms. Garcia has served as Associate Director at WeHOPE, where she leads instructional efforts and oversees six highly successful programs. The workforce training initiatives she developed have consistently resulted in approximately 25–30 job placements annually.

Over the past five years, Ms. Garcia and her team have played a key role in securing permanent housing for more than 150 individuals experiencing homelessness. In 2017, she published her first book, Overcoming Obstacles, further reflecting her commitment to empowerment and transformation.

Roosevelt C. Matthews, Sr. , Member, Board of Directors

Roosevelt C. Matthews Sr. is a proud retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran whose life and career are grounded in discipline, leadership, and service.

He currently serves as Assistant Pastor at St. Samuel Church of God in Christ in East Palo Alto, where he provides spiritual guidance, mentorship, and compassionate support to members of the community. In addition, through WeHOPE’s Dignity on Wheels program, Mr. Matthews actively serves individuals in the RV Safe Parking community by coordinating access to essential services such as laundry and showers, while connecting participants to critical local resources.

Mr. Matthews is recognized for his strengths in relationship-building, empathy, and effective problem-solving, all of which contribute to his meaningful impact on underserved populations. Prior to his community and ministry work, he completed a distinguished career of over 20 years with AT&T as an Electrical and Wiring Engineer, where he was known for his technical expertise, precision, and strong work ethic.

In his personal time, Mr. Matthews enjoys reading the daily newspaper, supporting the San Francisco 49ers, and spending quality time with his family.