Christa Hamilton

About

Christa A. Hamilton serves as president and CEO of UCAN, a 156-year-old youth services organization that annually provides a continuum of services to and impacts thousands of children, youth and families around Chicago. UCAN’s mission is to strengthen communities through its expertise in youth in care, violence intervention and prevention, workforce development, therapeutic schools and mental health and foster care, among other areas. 

Hamilton, who was elected by the UCAN Governing Board on September 13, 2021, is the first African American and first woman to lead UCAN, which was founded as a Civil War orphanage. Previously, since 2014, she had served as CEO for Centers for New Horizons on Chicago’s South Side.  

A native Chicagoan born in Englewood, Hamilton has devoted her career to improving the lives of others in resilient communities, and centering equity in all aspects. A community and civic leader, she sits on the boards for Instituto del Progreso Latino, ScaleLIT, South Side Healthy Communities Organization, Conscious Community Network, Social Current and Nourishing Hope.

A Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago and member of the Economic Club of Chicago and Civic Federation, she is a member of the Social Services Advisory Council with the Illinois Department of Human Services and is a member of the University of Chicago Community Medicine Advisory Council. Hamilton, who is a member of the Business Leadership Council, is also a member of the Policy Committee for Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon.