Christie Cardenas serves as a program officer for the Opportunity Youth initiative at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. In this role, Cardenas supports the Foundation’s goal of achieving economic wellbeing for opportunity youth by providing strategic thinking, advocacy, partnerships, communications, and portfolio management to support the initiative. Prior to joining the Hilton Foundation, Cardenas was an independent consultant supporting Los Angeles County agencies, non-profit organizations and philanthropic organizations with strategic partnerships, capacity building, and program development. Prior to consulting, Cardenas worked for various nonprofit and private organizations managing programs aimed at promoting equitable health and wellbeing for historically underserved populations. Cardenas is enthusiastic about bringing diverse stakeholders together and helping organizations elevate their programming and undo systemic barriers that can usher inclusion, justice, and equity into the communities they serve.
Cardenas is a proud first-generation immigrant from the Philippines and holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Development from the University of the Philippines, a master’s degree in Educational Psychology and a master’s of public administration from California State University Northridge. In her spare time, Cardenas mentors young women and supports causes focused on global missions, ending domestic violence and human trafficking. Cardenas gets her inspiration every day from her husband and three children.