09/14/2026
Happy 5th UCANiversary Christa Hamilton!
Over the past five years, grace, grit, gratitude, and a lot of heart work have been the hallmark of Christa Hamilton's history-making leadership at UCAN. We salute her on celebrating a half decade of leading the charge at one of Chicago's oldest yet most innovative — and relentless — youth services organizations! We're sure that together the next half decade hold much more of the same.
Here are a few of Christa's heartfelt reflections: Five years ago, I walked into UCAN as president and CEO, becoming the first woman to lead this incredible organization. I knew it was a big deal. What I probably didn’t fully understand was just how heavy leadership could be. We have experienced some of the highest highs and some really low lows. If there is one thing I know I brought to this work every single day, it is a relentless belief in what UCAN can be and what our young people, families and communities deserve.
And sometimes that relentlessness comes with a cost.. That is the weight of leadership. But five years later, when I look at everything we have been through, I know this too: We changed a bunch of lives together. And THAT is what matters to me.
Our staff who show up every day and do this heart work. Our young people and families who trust us. Our board, partners, funders, community members and everybody who has believed in UCAN and pushed us to keep getting better. I want it to be that I made a difference while I was here. That I opened some doors. That I challenged some things that needed challenging. That I loved this organization enough to expect more from it. That I left it stronger.
Five years later, I am proud. I am grateful. I am still relentless. Because as many lives as we have changed together, there are still so many more that need us. So … back to work.
