March 4, 2021—Karren Lane has been hired as a program director at The California Wellness Foundation, effective February 8. She will manage the Leading for Power and Change portfolio which seeks to advance racial justice through making grants to amplify the leadership, voices and power of communities of color historically excluded from full participation in American society.
“I’m excited to partner with Karren because she brings deep experience as an organizer, activist and expert in public policy and philanthropy,” said Fatima Angeles, Vice President of Programs. “For the past 15 years, she has dedicated herself to working with communities who are the most impacted by social and economic inequities in support of their shared vision for social change.”
Lane comes to Cal Wellness from the Weingart Foundation where she held the role of program officer/program director. In her time with Weingart, Karren co-designed and launched their $4.25 million, multi-year Youth Organizing Capacity Building Initiative. She also increased investments in youth organizing, leaders of color and economic inclusion in Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Prior to her role at Weingart, Karren was the vice president of policy at the Community Coalition in South LA where she specialized in developing policies and strategies to improve education, child welfare and criminal justice reform.
Karren received her BA from UCLA, a master’s degree from Columbia University and a law degree from the Southwestern University School of Law.
“It’s about listening, learning, and investing in communities’ vision and leadership,” said Lane. “We can’t have healthy communities if we don’t have healthy non-profit organizations and powerful movements calling for justice. Yet, historically, philanthropy invests very little in movements and power building led by people of color. Systemic and progressive change can only be achieved with a robust and strong infrastructure for social change led by people of color. I’m excited to be part of strengthening that infrastructure.”
About The California Wellness Foundation
The California Wellness Foundation’s mission is to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California by increasing access to health care, quality education, good jobs, healthy environments and safe neighborhoods. Since its founding in 1992, Cal Wellness has awarded more than $1.1 billion in charitable contributions and 10,600 grants.