(she/her) Cecilia Chen is the Chief Strategy Officer and Vice President of Programs at Akonadi Foundation, where she oversees strategy development across Akonadi’s program areas and the implementation of Oakland for All.
Prior to joining Akonadi, Cecilia served as the Public Policy Director at Northern California Grantmakers, where she developed the organization’s policy advocacy infrastructure and led efforts to protect immigrant rights, ensure an accurate census, and advocate for equitable tax reform. She also served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Attorney General’s Office, advancing the Attorney General’s policy priorities around criminal justice reform and childhood trauma.
Cecilia has dedicated her career to advancing social change through law and advocacy, including roles at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, and Center for Youth Wellness.
Cecilia graduated from Tufts University and received her J.D. from Boston College Law School. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Northern California Grantmakers and California ChangeLawyers.
Cecilia can be reached at Cecilia [at] akonadi.org
