Chandra E. Charles

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Chandra Charles serves as the President and CEO of CT Youth Advocacy, a title she has held since July of 2021.   CT Youth Advocacy is a Non-Profit organization that provides housing, activities of daily living skills, education, stability, safe living environment and strong lifelong support system to young adults transitioning out of the foster care system.  

Chandra Charles also holds the title of CFO for Buds 2 Roses Inc., which is a designated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  Their goal is to build self-esteem, empower young adults, provide mentoring programs and tools to succeed with their future endeavors.  

Recognizing the critical importance of advocacy, Chandra embarked upon CTYA to expand resources to youth transitioning out of Foster Care.  In Chandra’s role as CEO of CT Youth Advocacy, Chandra leads efforts to tackle the pressing issues facing our community’s most vulnerable youth: reducing mental health stigma, addressing youth homelessness, building economic security for children transitioning out of foster care, eliminating health disparities, and creating safer and more equitable communities.  

Chandra wears many hats.  She is proud of her 33 years of service at Kaiser Permanente.  Chandra Charles holds the title of Ambulatory Manager for Kaiser Permanente On-the-Job Occupational Medicine Department.  She has over 27 years of extensive Workers’ Compensation background, Coding and Billing.  She is a Certified Professional Coder, License Vocational Nurse, Instructor for Breath Alcohol as well as Urine Drug Screening.   Chandra has held Certifications in the following areas: Certified Professional in Disability Management (CPDM), Certified Occupational Hearing Conversationist (COHN) and Certified Workers’ Compensation Professional (CWCP).  Chandra, currently, is accountable for managing three of Kaiser Permanente’s Workers’ Compensation Departments in Riverside, Moreno Valley and Wildomar.                     

Chandra is an Alumni of Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP) program and was awarded and acknowledged for her leadership by Richard D. Roth, Senator 31st District.  She has also participated in volunteer services where she mentored youth attending La Sierra High School. 

Born in South Central Los Angeles, Chandra is very much aware of inner-city challenges and the tenacity needed to overcome environmental barriers.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Cal State Dominguez Hills and has taken courses to pursue her Master of Jurisprudence in Health Care Law at Loyola Marymount Chicago.  

Chandra lives in Rancho Belago California.  She enjoys reading, river rafting, traveling, and spending time with her children, grand-babies, and family. 

Chandra is a catalyst for creating meaningful and lasting change for our youth. Her fearless leadership, ability to meet critical community needs, and forward thinking has improved conditions to help our youth obtain equal opportunities to live safe, healthier lives with bright futures.