Karen I. Suarez, M.S | 2023 Latina of Influence
We are pleased to announce that Karen I. Suarez, MS, VP Collective Impact at MAKING HOPE HAPPEN FOUNDATION, has been selected as a Hispanic Lifestyle 2023 Latina of Influence. Ms. Suarez will be recognized for her leadership in our community during Hispanic Lifestyle’s Latina Conference 2023 to be held on November 9, 2023 at Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, California.
Karen I (Serrano) Suarez, M.S, has more than decade of experience in nonprofit management, community and government relations, education and philanthropy from her previous roles with Wells Fargo under the Social Impact and Sustainability team, The Dominguez Dream, American Heart Association, Inland Empire Division, and serving as a Congressional Field Representative for the 43rd Congressional District.
Known for her contagious energy and passion for people, Karen is a proud daughter of immigrants and first generation college graduate with a dual bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Master’s of Science in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University. She currently serves as the Vice President of Collective Impact, supporting Uplift San Bernardino at the Making Hope Happen Foundation. In addition, Karen serves in various organizations including as the Co-Chair for Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity (IEGO).
Karen values cross-sector collaboration, diversity, equity, inclusion, collective action, and leverages her professional and personal skills as well as her talents to support organizational infrastructure for collective impact work in the region. With a bias for action, and leading with heart, she considers herself a life-long learner and striving “to give more to the world than takes from it.” -Jacqueline Novogratz.
Karen lives in San Bernardino with her husband who is a teacher and product of SBCUSD, two daughters, and three fur babies. Karen enjoys dessert before dinner, reading, traveling, and volunteering. Karen hopes to use her knowledge, skills and abilities in community development and love for learning to empower the next generation to build wealth and make hope happen.
