Ambar Cristina Hanson, MPA, is the Executive Director at Mortenson Family Foundation. Her journey into philanthropy began after working for 17 years in the nonprofit sector. Previously, Ambar worked as Chief External Relations Officer at Hiawatha Academies, a network of K-12 free public high-performing charter schools in South Minneapolis.
Ambar moved to Minnesota from the Dominican Republic in 1997. Since moving to the U.S., Ambar has been dedicated to promoting and advocating for immigrant communities and communities of color to have equal opportunity and access to higher education, jobs that provide livable wages, health, housing, and safety. Before working in philanthropy and PreK-12 education, Ambar spent over ten years, advocating for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors through several roles at Esperanza United and the National Latina Network for Healthy Families and Communities. She provided trainings locally and nationally that promote a holistic strengths-based approach to working with survivors of teen dating violence, domestic violence and sexual assault. Ambar also served as a board member for the Emerging Markets Homeownership Initiative, East Side Neighborhood Development Company, and Cornerstone Montessori Charter School, as well as several advisory boards, panels and committees that promote economic and social justice. Currently, Ambar serves as a board trustee for the Minnesota Council of Foundations, Latino Economic Development Center, and F.R. Bigelow Foundation. She is also a finance committee member for Headwaters Foundation and a member of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Alumni of Color Association.
Ambar lives with her partner and two children in South Minneapolis, where they enjoy dancing, hosting gatherings, and taking music lessons together.