Christina Mills is the first woman to lead the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A). She brings a dynamic vision to her role, emphasizing the importance of bridging the aging and disability communities to foster collective advocacy for equity, choice, and quality of life.
For the past two years, Christina has served as the Senior Director of Inclusive Policy and Advocacy at Elevance Health, where she worked to expand healthcare access and inclusion for individuals with disabilities and older adults. Her career spans more than 25 years, during which she has consistently championed inclusion through policy development, coalition building, and innovative program design.
Christina’s leadership journey includes pivotal roles at Independent Living Centers such as the Dayle McIntosh Center and the Access Center. In 2006, she relocated to northern California, and by 2017, she was leading the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC). One of her signature accomplishments at CFILC was launching the first statewide emergency preparedness program in partnership with one of the nation’s largest electricity companies—a program that continues to grow and serves as a national model. Christina also takes pride in her work to establish Aging and Disability Resource Connections (ADRCs) in California. These programs stand out as some of the only ones in the United States that are co-led by Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Independent Living Centers (ILCs).
In addition to her professional roles, Christina has contributed her expertise as an appointee to the California Board of Education's State Special Education Advisory Committee and the State Independent Living Council.
Christina is also a passionate advocate for youth with disabilities. She founded YO! Disabled & Proud, a platform that amplifies youth voices and promotes self-advocacy. Her dedication to mentoring young leaders has earned her a place in the national Susan Daniels Mentoring Hall of Fame and the Coalition for Youth’s Sue Matheson Mentoring Award. Christina believes that society thrives when youth with disabilities are empowered to succeed.
Beyond her professional life, Christina enjoys traveling, gardening, and exercising (mostly swimming) with her husband and their 10-year-old son, Sage. Together, they honor the memory of their forever four-year-old daughter and sister, Olivia, who passed away in 2016. Christina considers motherhood—raising her children to embrace their identities as disabled and proud—her most cherished accomplishment.