Elena has spent the past decade working to end gender-based violence, driven by her belief in the power of art and community as catalysts for transformation and healing. With a Bachelor of Arts in Social Justice, focusing on incarcerated women, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, she brings a unique blend of advocacy, activism, and creative expression to her work. Elena facilitates creative writing workshops in correctional facilities and domestic violence shelters, is the founder of the Writing to Wholeness Collective, a grantee of the Minnesota State Arts Board, and serves on the board of directors for the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Elena’s work centers on intersectional justice, addressing trauma, and community-organizing. As a queer survivor of sexual assault, she is deeply committed to racial justice, transformative justice, and collective healing through creativity.