Elena serves as the Communications and Fund Development Manager for JPEF. She is a Jacksonville native whose career is rooted in the local nonprofit sector. Her passion for serving her fellow community members began in her childhood when she became involved with an organization providing support to the families of homicide victims. This experience – which ignited her drive uplift all members of the community – provided invaluable lessons in making lasting, meaningful connections with individuals from a variety backgrounds.
Prior to this position, Elena served as the Development & Communications Manager for the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center. She has also previously served as the Outreach Manager for Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP). During her tenure with RAP Elena was responsible for independently managing the organization’s membership and sponsorship programs. Through strategic engagement and outreach, she was able to increase membership by 5% in one year while also exceeding sponsorship goals. In this role she also assisted in the planning, management, and marketing of the Riverside Arts Market, a weekly market with more than 100 local vendors and 3,000 attendees.
Elena lives in Murray Hill. In her spare time, you can find her admiring the St. Johns River, reading a book, listening to a podcast, practicing yoga, cuddled up with her dog, Honey, or doing home projects with her boyfriend on their beloved 1940s bungalow. As proud alumni of Duval County Public Schools whose love of writing was fostered in DCPS classrooms, she could not be more thrilled to be involved in JPEF’s work to advance education equity.