Mercedes Elizalde

Mercedes Elizalde was born and raised in Hayward California, a small city in the San Francisco Bay Area. She relocated to Seattle, WA in the fall of 2010 and then to Portland, OR in the summer of 2018. She carries a passion for social justice, equal opportunity, and compassion throughout her personal and professional endeavors. Mercedes started working when she was 14 as a peer educator and summer camp counselor. She brings a unique set of perspectives and knowledge to her work having experience in direct service as a social worker and program coordinator, a legislative aide to an elected official, and as a community activist. Mercedes was the first in her family to attend college and now holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies, and a MA in Non-profit Leadership. She is currently the Public Policy Director at Central City Concern, a large multi-discipline direct service organization. In this position, Mercedes is able to combine her passions for direct service, community engagement, and addressing root causes of social issues through public policy.