E5. Mexican in the USA - Elisandra Garcia

Elisandra, the Director of Engagement and Project Designer at El Dorado, combines rich experience in design justice, rooted in her personal journey, activism, and education. Born and raised in Ciudad Juárez, México, she's a first-generation Mexican immigrant and a proud LGBTQIA2S+ member, which fuels her social justice passion, enriched by her border town upbringing. Elisandra received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Texas Tech University and a Master of Architecture with Honors from Washington University in St. Louis. Elisandra holds the Design for Spatial Justice Fellowship from the University of Oregon (2021-2023) and leads the Urban Violence Laboratory in Portland. Her commitment to advancing architecture and social justice led her to join El Dorado's Portland office in Portland, where she spearheads Engagement and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) metrics. In her own words: "My upbringing in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, has profoundly shaped my understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges in marginalized communities. Growing up in a resilient community facing inequality, institutional corruption, and displacement, I developed a keen awareness of socio-economic disadvantage and privilege. This personal journey motivates my active engagement with these issues in my academic and professional career."https://eldo.us/https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisandra-garcia-a36b975b/https://www.uoregon.edu/