Mercedes Elder (she/her) was born in Minneapolis and raised in the Rondo Community in Saint Paul. She is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, advocate, mentor, teacher, student, and most importantly a child of God. She graduated from Saint Paul College in 2018 with her associate in arts with an emphasis in criminology. She will soon receive her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Metro State University.
Mercedes is a housing specialist who assists previously homeless families in the seven-county metro area locate safe, and adequate housing. She is an environmentalist that advocates for clean air, water, and housing primarily in the BIPOC and underrepresented communities. Mercedes cares for a child who is on the spectrum and a child with ADHD.
The experiences Mercedes brings are working, loving, advocating, and teaching community members the importance of equity and inclusion for people with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, and those with incarcerated family members. She is looking forward to implementing, advocating, and seeing the rebirth of the Olmstead Plan with our voices. She wants to know that our disabled family members in the future will have safe spaces and access not just in Minnesota but all over the world.
