Elsa Swenson is the Program Manager of Home Free Community Program at Missions Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. She has worked with victim/survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault and child abuse for 10 years providing legal advocacy, emotional support, and working towards changing systems to better address the realities of gender-based violence. Elsa’s current position allows her to examine the intersection and co-occurrence of domestic violence, problematic substance use, and homelessness. Elsa has particular interests in restorative and transformative justice, and exploring opportunities to respond to gender-based violence in ways that promote healing, rather than punishment, and moving towards a more just society, as defined by those most harmed by gender-based violence.

Areas of Expertise: Gender based violence, particularly Domestic and Sexual Violence response, intervention, and prevention, Crime Victims rights, criminal legal system response to domestic violence, restorative justice and gender based violence.