Meet Our Staff
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SQSN Therapist
(she/her)
Elisa is dedicated to anti-racism work and is committed to changing the narrative for BIPOC folks to pursue therapy and is affirming of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. Elisa is deeply committed to her own healing and growth and continues to unravel the human experience alongside the communities she lives and serves. Elisa has spent her life navigating her West Indies heritage (US Virgin Islands and Trinidad) and her deep love for Caribbean culture while being a military transplant kid raised in the South. She is rooted in Durham, North Carolina and enjoys wandering in the woods, gardening, traveling, writing, dancing, poetry, talking about the universe, listening to music, and laughing with friends.
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SQFN Violence Prevention Specialist
(she/her)
Laurel is the head of the Southern Queer Families Network. Her identities as a white queer trans femme lay the foundations for her over 14 years working in advocacy, organizing, direct service, and systems work. She has fought to improve services and safety for trans clients, staff, and volunteers in every job she’s had. Laurel is excited to decrease rates of violence among queer and trans people by increasing community resilience, connection, and political power among q/t families with kids. She is a mom in real life and in all group projects. In the rare moments when she’s not working or parenting she enjoys being in motion through climbing, cycling, or hiking and chilling with friends and chosen family.
Email Laurel here
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Advocate & Survivors Services Coordinator
(she/they)
Badass survivor providing culturally competent services to survivors across all 100 counties
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SQSN Program Director
(they/them/theirs)
As a southern, queer survivor, Shaye is dedicated to contributing to a safer, more equitable world for marginalized communities. Throughout the last 10 years they’ve been working & learning in a variety of settings but have found deep roots in the Durham Queer community & serving LGBTQ+ survivors. Being a queer bisexual lesbian with Big Libra Energy informs much of their commitment to social justice and how they move through the world. Shaye is a multifaceted crafter, enjoys hanging downtown, and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer cuddled up with their two black cats, T'Challa & Cyrus!