Sexual Violence and Trauma

Elena Espinoza

Elena Espinoza was born in Sinaloa, México and grew up in Los Angeles, CA. She has been living in Las Vegas for fifteen years and has been working in social services and the non-profit world for 25 years in the areas of victim services delivery, health programs and access, and early childhood development and research. Elena received her bachelor’s degree from USC in Gender Studies and Political Science with a focus on violence against women. She holds a master’s degree in the field of Public Administration from UNLV.

Currently, Elena serves as the Director of Advocacy for Signs of HOPE, the only community-based agency focused on sexual violence in our state; where she oversees all direct services and programs, including our 24/7 Crisis Hotline; Court Advocacy; the PREA program, and Volunteer and Outreach. Specifically, Elena is committed to the development of trauma-informed and culturally responsive models to address underserved communities in Southern Nevada in the areas of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Elena is a public speaker, activist, and trainer on various issues related to community empowerment, victim rights, and social justice. Combining her activism with social pedagogy, it is Elena’s hope to contribute in meaningful ways to the systemic changes that can lead to social justice for all people.