Elisa Aucancela (she/her/ella) is the Co-Executive Director of El Grupo Vida, a Denver non-profit organization that serves immigrants with disabilities and their families through training, resources, advocacy and connection with systems. Elisa was born and raised in Puerto Rico as the oldest of three siblings. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Puerto Rico, a post-bachelor’s degree in Education Administration from Universidad Abierta de Santiago in the Dominican Republic, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from the Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago in the Dominican Republic and a Master’s of Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She completed all-but-dissertation programs in Psychology at Universidad de Granada, Spain, and in Infant and Early Childhood Development at Fielding University, California.
Throughout her career, Elisa has been dedicated to serving diverse communities, particularly BIPOC families. Her bilingual (Spanish-English) and multicultural background have been instrumental in her ability to connect with and support these communities effectively. At El Grupo Vida, she leads initiatives that address the unique challenges faced by immigrants with disabilities and their families, ensuring they have access to culturally competent services and resources. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 dogs, and 8 nephews and nieces. She loves traveling, and mixed media art.