Salena Acox

Salena currently has the pleasure of working for two women centered national nonprofits with dual affiliation; YWCA Minneapolis where she works as the Operations Director - Youth Development and Girls Inc. where she is the Executive Director of the Minneapolis affiliate.

Prior to joining the team at YWCA Minneapolis/Girls Inc. Salena primarily worked in AmeriCorps programming, serving in various roles for nonprofits in Texas, California and Minnesota including Minnesota Alliance With Youth, City Year, Improve Your Tomorrow and Playworks, providing service opportunities to early career professionals, mid career professionals in transition and seniors in retirement. It is through these experiences that Salena developed a love for supporting success of individuals at any point in their careers. She is a proud AmeriCorps alum.

Originally from California, Salena considers herself a "Cali-Sotan" having boomeranged from the West Coast back to Minnesota twice! She is excited to have finally made Minnesota her permanent home and to be able to bring her neices and nephew out for Minnesota Summers.

Salena is a "wannabe" hobbieist. Often excited to try new things, but generally lacks the energy to throw herself into things that aren't work related or adjacent. Dead plants, unused craft materials and unfinished art projects are usually present in her home. While nothing has stuck, she knows there is something out there for her. She does, however, love living and working in South Minneapolis and is always up for a walk around her Longfellow neighborhood.

Salena earned a masters degree in Sociology from San Jose State University and bachelor's degrees from Santa Clara University in Sociology (BS) and Religious Studies (BA).