Danise Elijah (she/her) has been the Menstrual Dignity Analyst for the Oregon Department of Education for the past two years. Danise has spent her career advocating for removing barriers to educational access. Before working with ODE, Danise worked with CARES NW, presenting locally and nationally as a child abuse preventionist. She also spent many years working as a student advocate and mentor, as a racial equity consultant, supporting families of children from 0-16, as well as supporting pregnant and parenting teens. Danise firmly believes in schools being a hospitable place for all students so that they can focus on learning.