Occupation: Paralegal
University: Ohio State University
Organizations: Jewish Voice for Peace
Elaine Cleary is a graduate of Ohio State University, where she was involved in human rights activism and volunteer work. She worked on a campaign calling on Ohio State University to divest from corporations that run private prisons in the US and/or are involved in human rights violations in Palestine. She also helped lead an LGBTQ student group that lost its funding over a collaboration with pro-Palestine organizers. Elaine wrote a number of articles protesting discrimination against LGBTQ students and the suppression of student activists.
During her time at Ohio State, Elaine worked on a number of other projects. She co-organized an interfaith vigil against Islamophobia, represented students on a university task force to address sexual violence, organized a fundraiser for LGBTQ refugees, mentored middle school girls through the Girls’ Circle Project, and developed programming to combat food insecurity through a central Ohio food pantry.
Elaine is currently a paralegal based in the Midwest. She volunteers with a pro bono organization that helps low-income individuals access public benefits.