Elisandra Garcia
Director of Positive Impact
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Elisandra Garcia, as the Director of Positive Impact and Project Designer at El Dorado Architects, brings a wealth of experience in design justice, which is deeply rooted in her personal journey, activism, and education. Born and raised in Ciudad Juárez, México, Elisandra Garcia’s background as a first-generation Mexican immigrant has been an influential force driving her passion for social justice. Her formative years in a border town have afforded her a unique perspective on the profound impacts of urban design, community development, and architecture. 

Elisandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Texas Tech University and a Master of Architecture with Honors from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at the Washington University in St. Louis. With over a decade of experience in community and stakeholder engagement, coupled with a diverse portfolio of activist and engagement projects spanning both sides of the US-Mexico border. Elisandra received the Design for Spatial Justice Fellowship recipient from the University of Oregon where she continues to play a pivotal role as an educator and founder of the Urban Violence Laboratory in Portland; an advanced research and design architectural design studio. 

In addition to her work at the firm and university, she holds the position of Fellow at the National Dean’s Equity and Inclusion Initiative with Dumbarton Oaks in Washington DC. Her multifaceted role at El Dorado Architects, coupled with her extensive academic and activist achievements, showcases her profound commitment to the values of inclusivity, equality, and social progress. Elisandra is also part of the City of Possibility Curatorial Committee in Portland, Oregon, where she co-founded Portland Seen Scene with Will Smith, an engagement initiative to showcase diverse creative work in Portland.