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Alena is a member of WITNESS’ External Relations team and plays a key role in coordinating all aspects of Individual Philanthropy including donor cultivation and engagement, prospect research, identifying and strengthening strategic partnerships, and event planning. She is passionate about community-based philanthropy, focusing on the root causes of social, racial, economic, and environmental injustices. She believes radical wealth redistribution and trust-based philanthropy are essential to democratizing power and dismantling systems of oppression. Since the beginning of her career, Alena has been interested in thinking about ways to positively influence the mind of capital holders to reallocate funds to frontline communities.

Prior to joining WITNESS, Alena worked with the development departments at a range of nonprofits, producing galas and supporting their overall fundraising efforts. She has also worked in the Healthcare Department at Planned Parenthood Federation of America as well as the Development Department at Human Rights First.

Alena is a member of Resource Generation, a group of young people working towards the equitable distribution of wealth, land, and power. She is also an active member of the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Advocacy Collective. She received her Professional Fundraising Certificate as well as her B.A. in Biology, specializing in Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics from Boston University.