Cara Ellis

Cara Ellis (she/her) serves her rural Appalachian community as an organizer/activist. Since 2018, she has been instrumental in leading Pikeville Pride, a non-profit dedicated to highlighting the visibility and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in eastern Kentucky. Cara holds a bachelor’s degree in public health after being inspired to tackle health care issues due to a cancer diagnosis in 2019. She currently serves on various regional/statewide non-profit boards including All Access EKY, Kentucky Health Justice Network, and Mountain Association Equity Council. In her current professional role, she focuses on civic engagement and voter participation for Appalachians for Appalachia which has given her the ability to make valuable connections throughout the region and the Commonwealth.

She is a lifelong Appalachian that strives to advocate for rural causes and empower others to join her.