Elsy Cipriani

Elsy Cipriani is the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities NH. As the only food bank in the state and a trusted leader for more than 40 years, the NH Food Bank works to ensure that all Granite Staters have access to the food and resources they need to thrive with the ultimate goal of eradicating hunger in NH.

Prior to joining the Food Bank, Elsy served as the Executive Director of New Generation, Inc., an emergency and transitional housing provider for pregnant women and single mothers and their children in the Seacoast area. Elsy started her career with the Jesuit Refugee Service working with refugees and immigrants in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Elsy earned a bachelor’s degree from Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador and a master’s degree from Strayer University in the United States.

Since coming to the United States, Elsy has continued working for and with vulnerable populations. She worked in Northern California and Southern New Jersey supporting low-income families in their access to employment, education, health, and legal services. She was also directly involved in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act across seven community health centers in Southern New Jersey.

Prior to coming to New Hampshire, Elsy was the Senior Director of Program Operations for one of the biggest emergency, transitional, and permanent housing providers in the Boston area. During this time, she served mostly homeless single mothers and pregnant women who needed housing and support.

Elsy serves as an advisor for VidaAfrolatina an international women’s fund that supports Afro-Latinas who are survivors of gender-based and sexual violence in Latin America. She is also an avid ultra-runner who is always looking for the next long-distance challenge.

She is originally from Bogota, Colombia and lives in Derry, NH with her husband and son.