Deputy Director
City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts and Culture

Elsa Menendez is the Deputy Director of the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts and Culture and a core trainer with Sonderworx/DAC for the Albuquerque Community Safety Department, where she trains behavioral health first responders in conflict management, communication, and inclusive leadership practices. With 40+ years in international theatre, Elsa has worked as a writer, director, producer and performer, including as Artistic Director of Tricklock Company and Producer of the Revolutions International Theatre Festival. A certified life coach, she co-founded Women Leading Change and serves on the board of Biomimicry for Social Innovation. Elsa previously worked for U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and the National Hispanic Cultural Center. She is currently studying Polyvagal Theory and is a core member of the Eco-Performance Institute, exploring the intersections of art, ecology, and embodied learning.