E’Lena Ashley started her career in 1977 when she enlisted in the US Army Military Intelligence program. The California native was stationed in Germany affording her a chance to experience European culture. E’Lena returned to California and quickly realized that her passion was continuing her fight to help her fellow Americans. 

The single mom of three children (one biological and the others being adopted fraternal twins) chose to continue her education and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science while working as a paraprofessional in the Los Angeles Unified School District. E’Lena was then offered an advocacy position in Washington DC for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

After several years of working in Washington she moved her family to Tulsa to be with her ageing parents. Now, being an Oklahoma resident, E’Lena took on a teaching position with Tulsa Job Corps to help young adults obtain their high school diploma. While there, the single mom earned her Master’s Degree in rehabilitation counseling.

To continue her passion, E’Lena later became a supervisor of ‘The WAVE’, a women’s outreach, mentoring and advocacy program helping Tulsa families. She would also spend her evenings as the coordinator for the Tulsa Dream Center’s youth after-school and counseling programs, where she got her family involved with feeding, mentoring and tutoring young students with academic fundamentals. 

E’Lena Ashley has worked with communities, executive boards, and oversight committees, and has always advocated for families whether it be in business or in government.