Aminah Elster

Aminah Elster Headshot

California, United States

Executive Director, Unapologetically HERS

Aminah is a Black feminist, prison abolitionist, and advocate committed to systemic change in the criminal legal sphere. In her role as the Executive Director of Unapologetically HERS, Aminah leads programs that empower incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, trans, and gender-nonconforming individuals through education, advocacy, and leadership development. Her vision is to dismantle systemic oppression and create a just and equitable society where those most impacted by incarceration are empowered to lead and transform their communities. Aminah holds a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and is the co-author of Criminal Record Stigma in the College-Educated Labor Market. Aminah has received the Vanguard Justice Award (2021), the Peter E. Haas Public Service Leaders Award (2020). Her work, including the forthcoming publication “Medical neglect as carceral violence,” has been featured at major conferences like the 2023 Reproductive Ethics Conference.

Rise Up Cohort: California, 2024