Elyse Max is the Abolition Chair for the Missouri NAACP. She has been the the co-director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty since 2018. Elyse has a background in higher education, where her work focused on expanding access to education for refugees and immigrants, people with disabilities, and individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. She has worked for several campaigns including state and local candidates and in promoting public policy to forward the abolition of the carceral system starting with ending the war on drugs. Elyse’s advocacy centers on human and civil rights organizing by following the lead of those most impacted. Elyse has a MA in Sociology from the University of Missouri in Kansas City and a certificate in non-profit leadership.