e.k. hoffman (they/them or ze/hir pronouns) serves as the Assistant Director of New Disabled South Rising and currently lives in Columbia, South Carolina. They hold their B.A. in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies and are currently completing their Master of Social Work degree at the University of South Carolina. With ten years of experience in various nonprofit and organizing environments, they bring perspectives in movement-building from LGBTQIA+ advocacy, abolition, voting rights, public health, inclusive sexual education, disability justice, and more. They are a leader in matters of accessibility, whether that be architectural, digital, or policy. They have held both “micro” client-based and “macro” policy-based positions, where autonomy and interdependence are always centered. As a seasoned educator, e.k. is a skilled presenter who believes that once we know better, we can collectively do better. Intersectionality is a key priority in all of their work and e.k. does not seek to be a “voice for the voiceless,” but seeks to rather “pass the mic,” uplifting the voices of those most impacted. 

Their current focuses in study and organizing include challenging white supremacy and the cis-het paradigm, advocating for accessibility and disability inclusion, and creating both safe and brave spaces for us all. e.k. has a passion for serving the South in particular and a respect for the power and resilience in our intersectional fight for liberation. e.k.’s experiences as a white, disabled, trans, queer, Appalachian, Jewish person inform both their work and their pursuit of growth. In their free time, e.k. enjoys scrapbooking, painting, cuddling their zoo of pets, and cooking (in cast-iron, of course).