Elham Ali leading a collaborative workshop.
10 things to know about me:
I’m a third culture kid from Bahrain and the Philippines. I’m also a Crown Prince International scholar.
Writing and visualizing stories has always been part of my life. At 15, I made my first picture “book” in MS Paint — animals on a journey teaching kids math.
I tell stories through music, too. I was a classical violinist for 14+ years and performed with Mariachi Serrano of the Claremont Colleges and the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra.
I worked as an EMT and a project manager before stepping into research and data storytelling,
My work has appeared in Appetite, BMC Public Health, Public Environmental Data Partners, the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, and more.
I’ve spent 12+ years working with governments, startups, nonprofits, and communities on everything — from COVID-19 response and vaccinations to substance use, caregiving, housing insecurity, climate resilience, and even deep brain stimulation — uncovering insights that shape policy, shift norms, and save lives.
One of those stories helped a local health department secure a $50K grant.
Another helped rebuild trust across local government departments through human-centered design for equity practices, including a series of hackathons.
I’m currently writing my doctoral dissertation at Johns Hopkins University on parks and green-space equity. Parks and trees matter to me. Here’s a glimpse of that connection at a Community Beautification Day in my city, Santa Clarita. Read the full story.
In my free time, I draw comics about a wholesome potato named Spud (read Spudnuts Comics on Webtoons and Instagram). I also hosted a limited podcast series, Unmuted with Elham Ali, where I interviewed changemakers about equity and the stories that shaped their lives. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or Amazon Music.
💌 I’m always happy to connect so don’t hesitate to reach out.