Carlie Abel, Indian Health Board

I grew up in the Twin Cities area, in Arden Hills, where my family moved when I was four years old. I hold an undergraduate degree in acting and directing, a minor in fine arts, and a graduate degree in social work. My background is somewhat eclectic, including preschool teaching, organic vegetable farming, and completing two AmeriCorps terms—working with the Wildlife crew at Three Rivers Parks District and in Grant Development Coordination for a substance recovery nonprofit. I have also interned at Emory’s OCD & Anxiety IOP program in Atlanta, GA, and at the GA Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Since September 2023, I have been working at the Indian Health Board under our domestic violence prevention grant where I feel fortunate to contribute to the efforts serving those impacted by intimate partner violence and family violence in our community. I am grateful for the amazing multidisciplinary teams I am apart of both internally and externally and the amazing relationships I have built with staff, patients and community.

I am passionate about victim empowerment and choice, and I believe in the power of community and green spaces as preventive measures against violence.

In my free time, I enjoy improv, yoga, cooking, and my guilty pleasure: reality television. Most recently, I have been attempting to learn more Telugu so I can better communicate with my in-laws.