In 2021, Elias had the opportunity to work alongside Escondido’s Mayor and City Council, gaining firsthand experience in local government and helping advance several important initiatives. During that time, he:
- Helped adopt Escondido’s 2021 Climate Action Plan.
- Helped bring Escondido into the Clean Energy Alliance.
- Supported expanded homeless outreach and behavioral-health services.
- Contributed to efforts that helped reduce Escondido’s unsheltered homeless population by more than 30% by 2022.
- Helped advance term limits for the Mayor and City Council.
- Supported increased police resources for traffic enforcement and homeless outreach.
Eli then transitioned to serving veterans and their families. In this role, he worked with veterans experiencing challenges such as PTSD, supported Gold Star families, and worked with small businesses facing difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. He supervised programs that provided critical support and also ran a small business himself, giving him personal insight into the struggles and resilience of entrepreneurs.
His performance earned him an executive position at his current nonprofit. There, he works to address the challenges of homelessness and addiction. He sees firsthand the impacts of poverty and financial hardship, as well as their effect on quality of life. His work is hands-on, and he understands how members of the community can get off track. More importantly, he knows how the right support and resources can help people get back on track and reenter society as full members of their community.
Eli’s commitment to service extends well beyond his professional work. He is a member of the Church of Resurrection, where he volunteers with citizenship classes. He is also active in several local organizations, including the Escondido Charitable Foundation, Escondido Democratic Club, Rotary Club of Escondido, where he serves as Scholarship Chair, Escondido Rotaract, the Escondido Elks Lodge, and Brothers of 6 Charities.
Elias Velazquez is, first and foremost, a servant leader, supporting and uplifting the people of Escondido to strengthen the community.
