Artika Roller

April 29, 2021
LEAP

Ms. Artika Chevelle Roller is a native of Saint Paul, Minnesota’s Rondo Community, her community was rich with activists, women role models and educators. Their commitment to changing systems that were harmful to the community’s well-being motivated her to become a social worker. Artika earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Metropolitan State University, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Minnesota, with a concentration of organizational leadership, advocacy and system change. In addition, she is a graduate of the Alliance for Children and Families Executive Leadership Institute from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Schools of Business and Social Work.

Artika’s professional experience spans the fields of government, business, education, and nonprofit. She has over fifteen years of leadership experience in the areas of domestic violence, sex trafficking and sexual assault and nearly twenty years of direct service experience. Artika is the Executive Director for the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA), she is the first African-American Women to lead a victim service coalition in the state of Minnesota. As the program director for two historical non-profit agencies, Women’s Advocates Inc. and The Family Partnership. Artika is credited with starting an internship program for women with criminal backgrounds, eliminating a critical barrier for completing college requirements. She established a food shelf and clothing closet that provides women with hygiene products and enough work and school clothing for an entire week.

In addition, Artika played a key role in developing the legislative protocols for the Safe Harbor “No Wrong Door,” a service model for victims of sex trafficking and the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Youth Act in 2011, a law that ensures young people who are sexually exploited are treated as victims and survivors, not criminals. Artika volunteered as a board member for Violence Free Minnesota, Community Empowerment Through Black Men Healing Conference and The Sons of Bransford Community Awards Furthermore, she mentors women with the goal of centering and up lifting the voices, experiences and leadership of African-American women and girls. Artika is respected by her peers, staff and clients for her non-judgmental and holistic approach to leadership and advocacy.