Ellen Kapitan describes herself as a councilperson by day and a roller derby racer by night.
As a member of Valparaiso’s city council as well as the president of the Board of Directors and captain of the South Shore Roller Derby, Kapitan is a driving force of change in the Valparaiso community in a multitude of ways.
Kapitan, a Crown Point native, studied wildlife biology at Purdue University before working a variety of jobs relating to the environment. This ranged from outreach and education at the Indiana Dunes to a position at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago to even environmental education at AmeriCorps in Reno, Nevada.
Her stay in Nevada is what introduced Kapitan to her second biggest passion: roller derby. While living in Nevada in 2014, Kapitan wanted to find an outlet to meet new people while simultaneously being active. Being introduced to roller derby during her time at Purdue University, Kapitan decided to join a starter program during her stay in Reno. The rest, as they say, is history.
For Kapitan, it was the fanfare and the physicality of the roller derby that drew her to it compared to more traditional sports such as soccer, volleyball and basketball.
“It has an element of fanfare,” Kapitan said. “Having a fake name that you’re skating with means you can be a character outside of yourself. It’s really neat.”
She also noted the self-expression as being another draw for her.
“Some people do really intense makeup and some people go full glam. It’s just a cool place for self-expression, too – It’s art and sport.”
Along with the creative flourishes, Kapitan also views roller derby as being a safe space for women in the community.
“It’s about women supporting women,” Kapitan said. “There aren’t spaces like that that are easy to come by, and I’m so proud that we can offer it. I think it’s so impactful. There’s always going to be a place for strong women to support each other and be strong together.”
Acceptance and body positivity are another key element of Kapitan’s passion for the sport.
“We have women of all shapes and sizes. You can be tall or short, bigger or smaller, and everyone has a really important role on the track. We celebrate everyone’s body type,” said Kapitan. “No one’s saying, ‘You’re too skinny to do this. You’re too tall to do this.’”
Kapitan’s passion for roller derby led her to become the president of the Board of Directors at South Shore Roller Derby in 2019, which has had a profound impact on the community through its charity work. Working with other nonprofits such as Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity, the roller derby has done everything from providing meals to volunteer work building houses.
On top of her work at South Shore Roller Derby, Kapitan was recently elected as a member of the city council in Valparaiso. For Kapitan, her main goal as a council member is building a healthy community.
“Making sure everyone can be heard, everyone can be brought to the table, and resources can be allocated for the good of everyone is really important,” she said.
Though being a city council member and president of a roller derby might not sound like they share a direct connection, for Kapitan, they absolutely do. She found a connection between the physical strength present in the rink and the mental strength needed to effectively lead in the community.
“Through roller derby, I found that physical strength within me,” she said.
As for the future of South Shore Roller Derby, Kapitan wants it to continue to be an organization centered on community and charity as well as a beacon for women’s sports in general.
“We’ll just stay a nice, stable force for everyone,” she said. “We’ll keep showing that women in sports; we’re here to stay.”
To learn more about South Shore Roller Derby, their mission and upcoming events, visit its website here.