Erika is an arts administrator, art educator and visual artist who brings 15 years of experience in increasing arts access, with a focus on young people in urban areas. Her formal background is in visual arts, and she earned her MFA in Studio Art from Purdue University in 2010 and her BA in Studio Art from the University of Dallas. Since 2003 she has developed, taught in, and directed community based art programs in Texas, Indiana, and now in Michigan. Since her move to the Detroit metro in 2012, Erika served as the Director of Programs at the Ann Arbor Art Center and the Community Liaison for Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts in Detroit before joining the Living Arts team as Director of Programs. As director, her work involves leading the collective build up and activation of strategies that mobilize artists to provide access to arts experiences for young people in Detroit. Erika established The SPOT Open Studio in 2015 and initiated conversations and efforts at Living Arts around Teen Arts Education, Adultism, Youth-Led Initiatives, and Parent Involvement. She is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and fierce advocate for access to the arts and expression for all people. Erika is Board President of Sidewalk Festival of Performing Arts and sits on the Southwest Detroit's Dia De Muertos Committee.