About Erika
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State Senator 2019 to present (Senate District 6: Belleville, Brownstown Twp. (most), Flat Rock, Huron Twp., Rockwood, Romulus, Sumpter Twp., Taylor, Van Buren Twp., Westland
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State Representative 2015 to 2018 (House District 12: Romulus, Taylor, part of Van Buren Twp.)
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Senate Democrats Caucus Chair
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Democratic Vice Chair, Senate Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking Committee
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Democratic Vice Chair, Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
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Former Democratic Vice Chair, House Standing Committee on Michigan Competitiveness Committee
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Former House Democratic Deputy Whip (Leadership position)
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Executive Vice Chair, Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC)
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Co-Chair Michigan Environmental Justice Caucus
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Co-Chair Michigan Legislative Cultural Arts Caucus
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Member Michigan Progressive Women’s Caucus (PWC)
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Secretary, Michigan Legislative Latino Caucus
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Caribbean Community Service Center Community Advocacy Award (2022)
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NAACP-Western Wayne County Branch Elected Official Service Award (2022)
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Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, Legislator of the Year (2021)
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KOLA Best of Both Worlds of the African and Caribbean Diaspora Best Political Advocate (2021)
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Alliance for Safety and Justice Corrections Reform and Advocacy for Crime Survivors Award (2021)
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Child’s Hope Child Advocate of the Year (2019)
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MIRS News Most Progressive Senator (2019)
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Michigan Association of School Social Workers Legislator of the Year (2019)
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Mothering Justice Outstanding Legislator Award (2019)
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April 2017, Progress Michigan Legislator of the Month
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2016 Legislative Champion, Michigan Libraries Association (MLA)
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2016 League of Conservation Voters Champion
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Council of State Governments Bowhay Institute of Legislative Leadership (BILLD) Fellow, 2015
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Member, Council of State Governments Great Lakes Caucus
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Member, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Downriver Chapter (2014 to present)
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2018 Woman of the Year, AAUW—Downriver Chapter
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Member, Wayne County Council for the Arts, History, and Humanities (2014 to present)
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Member, Taylor Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
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Member, Advisory Board, Beaumont Teen Health Center—Taylor
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Member, Taylor CTE Center Advisory Board
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Advisor to the Board, Vista Maria
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Educator in higher education including former graduate teaching fellow at Harvard University,
former adjunct faculty at University of New Hampshire, and adjunct faculty (on leave) at
Wayne County Community College District
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Independent editor for 20+ years
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Published author
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Bachelor of Arts, Brandeis University, 1993
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Master of Arts, Tufts University, 1998
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Married 19 years; mother of two school-aged teenagers