ERICA FORD
Synonynonymous with innovative activism, Erica Ford continues to make the list of the most effective and powerful leaders across the nation and abroad. Erica is the distinguished recipient of countless awards, including the MIT Elevate Fellowship, New York City and State Power 100, NYU McSilver Award, and Ebony Power 100, a plethora of city and state citations and proclamations from council, Mayoral, gubernatorial and Presidential leadership.
Most known for her authentic ground-level connections with vulnerable youth and the deployment of credible messengers, Erica Ford is credited with reimagining the look and feel of effective pathways to public safety in inner-city communities. Her implemented model of forging partnerships
between local police precincts, school safety teams, and community residents not only led to a decrease in the number of shootings in her community but also relieved tension between the NYPD and the community at large. This success resulted in Erica's instrumental role as the lead architect of the existing NYC Crisis Management System which has served as the blueprint for gun
violence intervention and prevention organizations from coast to coast and of international esteem.
Her evidence-based LIFE Camp model of a unified accountability for changing the culture of violence challenges first responders, community-based organizations, and residents to engage in finding resolution, resulting in the development of a network of critical stakeholders that provide those affected by or vulnerable to gun violence with wraparound services that support every aspect of a young person's life.
Erica's speaking engagements transcend our borders internationally. Erica has addressed the United Nations, Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland. Coupled with this she has addressed attendees at the World Conference on Women in Beijing.
Domestically, Erica has led a task force around violence prevention with Domestic Policy Director Ambassador Susan Rice and
other members of the Biden Administration.
Peace is a LIFEstyle is more than Erica's mantra or LIFE Camp's slogan it is an embodiment of Erica's LIFE work. Her vision has changed how we understand peace and during times of trauma, pain, and a need for healing LIFE Camp's accredited Peace Mobile, one of many vehicles in our Mobile Trauma Unit, is a state of the art 35 foot RV, that delivers on demand culturally responsive and unconventional therapeutic experiences and wellness practices and services in communities in need.
