An advocate for multi-cultural advancement and distinguished service leader, Erica Steele is dedicated to helping non-native Americans and immigrant families achieve their dreams. Upon graduation in 2010, Erica was selected to join a Milwaukee based AmeriCorps VISTA program to become the local champion of a three-year grant project dedicated to ESL learning for adults and fostering Hispanic business success. This addresses the issue areas of both economic and educational opportunities. With her current grant partners Mount Mary College, and beginning in 2011 the Milwaukee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, her role goes beyond curriculum development, teaching and building an expansive ESL program. Under her leadership, Erica has helped engage multiple education and business partners in the cultural mission now aptly named “Empowering Latino Parents”. Today this program has mentored and inspired over 100 participants and is supported by multiple local universities and colleges who encourage their students to get involved as volunteers and service learners each semester; over 300 volunteers have served to date.

In 2010, Erica Steele and her meritorious work honing and expanding this ESL program was recognized by AmeriCorps VISTA with it nominating her for the State of Wisconsin “Governor’s Recognition in Service” award.

What Erica loves most about her current work is learning about each individual student and adapting the program to accommodate his or her particular needs. For example, Erica personally advocated for Mario and Maria, program participants, to start their own business and connected them to Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin to get started. She deeply believed in their dream of opening a business and personally helped give them the confidence and tools they needed to take the big step and open their own business. She worked with them directly to develop a marketing strategy for their business, assisted in the writing of their promotional materials and website and helped recruit new clientele. Maria’s Maids, LLC officially opened in Fall 2011. Mario and Maria are now contributing members of the Milwaukee community as business owners and their newfound success has presented opportunities for job creation by hiring new employees (http://mariasmaidswis.com/index.html). Erica has continued to support their efforts by announcing this opportunity to current students in her classes. Now, several students have worked for Maria's Maids and contributed to their ongoing success.

Another student, Maria P., had only been through second grade in her home country. Maria P. was an incredibly bright and driven student, but lacked confidence in her abilities and did not think it would be possible to continue her education. Erica connected Maria to an educational mentor in the area and in fall 2011 Maria graduated the ELP program and is currently enrolled at a local technical college taking courses to seek a bachelor’s degree. Formally a stay-at-home mom, Maria is now motivated to participate in the larger community in an education related field.

The personal exchange and hands-on approach between the program and client has led to an enriching reciprocal benefit for all those involved. This program for her is a vehicle for her students to reach their goals and take the next step to educational and business advancement. As she once commented, “The work these past two years are only the beginning, my personal goal is to refine our unique platform so that it continues to fulfill the educational and business goals established by our program partners, and most importantly benefits the lives and future success of each and every participant.” Erica's determined leadership, passion and love for the Hispanic community guided by a solid strategic roadmap and insightful work are a contagious success formula that is certain to garner support and community advancement for years to come.