Erica Atwood Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Lead Cities United’s day to day jurisdiction engagement strategies, managing and deploying a team of experts as they support developing, implementing, and sustaining comprehensive public safetyecosystems.Responsible for managing the coaching and capacity building for partners at the local, county, state and national level, focusing on directors of offices within jurisdictions, community-based organizations, and young leaders most impacted by community violence.Oversees the delivery, management and evaluation of Coaching and Capacity Building efforts in partner jurisdictions – focused on supporting jurisdictions in building out their comprehensive public safety ecosystems, using Cities United’s Public Safety Redefined Framework and our Roadmap to Safe, Healthy and Hopeful Communities Planning Tool.

Developed and implemented BiPOC non-profit leadership development program, Liberators Assembled.Functioned as a city-knowledge expert to provide technical assistance to philanthropic organizations and managers within city government to reduce racial and equity disparities, as well as strengthen authentic community engagement.Developed strategic grassroots communications and community outreach plans.Served as thought partner with senior leadership to develop culturally competent programs and policies.Conducted facilitation for community groups and youth organizations with a specific focus on equitable outcomes.Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Works closely with the Managing Director, City Department management, a variety of public and private organizations, and citizen groups in developing programs and implementing projects related to public safety, reentry, and criminal justice reform.Act as the City representative for national initiatives focused on public safety and criminal justice reform, including the White House Community Violence Intervention Collaborative.Participate in the evaluation, update, and finalization of the Managing Director's agenda; evaluate reports from operating departments for consistency, accuracy, fiscal feasibility, and political sensitivity; select appropriate recommendations for presentation to the City Council.Develop recommendations on assigned department work methods, operating policies and procedures, programs services, and other administrative issues; observe program operations; analyze findings and implications; make recommendations to the Managing Director.Negotiate highly complex contracts and solutions on a variety of administrative, fiscal, and special projects; participate in the preparation and monitoring of program or special project budgets.Schedule, coordinate, and assign personnel to projects; review staff work and provide training as appropriate.Respond to and resolve difficult, complex, and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints; interpret, analyze, defend, and explain City policies, procedures, programs, and activitiesProvide leadership and direction in the development of short and long range plans; gather, interpret, and prepare data for studies, reports and recommendations; coordinate department activities with other departments and agencies as needed.Maintain harmony among workers and resolve grievances; perform or assist subordinates in performing duties; resolve problems and respond to complaints from the public and employees.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Prior to inauguration served as Chair for the Gauthier for Council Campaign.Managed the development and implementation of the 3rd District Councilmanic policy agenda for freshman Councilmember Gauthier.Handled day-to-day management of personnel, office operations, as well as oversee the internal relationships with other council offices.Build trust relations with key partners and stakeholders and act as a point of contact for important shareholders.Develop high quality community-centric strategies and plans ensuring their alignment with short-term and long-term objectives of the Councilperson.Assist civic associations, community organizations, community leaders with capacity building and achieving their strategic vision for the 3rd Councilmanic District.Lead and motivate employees to advance engagement and develop a high performing managerial team.Develop and maintain staff performance and evaluation policies and procedures.Oversaw operations and business activities to ensure they produce the desired results and are consistent with the overall strategy and mission.Encouraged to maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing networks; participating in professional societies.Met with constituents and interest groups as it relates to council initiatives, as well as served as surrogate for Councilperson.

Nationally

Launched in 2011, Cities United is a national movement focused on eliminating the violence in American cities related to African American men and boys. The participating mayors in Cities United intend to reduce violence by 50%, by the year 2025, in each of their cities. Moreover, they are committed to restoring hope to their communities and building pathways to justice, employment, education, and increased opportunities for residents.Chiefly responsible for managing content for Cities United's national convening.Provided staff and implementation support for Cities United core youth leadership committee.Served as liaison for Executive Director and national partners/consultants.Functioned as primary consultant for technical assistance for mayors and member city leads, with a focus on community and youth engagement.Assisted in the recruitment, onboarding, and integration of staff; including the executive director role.Supported Executive Director as thought partner in organizational development.

Greater Philadelphia Area

Greater Philadelphia Area

Manage special initiatives, on behalf of the Mayor including Cities United and the Mayor's Commission on African American Males.Liaison with the White House and the US Conference of Mayors on the implementation of My Brothers’ Keeper.Align resources and initiatives with a specific goal to reduce disparities between economic and social outcomes of Black men and boys, and those connected to them.Strategically align public advocacy efforts and city initiatives to organize resources to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations, specifically African Americans men and boys and their families.

Greater Philadelphia Area

Conduct public awareness activities through targeted community interaction; serve as a conduit to services and information beyond conventional means, to cross segments of the Philadelphia community.Create processes and priorities to support the City of Philadelphia meeting objectives in relation to its external environment.Provides proactive strategic communication on behalf the Mayor and the City of Philadelphia to corporate, non-profit, and community organizations.Provide accurate and useful information for community partners.Responsible for the promotion and collaboration with internal organizations, other professional and community organizations as it relates to the Mayor’s initiatives.Interact with current corporate and community partners to ensure the City of Philadelphia is meeting their expectations, as well as interact and recruit new corporate and community partners for the City of Philadelphia.Identify outreach needed to align with the core values of the administration.

Spokesperson for the City, as well as the Mayor at public, civic, ceremonial and special events. Administrator of special projects and events, as assigned by the Mayor or requested by other City departments and agencies.Serve as Mayoral international protocol officer and responsible for arrangement of ceremonial activities with dignitaries and Mayor Nutter.Developed and promoted three new events in 2008 & 2009; city-wide 9 week concert series, The Music Movement, City Hall film festival, Movies Under Penn and the Badges of Honor 5K Race, in support of fallen public safety officers.Point of contact for corporate and community leaders as it relates to special projects and city services.Primarily responsible for event operations; co-chairing Special Events Review Committee and Task Force.Oversaw festival-wide production and fulfillment for the 2009 Sunoco Welcome America Festival.Spearheaded the City’s participation in the Phillies World Series Parade.

Chiefly responsible for managing logistics of all fundraising events for the primary and general election which over raised $1.4M.Coordinated both Primary and Main Election celebratory events.Serve as candidate staffing and advance where needed.Organized team building exercises.Conceptualized and project managed all Nutter Inaugural events including, the Mayoral Interfaith Prayer Service, Roadmap to the Future mentorship luncheon, and the community-centric inaugural ball, Philadelphia Realized.Co-lead team that identified and solicited sponsors, raising approximately $1.5 M in two months for the Mayoral Inaugural celebratory events.

Team lead in the design & development of marketing campaigns, as well as management and facilitation all special projects.Launched the first corporate identity campaign.Facilitated companies first efficiencies review, stream-lining information dissemination.Worked in conjunction with Sales team to research and identify potential new clients.Functioned as Research Editor for analyst staff in the US and India.Assisted in the planning and facilitation of corporate travel, events, and retreats; including the company’s first international retreat.

Greater Philadelphia Area

Clients included: ElamReavis LLP, Experience Marketing & Media, Crown Properties, October Gallery, The Rowdy Collection, Cory Erving Summer Classic Basketball League, The Marian Anderson Award and J.M. Best EntertainmentInstrumental in the planning process for range of special events such as the Brian Westbrook Celebrity Streetball Tournament, 2004 Silver Plume Awards, The Philadelphia International Art Expo and Inner City Live.Event Coordinator for the Marian Anderson Award honoring Gregory Peck.Managed $80K marketing campaign for British playwright, Tom Stoppard’s Philadelphia debut The Invention of Love at the Wilma Theater, shattering previous box office records.Graphic designer and copywriter for a vast array of logos and promotional materials.Preparation of business/sponsorship proposals and press packages, as well as management of media relations.

Greater Philadelphia Area

Supported two Associate Vice Presidents in day to day tasks regarding the African American Fundraising and the State/City Combined campaigns Assembled and delivered campaign materialsAssisted with researching new business targetsMaintained and updated campaign files and recordsCoordinated mailing appeal letters

Leading For Change Fellowship

Fine And Studio Arts