Erica Lynette Edwards Email & Phone Number

I embarked on a mission to take valuable DEI work and wisdom to a broader audience, collaborating with corporations, nonprofits, and the arts and culture industry to advance and sustain meaningful inclusivity initiatives and open conversations within employee communities. Although forced to transition quickly to virtual presentations by the pandemic, I kept pace with clients’ needs to implement successful diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices that are authentic, company-aligned, sustainable, and within regulatory guidelines.➥ Consultancy projects include presenting training for entire staff of companies, serving a public/private partnership, delivering keynote speeches, establishing diversity and inclusion advisory councils, executive coaching, and facilitating a multi-week book study for a well-established philanthropy, providing a welcoming space for challenging conversations.➥ Provides gap analysis, evaluation of organizational impact, facilitation, and guided empowerment to accomplish DEI goals.➥Client industries include government agencies, tech, law, ad agencies, library, consulting firms, universities and performing arts.➥Created the company Cultivating Better Tomorrows to specifically address the needs of the arts and culture sector

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Here I was tapped for a momentous role as both an artistic and administrative leader in weaving the Joffrey into the hearts and minds of Chicagoans, as well as elevating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in several organizational practices. Leveraging personal passion for both dance and diversity, clarified the Community Engagement mission and bolstered efforts to provide equitable opportunities for Chicago youth. Managed $1M budget and recruited, screened, interviewed, hired, trained, and supervised a team of 20.➥ Created and led diversity, equity, and inclusion training for staff and personally completed numerous trainings, including Transgender Awareness, Anti-Racism, Cultural Competency, Invisible Disabilities, Workplace Harassment, and Accessibility.➥ Curated performances including Joffrey's first Family Friendly Show: "Rita Finds Home" and for the city-wide celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks Centennial.➥ Supported Joffrey’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion cohort, responsible for introducing topics, recognizing systemic gaps and opportunities, designing practical solutions, and documenting organizational success.➥ Provided a new-hire orientation/onboarding program rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Throughout a 15-season Joffrey career I performed lead roles, dancing in hundreds of performances in the United States and abroad. ➥ While a professional dancer, served in both volunteer and paid Joffrey roles in community engagement and teaching. Shared a love of dance within programs such as After School Matters, a summer opportunity for Chicago teens to learn dance and life skills.➥ Served as the company’s American Guild of Musical Artists union representative during collective bargaining.➥ Proofread documents, cataloged inventory, and updated records as the Managing Director’s intern for The Gerald Arpino Foundation, committed to preserving and promoting the choreographic works of founders Arpino and Robert Joffrey.

Bachelor Of Science, Business, Human Resource Management

Associate Of Science