Erica Shanks Email and Phone Number

Lady Farm Hand at a small-scale, 1 acre, first year Organic CSA Farm. We are currently growing around 35 different varieties of produce and hope to incorporate livestock in the near future!

I coordinate the Culinary Job Training Program for 12 individuals who come from the background of being unemployed, underemployed, previously incarcerated or homeless. We teach them culinary job training skills through our 12 week program to place them in a career in the food service industry after successful completion. I coordinate the guest chefs, field trips, empowerment speakers, cook off events and much more for the class. I try and focus my efforts on as much local, healthy options as possible while creating partnerships that we can carry forward. The students also complete a 40hr/week unpaid internship during the course. We offer the program in the Spring and Fall.

I worked with a coalition of 315 members working in youth serving organizations to serve the youth of Spartanburg County. My main goal was to reduce the usage of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and to build and maintain partnerships and relationships in our community relating to youth.

I am serving my second year of service with AmeriCorps* VISTA as the VISTA Leader at the United Way of the Piedmont. I am the support system, liaison, mentor, facilitator/educator, and ambassador to 21 amazing VISTAs. I am looking forward to the experiences and knowlegde I will gain from this journey, and look forward to using it in my future career path.

AmeriCorps VISTAs serve at a non-profit or local government agency for one year helping to eliminate poverty in their community. During our year we work on capacity building and making projects sustainable after we leave the organization. I am the Air Quality Campaign Manager at a Non-Profit Conservation Organization advocating for the reduction of ground-level ozone emissions in Spartanburg County.

I worked with girls ages 10-15 shooting, producing and editing short films for two summers. I also produced short plays and the year end summer video for purchase. I managed an assistant video counselor, and delegated tasks and duties to be completed daily.

Assisted customers in new activations and upgrades for Sprint.Translated conversations for Spanish speaking customers.Completed technical phone repairs. Handled customer service issues.