Erica Daily
Erica Daily is an advocate for educational equity with extensive experience in program management and community service. Prior to her selection for the National Urban Fellowship, Erica worked at Braven, a Chicago based non-profit, where she was a Product Support Manager from 2022 to 2024. While at Braven, Erica led initiatives to foster cultural competency and operational excellence, eventually leading to her nomination to serve on the “One Student Experience” Strategy Council. There, she played a crucial role in formulating inclusive curriculums and enhancing student engagement, showcasing her commitment to educational innovation.
During her tenure with Teach for America as an 8th Grade Teacher from 2020 to 2022, Erica leveraged DEI strategies and cutting-edge AI tools to elevate teaching effectiveness and student outcomes, a feat that earned her the “Rookie of the Year” Award for her innovative teaching methods. Her journey also includes impactful work at ForeverFamily from 2019 to 2020, where she spearheaded research on supporting children of incarcerated parents, and at Georgia State University from 2016 to 2020, implementing DEI strategies that led to a 20% boost in diverse hires.
In 2015, Erica founded Suit Up, a workforce readiness program designed to facilitate job placements for Atlanta’s homeless youth, achieving an astounding 90% success rate under her leadership. Suit Up! garnered widespread recognition, leading to Erica being invited by the Girl Scouts of America to speak and present her program on Capitol Hill. This gave Erica a platform to advocate for the implementation of similar programs across the United States. Through her engagement with lawmakers and community leaders, Erica emphasized the crucial role of community empowerment and equitable programs.
Erica attended Georgia State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Political Science & Non-Profit Leadership. Her college years were marked by active involvement in various student-led initiatives that developed her as a catalyst for change. Outside her professional life, Erica is engaged in community service, including her role as a member with the Leadership for Educational Equity and a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta.
Through the National Urban Fellows, Erica seeks to explore public policy further, strategically using her community engagement and leadership development skills to champion educational equity and inclusion.