Erika Parke

Originally from Lancaster, CA, Erika left to attend college at UC Berkeley (Go Bears!). She welcomed the move from the small desert community to the Bay Area where she tapped into her motivation to explore, learn, and meet new people. While a student, she became involved with the college-level nonprofit organization Camp Kesem Berkeley, holding a position on the leadership team, and spending summers supporting Bay Area youth. Her work there afforded her the opportunity to get involved with local people in the Bay, ultimately setting the stage for further exploration in assisting others in nonprofit organizations.

Erika comes to Community Initiatives fresh from working in Costa Rica, where she spent the last year and a half involved with an educational travel organization that partners with local nonprofits. During her time there she gained insight into community-based work and its initiatives as well as oriented students from the United States for grassroots development work.