Erica
Nanton
From Chicago's South Side to international stages, Erica weaves together struggles for housing, education, abolition, reparations, and peace into one movement for collective liberation.
Paintings do not come before people.
Art Institute protest, 2016The Work
Across the last decade, Erica has held organizing and leadership roles in movements that stretch from Englewood streets to United Nations treaty bodies.
Education & Youth Power
Fought school closures in Englewood, led student protests for MAP grants, and served on the Local School Council of a special-needs high school to put decision-making back in the hands of students, families, and community.
ASK ERICA ABOUT THIS →Economic Justice & Poor People's Campaign
Co-chaired the Poor People's Campaign in Illinois, helped raise the Cook County minimum wage, and walked 200 miles carrying a cross for her cousin Elijah to demand a People and Planet First budget.
ASK ERICA ABOUT THIS →Abolition & Democracy Behind Bars
Helped register more than 1,800 pre-trial detainees at Cook County Jail to vote and brought an abolitionist voice into City Hall through campaigns like #NoCopAcademy.
ASK ERICA ABOUT THIS →Anti-War, Reparations & Global Solidarity
Organizes against U.S. war spending and homelessness, speaks at international labor conferences about cross-sector general strikes, and authored a UN shadow report on reparations.
ASK ERICA ABOUT THIS →
A Life in Movement
Born in Miami, FL
To Caribbean immigrant parents
Moved to Chicago
Studied social psychology at Roosevelt University
Higher Ed Protest
Shut down Michigan Ave demanding MAP grant funding
Lost Elijah
Cousin shot and killed in Back of the Yards
200-Mile March
Chicago to Springfield carrying Elijah's cross
Arrested at Capitol
9-hour occupation outside Governor's office
#NoCopAcademy
Sole voice at locked-down City Council hearing
The $2 Campaign
Won LSC election on a poster board
Jail to the Polls
1,800+ voters registered at Cook County Jail
Bermuda Keynote
Cross-sector strike speech at BUT centennial
UN Shadow Report
Reparations case presented to CERD in Geneva
DNC Protest
Led 100+ demanding funds for 68,000 unhoused
Stand in the River with Us
Whether you are a pastor, teacher, organizer, artist, or neighbor, Erica's work is an open invitation to join a living movement for liberation.