Erica Swinney Staley

Organization - Executive Director, Manufacturing Renaissance 

County - Cook

Erica Sweeney Staley has over 20 years’ experience working in and with low-income, communities of color on a variety of environmental, community and workforce development programs and initiatives. Since 2008, Erica has worked for Manufacturing Renaissance (MR) and now serves as its Executive Director. MR advances sustainable development anchored in manufacturing. Through MR, Erica developed and directed the Manufacturing Connect and Young Manufacturers Association programs to expose, inspire, prepare, and support Black and Latinx youth and young adults to pursue career pathways in manufacturing. After completing her BA degree at the University of California (Berkeley), she served two years in Peace Corps in Paraguay and eighteen months in AmeriCorps. She later earned a Master’s degree from San Francisco State University and completed the Civic Leadership Academy program at the University of Chicago. Before joining MR, Erica started her career in California as a community organizer and project manager for youth and community projects addressing environmental, social, and economic justice issues. Erica, a biracial Black woman (she/her), was born and raised in Chicago. Erica currently lives in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood with her husband and son.