Ericka Flores
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ)
Jurupa Valley, CA USA
"You have to live your purpose. Life is really, really, really short and you should live your life according to what you want to do."
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Ericka's work combines: Environment & Nature, Non-Profit Organizations, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I had already experienced the reality of being different while growing up in the communities that I did, so I accepted that my journey was going to be different. However, once I found out that I was undocumented and that that would impact my educational journey, it felt really unfair and was very disappointing. I decided to not let that stop me so I started going to community college instead.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
San Bernardino Valley College
Bachelor's Degree
Sociology, General
California State University, San Bernardino
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I am a first-generation immigrant and raised by a single mother—as a result, I experienced housing inequality, which led to us moving a lot.
2.
I attended five different high schools in a variety of communities before we eventually settled in San Bernardino County in California.
3.
When I was a junior in high school, I discovered that I was undocumented and a DACA recipient, which greatly impacted my options for attending college.
4.
Determined to not let that hold me back, I started attending San Bernardino Valley College after high school and earned my associate’s degree in liberal studies.
5.
Due to my undocumented status and financial troubles, it took eight years before I was able to attend California State University, San Bernardino, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in sociology.
6.
After becoming aware of the environmental, racial, and social injustices in San Bernardino County, I started becoming more involved in my local community.
7.
I began working at the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ), where I organize and help educate community leaders on the issues in order to impact policy decisions.
8.
Through this work, I became passionate about the law and am now pursuing my law degree.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
You're an illegal immigrant, so you can't go to college.
How I responded:
I had already experienced the reality of being different while growing up in the communities that I did, so I accepted that my journey was going to be different. However, once I found out that I was undocumented and that that would impact my educational journey, it felt really unfair and was very disappointing. I decided to not let that stop me so I started going to community college instead.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I am a first generation immigrant, raised by a single mother, that experienced a lot of financial and housing inequality while growing up. As a result, we moved a lot.
The school system I grew up around had a lot of problems. I didn't have a lot of guidance when it came to applying for college. I was also a DACA student which limited my options.
I have been working since I was a teenager. As a senior in high school, I was working two jobs and saving my tips so that I could afford to register for community college. In addition to that, I was also helping to provide for my family.