Erica Ford: York Alumni, Game Changer, and a Rebel with a Cause

Erica Ford returned home to her alma mater and brought scores of young women and men with her. For more than 30 years, Erica Ford has fought for the rights of disenfranchised black and brown people everywhere, but the Queens resident has always remained connected to her alma mater, York College, where she got her start.

As a political science major at York, she was a rebel for many causes involving students and her community. Out of this advocacy LIFE camp (Love Ignites Freedom thru Education) was founded in 2002. It is a non-profit organization that provides marginalized youth and young adults with intensive case management, mentorship, access to education, employment opportunities, and unconventional therapeutic services to reduce violence and mitigate contact with the criminal justice system. 

This past weekend, the alumna known for her beautiful salt and pepper Afro and statuesque poise, brought her game-changing, social-justice work and love for people in the community back home as she launched LIFE Camp’s first ever Gaming 4 Peace Summit and Gaming 4 Peace NBA 2K Invitational and announced that she was passing the baton to Tiffany Lamela and Diana “Princess” Lemon, the new co-executive directors. 

“We are Gaming 4 Peace, but championing peace has never been a game,” said interim York College President Claudia Schrader at Saturday’s summit. “Erica and Life Camp do not play when it comes to their commitment to fostering healthy communities, confronting violence and trauma and the lack of opportunity and investment in communities of color, as well as finding solutions and pathways to peace, healing and transformation.” 

It's that feeling of pride for her community and comradery with her peers that led her to speak out against social injustice. “Right here in this atrium is where I held my bullhorn, and I became a game changer. I changed the game of institutional building, bringing black folks to the frontline to change our conditions and make sure that we have quality education for all of us. And so many more things, starting right here in 1987!, Ms. Ford told scores of youth from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. 

“I say all of this because you can do anything. I’m from Queens. I am Queens. I’m a Black woman and I dared to be different. When you have a dream. When you have a desire. When you have love for your people you can do anything you want,” she said. 

Erica’s success in Queens continues to be heralded and modeled for her innovative approach to addressing violence as a public health crisis throughout the United States and internationally. She works closely with public and private community stakeholders and partners to co-produce public safety, decrease incidents of gang violence and improve police-community relations.