SXSW 2012

Sr Strategist
Citizen Engagement Lab
Erica Williams is a social commentator and advocate who works to creatively engage the next generation in civic and political life. She is currently Senior Strategist at Citizen Engagement Laboratory, an incubator for projects that use technology and digital media to engage communities in cutting edge campaigns. Prior to joining CEL, Erica was the co-founder of Progress 2050, a project of the Center for American Progress that used demographic data and policy analysis to advance progressive ideas reflective of an increasingly diverse nation. Listed by Politico.com as one of 50 Top Politicos, Erica served as the Deputy Director of the Center's youth organization, Campus Progress. There she directed advocacy campaigns in the areas of equal opportunity, college access/affordability, health care, and energy. Erica also worked at the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, supporting grassroots strategy of over 200 national organizations on voting rights, higher education, and telecommunications policy. She is a World Economic Forum Young Global Shaper whos work and commentary has been featured on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, CNN, MTV, BET and the Washington Post. Erica is a proud Washington area native and preacher's kid.