BIDS Board Member Profile: Erica Andrade
by Danielle Hamilton-Slate, Capital Public Defender
Erica Andrade’s name is one that you may not have heard, even though she’s actually one of the leaders of our agency. Erica has served on the Board of Indigents’ Defense Services as the Wyandotte County public representative since 2019. (More about the Board itself next month!)
Erica’s background is not in the legal field. Instead, she is drawn to BIDS because of the way that the work we do intersects with her work with El Centro Inc.. El Centro serves the Latino community in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, “strengthening communities and improving the lives of Latinos and others through educational, social, and economic opportunities.” As the Chief Program Officer, Erica is in charge of El Centro’s community health, economic empowerment, and advocacy initiatives. Under these umbrellas, El Centro provides a host of services including health navigation, job and small business coaching, civic education, and legislative advocacy.
Erica first became involved with El Centro as a high school student living in Wyandotte County. At that time, she began volunteering with their early childhood education program. Upon graduating high school, Erica got her bachelor’s degree from KU then returned to work with El Centro full time. Five years ago, Erica furthered her education, obtaining a masters of public administration from UMKC.
As a resident of Wyandotte County since the age of 15, Erica is well aware of the disparities that exist between her county and its neighbors.
Poverty rates are higher in Wyandotte County, life expectancy is lower; barriers exist that keep people from accessing needed health services, educational opportunities, nutritious food, and economic stability. As the daughter of an immigrant mother, Erica has witnessed firsthand the increased impact that these barriers have on members of the Latino community.
Erica’s passion for reducing barriers and improving the lives of those in her community drives her in her free time as much as during her 9 to 5. She previously served on the board of the Coalition of Hispanic Women Against Cancer for many years. And currently, she pursues her passion for healthcare equity by serving on the board of the Kansas City Medical Society Foundation, a nonprofit that provides specialty care to uninsured individuals in the Kansas City area.
When approached about serving on BIDS’ board, Erica was intrigued by the opportunity to address issues related to access and community safety in a new way. She notes that it has been eye-opening and sometimes heartbreaking to learn more about how the justice system works. Erica describes her role on the Board as being the voice for the community impacts of BIDS and the criminal justice system in Wyandotte County. In that role, she seeks to increase access to quality representation, improve safety for, and protect the rights of the citizens of Wyandotte County. To that end, Erica has been a proponent for opening a public defender office in her county.
When not working or volunteering her time in the service of others, Erica, a self-proclaimed Hufflepuff, and enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her nieces and nephews.