Some people grow up to follow in the footsteps of their heroes. Erika Taylor grew up to become one.

Originally from Omaha, Erika first walked through the doors of Girls Inc. when she was just four years old. Today, she’s come full circle as Center Programs Coordinator at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, creating the same life-changing experiences that once shaped her.

“I was a Girls Inc. girl in Omaha,” she says. “Now, as an employee, this is my chance to be the staff member I always wanted to look up to.”

Her journey back to Girls Inc. wasn’t linear. After college, Erika worked as a residential youth counselor supporting kids who had experienced trauma, and later as a behavioral technician with students on the autism spectrum. “Those two jobs were so different,” she says, “but both helped me grow into who I am today.”

Community work runs deep in her family. Her mom continues to be changemaker in Omaha but has worked to reduce gang violence and uplift her community. “She’s my role model,” Erika says. “Watching her showed me how much I love being part of change. That’s why I’m drawn to the nonprofit world. It lets me be a force for good.”

Four years into her GIMD journey, Erika has worn many hats: from helping teens prep for college and internships to leading the Bold Business and Career Success programs. Now, she keeps the center running smoothly by coordinating schedules, programs, and all the behind-the-scenes logistics.

“Patience, having an open mind, and being a good listener have served me well in this role,” she says. “Nonprofit work can get messy but that’s the beauty of creation.”

For Erika, the Girls Inc. mission isn’t just a tagline, it’s personal. “For me, Girls Inc.’s mission means speaking up even when your voice shakes and being unapologetically yourself,” she says. “That’s what I try to pass on to the girls I work with.”

She still remembers being thirteen and taking her first big Girls Inc. trip to New York City, a long bus ride that ended with Broadway lights, visits to other Girls Inc. affiliates, and dinner at a woman-owned restaurant.

“It was the first time I felt truly independent,” she says.

Years later, a parent thanked her at an open house for the impact she’d made on their daughter. “That meant everything,” Erika says. “That’s why I stay.”

Leadership, she’s learned, is a constant evolution. “Leading is hard,” she says, “but it’s also the best teacher. I’ve learned how to lead alone, how to lead as a team, and that showing up for yourself – even when it’s uncomfortable – is always worth it.”

Looking ahead, Erika is focused on growth by helping Girls Inc. recruit more participants, establish more programs, and present more opportunities to girls. She dreams of launching a “Girls Inc. Passport” program so girls can visit other affiliates and see how the power of the Girls Inc. sisterhood goes so much further than Denver.

Outside of work, Erika’s creativity shines. She gardens, cooks, and loves horror movies, especially offbeat ones. She also has eleven tattoos, including one on her foot with her and her mom’s names in an infinity sign. “It reminds me that my love for her is forever.”

For Erika, being strong, smart, and bold isn’t about being fearless, it’s about showing up anyway. It’s about turning the lessons you’ve experienced into light for someone else. Because when girls like Erika grow up, they don’t just change their own story.

They change the game for everyone who comes after.