Ericka François is a Social Impact Fellow at Mission Partners, a 100% women-owned Certified B Corporation and social impact communications firm. In her role, Ericka provides strategic support across a range of projects, including initiatives with the Center for the Study of Social Policy, bringing her passion for storytelling and social justice to every aspect of her work.

With over six years of leadership in foster care advocacy, Ericka made history by helping Fair Futures become the first publicly funded program in the nation to support NYC foster youth up to age 26. She is a trusted advocate, storyteller, and strategist who uses her lived experience to drive meaningful change. Ericka has contributed her expertise as a consultant for the Hilton Foundation, co-authoring the “Centering Equity and Lived Expertise in Communications and Content Development” guide, which reexamines storytelling practices within philanthropy through an equity-centered lens.

Ericka has served as a committee member for Narrowing the Front Door to NYC’s child welfare system, where she worked alongside government leaders, nonprofit executives, and impacted families to reimagine child welfare policies and strengthen family supports. She has also played a key role as an ambassador for a multi-year initiative designing anti-racist programmatic supports for youth aging out of foster care in NYC.

Ericka’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and addressing systemic inequities. Beyond her role at Mission Partners, she continues to use storytelling as a catalyst for change, creating content that inspires action and fosters lasting impact.