A Red Circle | 04.13.25

Special Guest:

Erica R. Williams

Show Highlights

• Driving education equity
• Providing creative enrichment for youth
• Advancing community wellness and food access
• She will emphasize how A Red Circle is filling gaps caused by anticipated federal funding cuts

Biography

Erica R. Williams is a nationally recognized nonprofit executive, policy thought leader, and racial equity strategist based in North County St. Louis. She is the Founder and Executive Director of A Red Circle, an organization she launched in the aftermath of the Ferguson uprising following the killing of Mike Brown.

Inspired by the call to move Ferguson from protest to progress, Williams marched alongside community leaders—including now-Congresswoman Cori Bush, who later became the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress. That same commitment to justice led Erica to found A Red Circle, which Congresswoman Bush helped support through federal funding and advocacy once elected.

In 2025, Erica co-authored a peer-reviewed policy brief published in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, titled:

“Food Pricing and Consumer Choice: Recommendations for Improving Affordability for Fresh Produce in Missouri.”

The article positions A Red Circle’s work as a national model for community-driven systems change in food access, policy, and environmental justice.

Under her leadership, A Red Circle has secured over $3 million in regional investments and launched several signature initiatives:

Brought to you by the J.C. Cooley Foundation, "Equipping the Youth of Today for the Challenges of Tomorrow."

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