About
Erica Hammond joined the Economic Progress Institute Board in October 2023.
Erica is the Legislative Director of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, Rhode Island's labor federation representing over 80,000 workers across the Ocean State. In this role, she helps drive the organization's legislative initiatives and policy priorities in the Rhode Island General Assembly. She is a regular at the State House, where she can be seen testifying in committee hearings and advocating legislators on the floors of the House and Senate.
Erica is a member of the Governor's Workforce Board and is on the executive boards of the RI AFL-CIO and Fuerza Laboral. She also is the Vice President of her local union (OPEIU Local 25), Co-Chair of the RI Council for Occupational Safety and Health (RICOSH), and Treasurer of the Coalition of Labor Union Women RI chapter (CLUW RI).
Previously, Erica was the Lead Organizer at Climate Jobs Rhode Island, which is a coalition of labor, environmental, and community organizations committed to building an equitable, pro-worker, pro-climate green economy. In this capacity, she worked closely with coalitions, communities, and state and municipal entities to advance a clean energy economy at the scale climate science demands, while creating good union jobs, and creating more equitable communities.
Erica’s journey in advocating for workers’ rights and fostering economic justice is further underscored by her tenure as the Workforce Labor Liaison at the Institute for Labor Studies and Research (ILSR). During this time, she established strong relationships with RI’s local unions and state agencies. Some of her duties included coordination of ILSR’s Leadership for a Future program and facilitation of their Workplace Health and Safety, Rights on the Jobs training. Additionally, her tenure as a Community Organizer with RI Jobs with Justice allowed her the opportunity to forge relationships with community organizations and leaders committed to advancing social and economic justice, while fostering a Rhode Island where everyone thrives.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Erica is an avid soccer player, enjoys volunteering with unified sports, spending time with her dog Luna, and exploring her love of food. Erica received her Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies and Sociology/Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
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