Erika Milena Yalowitz

Recent Posts | Experience

Erika was born and raised in Colombia, South America. Being exposed to civil and drug wars was a factor in waking her political awareness at a young age, when she decided to pursue public service. She attended a top school for Political Science, Government and International Relations in Colombia and has Graduate Studies in Political Management and Strategic Governance.

English is her second language. She learned it as an adult in London, U.K. where she volunteered for Amnesty International in Human Rights campaigns while working to pay for her studies. When she came to the U.S. for research she found love and started a family. Since then, she has served our community volunteering for numerous causes including helping at-risk youth, teaching English to immigrant adults and working on environmental causes. In her 16 years of community service, Erika has learned that key environmental and community issues, like control of pollution by single use plastics, demand a seat at the table to make meaningful and long term change.

Erika has represented the interests of her 2,800+ neighbors at the Rotonda HOA in Providence for the past 8 years, where she lead the installation of electric car chargers, which resulted in her community moving from 2 to 18 electric vehicles within one year. She also lead modernization projects delivered on time and on budget and multiple community improvements for children. She has been an advocate for walkability and smart growth in Tysons, and is an officer of the Providence District Council, the Fairfax Federation and member of the Emerging Leaders Council of the Tyson Partnership.

Her experience in local government includes her work at the Fairfax County Office for Domestic and Sexual Violence Services -formerly OFWDSVS- and her current full-time work as Court Officer in a neighboring jurisdiction. This has allowed her to gain direct knowledge about the work of Police Departments, the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, Courts, advocates and have a deep understanding of key issues related to our criminal justice system and its impact on local families.

Passion for community service, new urbanism and finding creative solutions for this suburban area of Providence and Fairfax County, have inspired Erika Yalowitz to run for office.  Providence District has the highest number of Metro stations in Virginia and is home to one of the largest employment centers in America. Erika believes in our potential to make this a successful combination that benefits all the County by advancing safe and accessible transportation and affordable living while protecting the character of our single family home neighborhoods.

Erika lives in Tysons with her husband, young daughter and their German Shepherd, Titus.

Recent Posts

Experience

Civic Involvement

Rotonda Condominium Unit Owners’ Association (HOA/CUOA)
Member, Board of Directors
Rotonda is one of the largest and best managed HOAs in the Washington Metropolitan Region, with almost 3,000 residents and a myriad of services. Erika has worked with various volunteer resident committees: Communications, Elections, Facilities, Children’s Activities, Welcoming new residents.

Providence District Council
Vice-President
Local Organization of home owners’ associations. Non-partisan. Composed by volunteer representatives of member HOAs.

Tysons Partnership
Emerging Leaders Council
Local partnership of businesses, residents and government working collaboratively to build and prepare Tysons to become “America’s Next Great City.”

Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations
Organization that encompasses the various District Councils representing Fairfax County’s districts.

Virginia Menstrual Equity Coalition
Founding member. Non-partisan coalition composed by groups and individuals with an interest in menstrual equity, sharing the belief that access to menstrual products are intrinsically related to the dignity and health of menstruating individuals and promotes increased access of menstrual products in shelters, schools and correctional facilities and general affordability including tax exemption.

 

Political Involvement

Fairfax County Democratic Committee
Co-Chairing Precinct Captain of the Tysons and Rotonda precincts.
Member and collaborator for the State and Local Affairs Committee, Women’s Issues Committee, Finance Committee and Voter Registration and Education Committee.

Work in Local Government

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Service Unit. Arlington, Virginia.

Office for Women and Domestic & Sexual Violence (OFWDSVS). Fairfax County, Virginia.

Volunteering

Hispanic College Fund. Erika coordinated thousands of volunteers and worked on encouraging hundreds of Hispanic youth in six states to pursue college education.

Saint Thomas Apostle, Catholic Church. Washington D.C.
Choir

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Falls Church, Virginia
Erika helped adult immigrants pursue better jobs as an ESL instructor for two years.

The Women’s Center. Vienna, Virginia
Volunteered for a partnership with the Domestic Violence Action Center in Fairfax to furnish a center servicing victim of domestic and sexual violence that included a free wardrobe with Court or job interview attire and a pantry.

Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters (BRAWS)
Shelter distribution volunteer
Member of the Advisory Board

Work Experience

After completing a successful internship at an International consulting firm in Washington, D.C., Erika was hired as an International Consultant for international trade projects and collaboration for publications that helped small and medium businesses export and procure goods and services to the U.S. Federal Government.

Hispanic College Fund (extinct). Non-profit organization that supported college scholarships and support programs for excelling and at-risk Hispanic youth nationwide.

Entrepreneurship

Small Business Owner. Owned a small business offering online marketing services

Sales & Merchandising

Erika performed as a top 15 sales representative in the nation for an internationally recognized luxury brand.

Graduate Studies

Political Management & Governance, International program.
George Washington University, Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) & Universidad del Rosario.

Studies

International Relations
Political Science & Government
Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá Colombia

Sabbatical experience in the United Kingdom and Europe

Volunteering: Amnesty International. Campaigns Department. She worked for the Stop Violence Against Women and Arms Control campaigns among others and in the Urgent Action Team processing urgent government replies.
Study: English and professional skills at the University of Greenwich.
Work: Restaurant server. The Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich - London.
Backpack travel: England, Scotland, Spain, Germany.
Other travel experience: Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Peru.

 

Upbringing

Erika was born in Colombia and grew up in Bogotá during the difficult times in the 80s and 90s. The long period of violence there inspired her to serve from a young age.

Affiliations

  • Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG)
  • Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL)
  • Sierra Club Northern Virginia Chapter
  • Friends of Accotink Creek
  • Moms Demand Action
  • Everytown for Gun Safety in America
  • Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA)
  • Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB)
  • Fairfax County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
  • Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV)
  • League of Women Voters (LWV)
  • McClean Newcomers & Neighbors
  • Fairfax Committee of 100
  • Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations
  • Fairfax County Democratic Committee
  • Providence District Democratic Committee
  • Network NoVA
  • Indivisible
  • Our Revolution
  • Liberal Women of Chesterfield County and Beyond (LWCC)
  • Interfaith Dialogue
  • Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions

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