Erica Copeland is a graduate student in the Master of City & Regional Planning program at the Bloustein School with a concentration in Community Development and Housing. She joins Bloustein after having worked for several years promoting social equity in urban environments. Most recently, she served as a Housing Fellow with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments – a regional planning agency serving around 2 million residents in Los Angeles County – to encourage affordable housing development. Prior to that position, Erica worked as a community organizer in South L.A. helping local residents advocate for better neighborhoods and as a non-profit program manager focused on educational equity for communities of color. She hopes to continue working with public and private institutions to build more just and livable cities for underrepresented populations. In her leisure time, Erica can be found engaged in a good read, exploring new cityscapes, trying out new cuisines, or spending time with family and friends.