Erica Thomas

Erica Thomas is an American politician from Georgia.  She is a youth leader and legislator, and currently the Georgia State Representative of District 39. 

She is the founder of Speak Out Loud, a local nonprofit dedicated to giving a voice to foster children.

Early life and education

Erica Thomas was born on 12 August 1987, Fayetteville in North Carolina. She grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she attended Cocke County High School, in Newport, Tennessee. She later attended Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama.

Career

Thomas’s political career began with her serving as Legislative Aide to the previous representative from House District 39, Georgia. In 2014, when her predecessor left to seek a higher office, she ran for the office and won. She is currently serving her second term in office, on the Retirement, Budget and Fiscal Policy, Juvenile Justice and Science and Technology Committees. She is one the youngest members of the Georgia General Assembly while gaining national recognition as the nation's first orphan to hold political office and the sixth youngest State Representative in America.

In 2015 Erica Thomas was a guest speaker at the Black Business Empowerment Convention of Georgia.

As a philanthropist, she founded Speak Out Loud, a local nonprofit dedicated to giving a voice to foster children. The non-profit has expanded and organized across the country and has chapters in Botswana and Nigeria. She has also worked to establish libraries in various locations in Africa.

She is a prominent speaker and has spoken at various events within the United States and oversees. In 2015 Erica Thomas was a guest speaker at the Black Business Empowerment Convention of Georgia

Awards and honors

• Received the Ambassador for Peace Award from the Global Peace Foundation, in 2013
• 100 Black Men of America's Image Award
• Atlanta Leading Ladies
• Recognized by the Georgia Centre for Nonprofits (GCN), as a Nonprofit Leader and given the 30 under 30 Award for 2016
• TV One's Triumph Award through the National Action Network founded by The Rev. Al Sharpton.

Personal life

She currently resides in Mableton, in Cobb County, Georgia, with her daughter, Dakota.