Erika Lindsey

Hometown: Union City, CA
Undergraduate Degree: UCLA, Sociology, 2005
Favorite City: Oakland
Planning Concentration: Community and Economic Development

How did you get interested in planning?

After graduation I was torn between policy and planning, so I took on several internships (up to three at one time) to get a better sense of the type of work I wanted to do. The organizations doing local community and economic development work really interested me, as well as the implementation focus of planning.

 What was your background prior to coming to Penn?

I held several internships, as mentioned above, and used to work for a small consulting firm in Newark, New Jersey on a contract for HUD. We conducted several capacity building workshops for the technology centers located in HUD housing, and assisted successful groups with the required paperwork to become tax exempt non-profit organizations.

Why did you choose Penn to study city planning?

I wanted to study planning in a major city, and find a program that provided opportunities to conduct work that impacted the residents of the city. Also, Penn has such wonderful and accessible faculty. The entire application process felt so personable. Penn was the only program that sent me a personal email to notify me of my acceptance, and during my decision process, the faculty was accessible to answer all of my questions.

With my community development interests, I thought it was important to have my program in a school that also had an architecture program and design strengths. These skills compliment my economic development coursework and are great tools to bring to the work I would like to do.

What has been your favorite class so far?

International Housing Markets with Marja Hoek-Smit, hands down. The class was a great combination of finance, housing policy, and international development issues. I gained a greater understanding of the complexities of international markets, which has helped me greatly while I am working in New Delhi this summer.

Are you involved in any planning related activities?

I am involved with the Penn Design Black Student Alliance (PDBSA) on the Unspoken Borders Conference, I went with a group of students to New Orleans over spring break to work on a GIS project, and this upcoming year I will be Vice Chair of Social Programs on the Penn Design Student Council (PDSC).

What are your career ambitions?

I am interested in the working for a Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), or organizations that address issues such as environmental justice or wealth building for low income communities.