Erika Allen

Erika Allen is CEO of Urban Growers Collective, President of Green ERA Education NFP, and Co-Owner of Green Era Sustainability Partners. Prior to these roles, Erika founded and was Director of Growing Power’s Chicago and National Programs Officer from 2002 to 2018. Erika’s work exemplifies a strong commitment to sustainability, with her dedication to the eradication of environmental injustice and promotion of regenerative, urban agriculture within Chicago. Her commitment to the public sector through the promotion of sustainable agriculture, forging economic opportunities for low-income individuals and creating lasting access to healthy food has made a strong and considerable impact. Erikia has dedicated her professional career to public service, developing sustainable community food systems, and addressing structural racism and its inherent barriers to justice.

Erika served as a Chicago Park District Commissioner from 2012 to 2018. She is the Co-Founder of the Chicago Food Policy Action Council, serves on the Board of Grow Greater Englewood and Leadership Council for Growing Home, and is an Advisor and Steward for the Community Food Navigator project. She serves as a Board Member/Funder for the Growing Justice Fund.

Erika was appointed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker for the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education for a 3-year term and was selected in 2022 by the Biden Administration to join the Farm Service Agency Committee for Illinois. She presented her TEDxChicago talk, “Environmental Alchemy for Sustainable Food Systems” in September 2024.

A few of Erika’s most recent awards include the Chicago Council on Science and Technology’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2025); the Climate Action Museum’s Authentic Advocate Climate Action Hero Award (2025); the City of Chicago’s City Council Earth Day Resolution for Environmentalism (2025); and the Packer’s Women in Produce Award (2025).