As a child, she dreamed of serving her country — and went on to become one of the first women allowed to rise through the ranks in the U.S. Army. On and off from 1990 to 2017, she served in both the Reserves and Active Duty, breaking barriers and paving the way for others who would come after her.

Her life has not been without profound hardship. Erica’s mother was a victim of domestic violence when she was a child, and years later, after a work injury, she lost her housing and spent more than a year moving her family from hotel to hotel in Emeryville. Through it all, one dream stayed constant: to raise her children in the Bay Area, the place she has always called home and where her roots run deep.

At a veterans’ event in Oakland, she first heard about Swords to Plowshares, and through outreach, housing, and legal advocacy, Erica secured a stable home in Emeryville and began accessing the VA benefits she earned through service.

True to her spirit of service, Erica now spends her time cooking and delivering meals to unhoused neighbors with her children. A trained chef and a passionate advocate, she dreams of opening her own food shelter to serve others.

Erica’s story is a reminder of the strength veterans carry within them — and the power of community to help that strength shine.

“Veteran Erica Graham is a fighter. She came to Swords’ legal team for help because VA had refused to recognize the traumas she experienced while in service. She knew this was not right and she knew she couldn’t give up. I’m so glad that we were able to help her finally get the recognition and compensation she deserved.”