As a child, Erica dreamed of serving her country — and in 1990, she joined the U.S. Army, part of a new generation of women breaking barriers in the ranks. On and off until 2017, she served in both the Reserves and Active Duty, paving the way for others who would come after her.

Erica's journey has been shaped by both profound hardship and unwavering determination. After losing her mother as a child, she was raised by her grandmother in the Bay Area before later moving to Kansas. Years later, as a single mother, she returned to the Bay with her children, determined to make it their home. She faced unstable housing and a work injury that set her back, but through it all, one dream stayed constant: to build a safe and stable life for her family.

While living out of a hotel with her children, a chance meeting with a Swords to Plowshares' board member at a veterans' event in Oakland became the spark that turned Erica's life around. With support from our outreach, housing, and legal teams, she finally secured a stable home in Emeryville for her family and began receiving the VA benefits she had long earned.

True to her spirit of service, Erica now spends her time delivering home-cooked meals to her neighbors experiencing homelessness. A trained chef and passionate advocate, she dreams of opening her own food shelter to serve others who find themselves in the same difficult place she once was.

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 the 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.”