Where Are They Now? Erica C. Formway – Class of 1999
Alumni #WhereAreTheyNow Spotlight: Erica C. Formway – Class of 1999
Erica Formway is a proud Elsie Allen High School alumni from the Class of 1999. She went straight to college and graduated from the University of the Pacific in 2003, with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. She then went on to receive her Masters in Business Administration from Sonoma State University, and later went back to Sonoma State in 2016 to earn her Masters in Counseling. Her educational journey is inspiring and one that helps us teach our youth to never give up and never let anything stop you from becoming the person you want to be.
When asked how Elsie Allen High School impacted her she shared, “I was in the third class to graduate from EAHS. Even as a new school, we faced stigma and criticism as the ‘minority school’ on the ‘poor side of town.’ This resulted in us new students, and my year especially, fighting back against the assumptions and insults we faced. We advocated for ourselves and our school by showing tremendous school spirit and pride. I have always been proud to be an EA Lobo and shared many wonderful memories from my 4-years there. I remain proud of EAHS as well as the community it serves.”
Erica hopes to have a thriving private practice, and has a list of goals she hopes to accomplish in the coming years. She hopes to become certified as a “Healing Shame” practitioner, become certified in EMDR (to support trauma survivors) and become certified as a sex therapist. She currently works with adult individuals and couples focused on people who deal with depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship dynamics and other mental health issues. She considers herself a Sex Positive therapist and she is comfortable discussing sex-related topics. She also enjoys working with marginalized populations, including the elderly, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ population.
Erica wanted us to share this message with our Lobo Nation, “I would like donors and sponsors to know that EAHS has been shortchanged in our community since before it opened and it takes support and belief in people like them to shift the assumptions and attitudes about this great school. EAHS and its students deserve a chance to be seen for all the potential it and they have always had, but it needs funding and non-monetary support to make this happen. I encourage donors and sponsors to be the voice of change needed to allow others in our community to HEAR, recognize and appreciate all that EAHS and its students, past, present and future, have to offer.”
Erica, we could not have said it any better. Thank you for sharing a little bit about your amazing journey, and for doing the work you do!