Today’s guest is a powerhouse in the Austin nonprofit scene and someone whose personal story makes her leadership more powerful. Erica ​Blue ​is ​the ​CEO ​of ​Austin ​Sunshine ​Camps (ASC), ​a ​100-year-old ​organization ​that ​provides ​free ​overnight ​camp ​experiences ​to ​Central ​Texas ​youth ​who ​wouldn't ​otherwise ​have ​access. ​Under ​her ​leadership, ​ASC ​has ​not ​only ​deepened ​its ​impact, ​but ​also ​earned ​major ​recognition, ​including ​the ​2024 ​Ethics ​and ​Business ​Award.

But ​Erica's ​path ​to ​this ​kind ​of ​work ​didn't ​start ​in ​a ​boardroom. ​It ​started ​with ​lived ​experience. ​Raised ​in ​Alief, ​a neighborhood ​in ​Houston, ​she ​knows ​what ​it ​means ​to ​navigate ​financial ​hardship ​firsthand. ​That ​background ​fuels ​her ​passion ​for ​youth ​development, ​equity, ​and ​building ​real ​pathways ​to ​opportunity.

In this inspiring episode, Adam sits down with Erica to explore how a century-old organization is changing lives—one camper at a time. The conversation dives into the nonprofit’s impact, Austin’s evolving social fabric, and the importance of mentorship, equity, and shared leadership in a growing city. Erica also offers a look at the future: expanding access, breaking down silos, and inviting more Austinites into the story.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

☀️ The legacy and evolution of Austin Sunshine Camps

🌲 How camp unlocks resilience, confidence, and curiosity in youth

💡 Erica’s journey from financial hardship to nonprofit leadership

🔁 Building a camper-to-counselor pipeline and workforce equity

🌉 Bridging opportunity gaps for 40,000+ kids in Central Texas

Resources for this episode:

About our guest: Erica Blue is the CEO of Austin Sunshine Camps. After a six-year stint in the for-profit industry, she joined the non-profit world in 2008. Erica is passionate about supporting missions that positively affected the trajectory of her own life. When she's not at work, Erica can be found running on the trails around Central Texas or in South Austin, where she lives with her husband, Ray, and their two daughters, Ruby and Zoey.

Personal LinkedIn Profile URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-blue-566b695/

Company LinkedIn Profile URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunshinecamps/

Company Instagram Handle: https://www.instagram.com/austinsunshinecamps/

Company YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/austinsunshinecamps

Company Website: www.sunshinecamps.org

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