Erika Castro’s path to organizing began with her own lived experience. Born in Mexico City and raised on the east side of Las Vegas after migrating with her parents at age 3, Castro grew up knowing she was undocumented. The barriers she faced early in life fueled her determination to advocate for immigrant communities after graduating high school.
Castro’s first step into organizing came in 2010 when she volunteered to make calls in support of a legislative proposal called the DREAM Act. Although the proposal failed, the movement helped pave the way for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an immigration policy that protects some undocumented young adults from deportation. After she received DACA, Castro joined the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN)—a coalition of more than two dozen organizations that fight for social, economic, and environmental justice—where she organized around mining justice and immigrant rights. She also served as chair of the Nevada Immigrant Coalition during a successful 2019 legislative session.
In 2022, Castro graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a bachelor’s degree in urban studies.
Today, as PLAN’s organizing director, Castro continues to build coalitions and fight for policies that prioritize people, communities, and the planet.
This video is part of Shelterforce’s Women of Color on the Front Lines series.
Listen to our full conversation with Castro here.
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