Turning Survival Into Purpose, Advocacy, and Global Impact – Exclusive Interview with Erica Moseley
Updated: Apr 19
Erica Moseley is a global speaker trained through the Les Brown Academy, tech mentor, author, and star of the documentary COVID-19 Homeless Outreach Awareness. She has spoken at colleges, nonprofits, corporations, and government forums worldwide. Erica focuses on youth empowerment, workforce development, and creating pathways into tech careers through mentorship and AI education. Her mission is to equip the next generation with the tools, confidence, and blueprint to thrive in an evolving, technology-driven world
Erica Moseley, Global Speaker
What inspired you to turn your personal experience with homelessness into a platform for advocacy and speaking?
For me, it wasn’t just a choice. Survival became purpose. I wasn’t just someone who experienced homelessness, I was a child living through it. Growing up, I moved across America with my father, who struggled with substance abuse. There was no stability or predictability. Home was wherever we could find it. Those experiences stayed with me. When I found my purpose, I realized my journey was similar to that of many teens and young adults as they search for stability, resources, and genuine community support. That understanding pushed me to speak up, not just for myself, but for all of them. I also began to notice that we rarely talk about what men go through when raising children. Many fathers, especially those raising kids on their own, give everything they have without enough support, guidance, or resources. They take on the challenges of parenting, survival, and emotional care, often quietly and without recognition.
These conversations are still often overlooked, but I am committed to bringing them to the forefront. Ignoring the experiences of men raising children means missing an important part of the family picture and putting the well-being of children at risk.
We need to look at the bigger picture, be honest about these challenges, and build a stronger support network for every parent working hard, whether their efforts are seen or not.
You’ve worked in both tech and nonprofit spaces. How has that shaped your approach to community development?
Working in both tech and nonprofit spaces gave me perspective. Tech taught me about structure, systems, and how to make a bigger impact. Nonprofit work taught me empathy, connection, and how to meet people where they are. Due to my background, I focus on creating real pathways for youth and young adults, especially those ages 10 to 25 who need resources, mentorship, and opportunities. I don’t just see challenges, I see systems that can be rebuilt to support long-term stability. It started EriCare to help young people access real resources and opportunities, whether that’s housing support, mentorship, or pathways into tech, modeling, acting, and other creative or professional industries.
Too often, young people don’t lack talent, they lack access, guidance, and connections. EriCare is about changing that by creating bridges into spaces that can feel out of reach, especially for youth and young adults ages 10 to 25 who are navigating instability or limited support systems.
My goal is to combine lived experience with opportunity, helping others step into tech, creative industries, and personal development with the resources, confidence, and community they need to move forward.
I started EriCare to help young people access real resources and opportunities, whether that’s housing support, mentorship, or pathways into tech, modeling, acting, and other creative or professional industries.
The tech industry generates over $5 trillion worldwide and is growing rapidly thanks to AI, digital media, and software. But even with this growth, research shows that many underrepresented groups still have much harder times getting entry-level jobs, internships, or mentorships in tech, creating a significant gap between opportunities and access. Often, young people have the talent but not the guidance, experience, or connections they need. EriCare works to change this by building links to places that can seem hard to reach, especially for young people aged 10 to 25 who face unstable situations or little support.
My goal is to combine lived experience with opportunity, helping others step into tech, modeling, acting, and creative industries with the resources, confidence, and community they need to move forward.
Your message “Play the Hand You Are Dealt” resonates with many. What does that mean to you personally?
To me, it means resilience and taking ownership. I couldn’t choose the circumstances I was born into, but I could choose how everything I went through, homelessness, instability, and growing up around addiction, could have defined me in a negative way. Instead, it refined me. It taught me strength, adaptability, and purpose. stability, and purpose. That message reminds people that their current situation is not their final destination
Globally, about one in five young people face homelessness or unstable housing. International reports show tens of millions are at risk of living without proper shelter, facing overcrowding, or staying in unsafe places. In the United States, youth homelessness affects hundreds of thousands to millions each year. This includes young people who are unstably housed, couch surfing, or living in temporary situations. These challenges often create difficulties with education, employment, and access to mental health support.
I have experience in modeling, acting, dancing, and public speaking, and I’m still learning and finding my purpose. I use these skills to give back through nonprofit work, mentorship, and community outreach.
That’s why I’m focusing on EriCare, where I create programs and support systems for young people. These offer housing support, mentorship, and ways to connect with the community.
My goal is to create spaces where young people feel noticed, supported, and reminded that their circumstances do not decide their future.
Call to action
If Erica Moseley’s story resonates with you, don’t just scroll past it. Take a moment to reflect, share it, and take action. This mission is about more than one voice, it’s about creating real pathways for teens and young adults ages 10 to 25 to move beyond instability and find purpose.
If you're looking to book Erica for a speaking engagement, partner on youth-focused initiatives, mentor young people, or support EriCare’s mission, your involvement matters. Every connection, every opportunity, and every resource helps move a young person closer to stability, confidence, and a new beginning.
Be part of something more than just awareness, be part of transformation. Follow the journey, share the message, and help turn lived experience into lasting impact.
