I am Erika Barnes, MSW — a mother, wife, social worker, and trauma-informed educator, passionate about creating spaces where healing and learning can happen side by side.

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I became a teenage mother at 18, determined to build a better future, I earned my Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice by 2009, all while raising him with the support of family and close friends. I met my husband in 2006, and together we eventually built a loving family with two more children. I proudly completed my Master’s in Social Work in 2016 as a mother of three, balancing home, purpose, and professional growth.

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I was born and raised in the inner city, where trauma was not a theory it was a lived experience. I saw the effects of violence, instability, and systemic barriers all around me. That personal history is what drove me to dedicate my life to helping others navigate and survive their own trauma.

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Over the years, I’ve worked in correctional facilities, schools, treatment centers, and nonprofit programs — from Delaney Hall and Straight and Narrow to Family Connections and Mars Premier Care Day Habilitation. I currently serve as a member of the AIDS Task Force in Jersey City. I’ve mentored young people through community outreach, coached educators through burnout, and listened to stories that have broken my heart and fueled my mission.

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I’ve invested years into becoming more than just trauma-aware, I’ve become trauma-informed and trauma-responsive. I hold multiple certifications in mental health and I am Domestic Violence Advocate.

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Through Urban Testing Group LLC, I now lead professional development that empowers educators to recognize trauma in their students, respond with compassion, and create classroom environments that feel safe, stable, and supportive for everyone.

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This isn’t just work for me. It’s personal. It’s legacy. It’s love. Let’s work together to build schools that heal.