Meet Erika Wozniak Francis of Chicago Public Schools & The Girl Talk

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Wozniak Francis.

Erika, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have wanted to be a teacher my whole life. I achieved that dream in 2004 when I started working at Chicago Public Schools. My dream was to change the world through my students. What I quickly realized that public education in Chicago and in America is not equal, that education is not equal so I became involved in my union, the Chicago Teachers Union in my first year teaching as the union delegate. My work in the union, I still believe is a means of advocating for my students and students across the city.

In 2015, I was aghast when I saw that my alma mater, DePaul University was getting into a deal wherein they would benefit from $55 million public tax dollars to help fund a basketball stadium, which we now know as the Wintrust Arena. I led a fight against this misuse of tax dollars in the wake of 49 public schools being closed. This fight got me more aware and involved in Chicago politics. I started showing up places to learn, joining in protests that I would not have otherwise gone to and getting to know the systems that shape our policies in Chicago.

This led me to very organically getting to know many people who are movers and shakers in that political scene, one of whom is Joanna Klonsky who was named one of Crain’s 40 under 40 in 2016. Joanna and I were hanging out after a political show at The Hideout called First Tuesdays hosted by Ben Joravsky of The Reader and Mick Dumke of Pro-Publica and we made that statement that there were not enough women on stage. The owner of The Hideout, Tim Tuten, challenged us and said, “Well, then why don’t you do a show?”

So we created the popular monthly talk show The Girl Talk which features prominent women in Chicago doing good work. My activism in my union, my work as a teacher, my work with The Girl Talk and my work on the state level (I sit on the State Educator Professional Licensure Board for the Illinois State Board of Education) was noted in 2016 by the American Federation of Teachers when I was honored with the Everyday Hero Award, an award given out to one outstanding teacher each year.

Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest struggle as a teacher and activist is getting elected officials to understand that public education needs to be fully funded, that teachers make a difference and that our tax dollars are precious and should not be given away to our friends and campaign donors.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Chicago Public Schools & The Girl Talk – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Girl Talk The Girl Talk is a monthly show recorded live at The Hideout in Chicago, hosted by Jen Sabella of Block Club and me and co-produced by media strategist Joanna Klonsky. Each month, the show tackles a new issue facing our city, state and country by listening to the women and gender non-conforming individuals who are at the forefront of those movements and doing the work on the ground to make things better.

Our show is accessible through Live Captioning and each month we donate a portion of the proceeds to an organization of our guests choice. Past guests include Toni Preckwinkle, Kim Foxx, Lori Lightfoot, Karen Lewis, State Rep. Juliana Stratton, Friends of the Parks ED Juanita Irizarry, Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza, State Rep. Theresa Mah, WNBA Chicago Sky star Imani Boyette, hip-hop artist FM Supreme and journalist Andrea Watson, among others. We elevate each other, we learn from one another and we know more about the work of the amazing women in Chicago.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the people, specifically the children. This is my 14th year being a Chicago Public School teacher and each year I fall more and more in love with my job. I have faith in the future of our society knowing the students who are in my class and whom I have the privilege of teaching year after year.

Pricing:

• The Girl Talk is $5 per show and proceeds go to charities and to help make our show accessible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.girltalkchi.com/
• Email: thegirltalkchi@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thegirltalkchi
• Facebook: @girltalkchicago
• Twitter: @GirlTalkChi

Image Credit:
Linze Rice

Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.