I help nonprofit, philanthropic and community leaders do both.
For 30 years I have helped leaders grow through change. Today that change is AI. I help people feel safe enough to try it, skilled enough to use it, and wise enough to keep people at the center.
A live case study of Catalyze AI: what nonprofit leaders and a funder practicing trust-based philanthropy learned about building trust, skills and safety with AI.
Catalyze AI is a funder-sponsored cohort that helps nonprofit leaders move from curiosity to confident, responsible use. Two cohorts ran in West Michigan in 2026, sponsored by Amway.
of past clients surveyed are extremely likely to recommend Erica (15 of 16), and none rated her effectiveness below 4 out of 5.
Partnered with the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education on its facilities master plan, and with district leaders on the implementation strategy and bond outreach. Voters approved the $305M bond in November 2023.
teaching leadership at Grand Valley State University, plus work with the Girl Scouts in the U.S. and Europe.
Client results from an independent 2023 survey of 48 past clients (33% response) conducted by GrandPR, Grand Valley State University's student-run public relations firm.
Give your grantees or members a guided, human-centered path into AI: live sessions, hands-on labs, policy support and a showcase of what each organization built. You invest in people; they build the capacity.
Plan a cohort →Strategic planning, retreats and AI readiness for teams that need alignment, trust and a clear next step. Works well alongside EOS and other operating systems.
Talk about your team →A thinking partner for leaders navigating AI and change: how you lead, how your organization adopts it, and how you build with it yourself.
Book a conversation →Keynotes, roundtables and hands-on workshops on frontier leadership, learner safety, and building with AI without losing what makes your work human.
Invite Erica to speak →"Erica's skillful ability to create space for connection and trust building was exactly what we needed. She tailored the plan in real time to the dynamics of the group."
Meg DerrerRefugee Education Center
"Erica's authentic engagement and skills gave our team the space to reflect and learn together so that we increased our capacity to lead together and strategically increase our missional impact."
Rachel VerwysSafe Haven Ministries
"Erica is one of the most talented, intelligent, and perceptive consultants I have worked with. She undertakes challenging situations, makes people feel valued, and works intently on resolution."
Lynn HeemstraOur Community's Children
"Erica always brings an authenticity and positive energy to everything she does. She creates safe and creative spaces for planning and brainstorming."
LeAnn SecordUniversity of Michigan Health-West
"My personal growth as a leader. Our organization has moved forward with the vision casting work she facilitated with us."
Denise FaseGR Initiative for Leaders
"Some consultants are only task focused and miss the whole picture. Ms. Curry looks at things broadly and addresses things that can be missed."
Dr. Salvador Lopez-AriasGrand Valley State University
Mindsets and skillsets for people, teams and organizations navigating change and becoming future-ready. Practical prompts, what I am seeing in the field, and the questions worth sitting with.
I started in human development, designing programs with and for women and girls, and have spent my career alongside nonprofit, philanthropic and community leaders. Through Urban Curry Consulting I have led strategic planning, retreats, leadership coaching and team development for more than a decade. I created Catalyze AI™ because the leaders I love were being asked to adopt AI without anyone investing in their learning.
My belief is simple: trust does not come from teaching tools. It comes from investing in people.
Vision. A world that leads with humanity.
Mission. Inspire and equip leaders to change their world.
Our values
Nature. We honor the identities and seasons that shape each person, and the worlds they navigate: home, community and work.
Nurture. We care for the whole person. We believe in rest, and we practice caring for ourselves and others.
Our promise: Respair. An old English word for fresh hope, the return of hope after despair. It is what I want every person to leave with.