ERICA LIMÓN-TREFIELO
Interim State Director of Communities In Schools Washington
Erica is the State Director of Communities In Schools (CIS) of Washington. She oversees the agency's strategic planning, financial management, personnel, policy and advocacy, and board operations to support 10 independent affiliates and 3 emerging affiliates across the state. This role focuses on strengthening affiliate relationships, resource development, program implementation, and model fidelity, while expanding CIS’s impact through sustainable student services and external partnerships.
As a woman community leader, how do you cultivate and maintain mentorship relationships with younger or emerging women leaders? What lessons or approaches are you passing on to ensure that leadership, empowerment, and inclusivity endure beyond your own tenure?
I approach this work through a community lens, setting my ego aside because I believe there is room for all of us to arrive and win. I authentically celebrate the successes of other women and cheer LOUDLY. I share knowledge, resources, and mentorship, passing on the belief that authenticity is strength—even in spaces not built for us, our perspectives and voices are necessary.
I lead by example, reinforcing that we don’t need to code-switch to lead. By embracing our full selves, we help redefine what professionalism looks like for emerging leaders. I also advocate for boundaries as an act of self-love and authenticity—we can’t keep giving from an empty cup. It’s okay to walk away from people and places that are harmful or no longer serve you. And if being the villain in someone else's story is the cost of your safety and healing, so be it—this journey is a marathon, and your well-being comes first.
If you had to choose a single word that captures your current approach to leadership, what would it be and why? Share a brief anecdote or turning point this past year that illustrates why this word resonates with you.
Transformative. I lean toward a transformative leadership style, which focuses on inspiring and empowering people to create meaningful, lasting change—beyond just managing tasks and maintaining the status quo. It pushes us to prioritize vision, innovation, and growth, both personally and professionally, while remaining authentic.
I’ve devoted my entire career to showing up as my full self, refusing to cut myself into pieces to make it easier for others to digest. As I’ve done this, I’ve created space for others to do the same.
A turning point this past year was leading the charge to shift our policy and advocacy strategies. For too long, we had approached this work in the same way, but it needed to evolve. We had to listen to what we were missing and engage new stakeholders. So, we did. We connected with community leaders, program directors, and executive leadership to refine our priorities, ensuring they reflected the realities on the ground. This shift was necessary—and transformative.
Reflecting on the last year, what new quote, book, or piece of advice has most influenced you as a woman leader? Why did it resonate with you, and how have you applied it in your community work?
"I am not aspiring to be humble." Women leaders are often expected to stay quiet, suppress their anger, shrink themselves, and remain "level-headed" to be taken seriously. When Madam Vice President Kamala Harris spoke these famous words, it all clicked for me. It validated my presence in the spaces I occupy and gave me permission to fully own my accomplishments—to feel pride without downplaying my success.
How have you and your team continued (or adapted) your efforts to give back to the community over the past year? Please share a specific recent initiative or story that you’re especially proud of—what was the impact, and how did it shape your leadership?
Recently, we launched our first-ever Leaders of Color/Lived Experience Professional Development Scholarship Program. Historically, leaders of color and those with lived experience have faced systemic barriers limiting their access to leadership roles, decision-making power, and advancement opportunities. This scholarship was our way of helping level the playing field within the CIS Washington Network.
We awarded five $2,000 scholarships to leaders across our statewide network, opening doors to professional development opportunities that would have otherwise been out of reach. These scholarships are empowering BIPOC leaders to strengthen their skills, expand their networks, and elevate their impact within their communities.
This experience reinforced my leadership philosophy—while we can’t change history, we have the power to shape the future. This was a step toward systems change, ensuring that those who have been historically excluded now have access to the opportunities they deserve.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, which woman—past or present—continues to inspire your work as a community leader, and why? How has her example influenced the way you collaborate, advocate, or mentor?
REST’s very own Elizabeth Hodges continues to inspire my work and leadership journey. She has never been afraid to push me in the ways I needed, offering opportunities, thought partnership, and the freedom to be my full self—raw, real, and sometimes needing that extra push. There are moments when I dig in my heels, but Elizabeth has always challenged me to think bigger: How can it work? What are the alternatives? How do we figure it out? I am, and will always be, deeply grateful for her guidance.
Additionally, Erin Chapman-Smith, Executive Director of ROOTS Young Adult Shelter in Seattle, has consistently pushed and inspired my work. I first met her in my first direct service role, working in a young adult housing program. She saw something in me that I didn’t always see in myself, creating opportunities and pulling up seats at tables where others didn’t want me to sit. She prepared me for leadership in ways she may not have even realized. Erin reminded me that people would try to water me down, but I didn’t have to shrink myself. There is room for a loud, proud Latina with lived experience to take up space and lead.
I am fortunate to carry forward the lessons these women have given me—creating spaces, pulling up seats, and showing up bravely in places that would rather be easier to digest.
What challenges and opportunities do you foresee for women leaders in your field or community over the next year, and how are you preparing to meet them? If you had to give one piece of advice to a woman stepping into a leadership role today, what would it be?
Many of the challenges women in leadership face today are the same ones we've been seeing for years—bias in leadership expectations. Women, especially those with intersectional identities, continue to have their leadership style, assertiveness, and decision-making questioned. Additionally, they are often expected to take on extra emotional labor, serve as the sole DEI practitioner, and be everything to everyone.
At the same time, women leaders are redefining leadership norms, emphasizing collaboration, relational leadership, trauma-informed, and healing-centered practices. To prepare for these challenges, I’m focusing on my own organization, identifying structural barriers and creating systems to break them down. I’m also not afraid to have difficult conversations about the intersectionality of women in leadership and the ways people’s actions impact that reality.
If I had to give advice, it would be this: You belong in that room—so act like it. You weren’t chosen because you were lucky; you were chosen because you are capable. Own your expertise, trust your instincts, embrace your perspective, and take up space. And through it all, don’t forget to create space for others to rise with you. We are not alone—build your support system.