Fellow Spotlight: Mirka Estrada
Mirka Estrada
Community Development Specialist, The City of St. Louis
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Mirka Estrada and I was born and raised in Dallas, TX. I graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Education Studies. I am so excited to be serve in the Community Development Administration (CDA) at the City of St. Louis as a Community Development Specialist! In my spare time, I love playing tennis with my partner and going on walks in the beautiful parks St. Louis has to offer.
Why GFA?
I chose GFA because I believe that by creating pathways to government for people with diverse backgrounds, values, and experiences, state and local governments can be dynamic in their approach to finding solutions for today’s dire issues. Local governments have the key to strengthening their citizenry by mobilizing resources to empower disenfranchised communities to become citizens and active participants in democracy.
What does “Public Service” mean to you?
Public service means valuing a people-first approach to government. As a GFA fellow, I am excited by the prospects of cultivating connections with individuals, organizations, and communities to advocate for the creation of bold and inclusive policy-making that centers justice and equity for all. I believe government as a field has the potential to enable public servants to bridge the gap between pragmatism and inequity to create resilient and just communities across its state.
Describe your job in one sentence.
As a Community Development Specialist, I am tasked with managing the CDA's development housing contracts and projects to ensure that they are in compliance with existing standards, regulations and laws. Additionally, I research and apply to various funding sources and grants.
What are you most excited about with your first year in government?
Getting to meet individuals with more experience than me and expanding my knowledge on policy initiatives, while learning more about St. Louis!
What motivated you to work in government?
My early experiences in government as a high schooler!