The Erickson Center

who we are....

left to right - Shirley, Gerene, Lee

Lee Erickson is the author of Through Krista's Eyes. The book speaks for itself in terms of defining where he stands and what he believes. These beliefs are the result of many factors - personal experience and experiences, and an almost constant interaction with young people - from being a parent to a sympathetic ear for other kids, from tutoring to advisor for Students Against Driving Drunk.

Gerene Erickson is Lee's bride of 20 years, and they are the proud parents of Krista, Alyssa, and Cory. Although she isn't attending college right now, Gerene is about a year away from obtaining an Elementary Education degree (maybe someday....), and is a volunteer tutor for high school students. She has a unique, God-given blessing of being able to get people to feel totally comfortable, whether they be young or old. Over and over again, people have come into the family's insurance office or the dentist's office (where she's worked as a dental assistant), and within minutes they are spilling their guts about personal problems. This has also been very evident in relationships with friends of Krista and Alyssa - drop-ins would always hang around to talk to her, regardless of whether or not the girls were home.

STILL need credentials????

OK....

Shirley (Erickson) Tiokasin is Lee's sister. Shirley has a B.S. Ed and a M.S. degree from the University of North Dakota, with a major in education and a minor in counseling. She has a rich 17-year history of working with young people.

After starting her career teaching in the high school classroom, she began working with alternative programs for youth and made a presentation at a national dropout prevention seminar. She then spent time as a case manager for the Child Welfare Reform Initiative, and was a participant at the national Children's Defense Fund conference in Washington, DC.

Shirley then moved to the college level, where she worked as a retention counselor at Little Hoop College, and later was the state coordinator for a grant program involving the 10 two-year colleges in North Dakota. While in this role, she presented details on the program at an international conference in Toronto. At the present time, she works for Student Support Services at Mayville State University.

Oh, yeah - in her "spare" time, in addition to her own children, Shirley has been a foster parent for eight other children over the years.

Rather than pursue a specific agenda, The Erickson Center is leaving options open and creating space to evolve. It's been said that in a world of specialization, perhaps what we need are more generalists. That's what we are - people who have seen their share of tragedy, triumph, and life in general, willing to do what we can to help others understand theirs....

YOU let US know how we can be of help, or if you have any input.

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