Tag Archives: National Indian Youth Leadership Project

Meet the Team: Eriq Acosta, Cultures & Societies Instructional Specialist

Eriq Acosta is our cultures & societies instructor, and his disparate heritage alone enhances his qualifications for the job. Eriq acquired his Navajo, Pueblo and Chicano origins from his mother’s side of the family, along with Comanche and Mexican blood from his father’s side.

Eriq Acosta

He has lived and worked in both Los Angeles and New Mexico. In LA, he worked for the United American Indian Involvement as the lead evaluator for the program. He also taught traditional American Indian drum co-created the Los Angeles Native Youth Leadership Journey.

In New Mexico, Eriq led a variety of outdoor education field experiences for the National Indian Youth Leadership Project. Those adventures with young people included rock climbing, backpacking, canoeing and rafting. Most recently, he worked at Colorado State University as the assistant director of El Centro, a cultural center for CSU’s Latino, Hispanic, Mexican and Chicano students.

Here are some more interesting facts about Eriq, who joined the Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center community in the fall of 2015: Continue reading…

Welcoming a Pair of New Instructional Specialists

We’re excited to welcome two new full-time instructional specialists to the Eagle Rock family, each of whom have been on campus over the past four weeks or so to get the lay of the land and soak up some early orientation.

Our new instructors include Beatriz (Bea) Salazar, who was born in South Central Los Angeles, and grew up in Commerce City, Colo., and Eriq Acosta, a Loveland, Colo., native who finished high school in Johnstown, Colo.

Bea Salazar
Bea Salazar

Bea received her education at 11 different schools through her lifetime, and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Denver. Most recently, she earned a Master’s degree in student affairs in higher education from Colorado State University (CSU).

Her most recent job was in the Housing and Dining Services department at CSU, where Bea served as an assistant residence director.

Bea first heard about Eagle Rock while chatting with a colleague at CSU about her passion for educating young people of color. Reflecting on that discussion, Bea said, “I loved the determination the students had in making the best future they could, and having adults who believed and encouraged their dreams.”

Bea is our new Life After Eagle Rock (LAER) instructional specialist, and she’s excited to build new relationships and opportunities, and learn all there is to learn about Eagle Rock and our brand of progressive education. A fun random fact about Bea? “I have a love for old cars! My lifelong dream is to rebuild an old Ford truck.”

Eriq Acosta acquired Navajo, Pueblo and Chicano origins from his mother’s side of the family, and Comanche and Mexican from his father’s side. Eriq has a Bachelor’s degree in Continue reading…