Aerris was raised in the midwest where she attended the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. After staying in her hometown for a few years, Aerris moved to Chicago where she worked in affordable housing, first for the Chicago Housing Authority and then for a Mental Health Non-profit where she did administration work to support several Permanent Supportive Housing programs. After moving to Memphis in 2018 Aerris continued her affordable housing work with the Memphis Housing Authority.

In 2019, Aerris got involved with local politics by volunteering in local and Statewide Electoral races which led her to work in advocacy and organizing.

Most recently, Aerris worked with Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, first as the West TN Community Organizer and then as the Campaign and Special Projects Lead and Affiliate Data Manager where she engaged in Statewide Advocacy efforts to support Reproductive Rights, doing anything from lobbying legislators, training volunteers, to planning rallies.

Although professionally new to the Education Advocacy field, Aerris has always enjoyed working and supporting youth through tutoring and mentoring and is looking forward to bringing her advocacy and community engagement experience to Stand for Children to support youth and justice work in Tennessee.

In her free time, you can find Aerris on the dance floor dancing Salsa and Bachata or spending time with her dog and cat.