Eryn

Eryn Roberts (she/her)

Board Member & Rising Tides Youth Mentor, Paddle for Peace

 

Eryn serves as a board member and Rising Tides youth mentor with Paddle for Peace, where she supports the organization’s mission to create inclusive, healing spaces for underserved youth through connection to water and community. As someone who benefited from community-based programs growing up, she brings lived experience, empathy, and purpose to her leadership and mentorship.

 

A first-generation American, Eryn was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. Much of her family still lives in West Africa, and her multicultural upbringing continues to shape her perspective, grounding her in deep-rooted values of service, resilience, and global community. Growing up in a predominantly white community and attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) for college, Eryn developed a strong passion for building inclusive and affirming spaces for people of color. Today, she is intentional about creating the kind of community she once longed for. Most recently, she founded a POC queer kickball team in San Diego to carve out joyful, empowering space for queer folks of color in recreational sports.

 

Eryn’s commitment to service began early—volunteering alongside her family during the holidays and packing meals for the local food bank. From ages 7 to 14, she was matched with a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters, an experience that left a lasting impression. She now volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego, mentoring a young girl through the very same program that helped shape her childhood.

Professionally, Eryn works in Human Resources, where she brings a people-first approach to everything she does—championing employee wellbeing, inclusive recognition, and professional growth. Her work is rooted in the belief that people and systems can always evolve for the better.

 

In addition to her service with Paddle for Peace, Eryn also serves on the board of Team SoCal for the Transplant Games of America. She is a living organ donor and a passionate advocate for community-based healing, health equity, and access. Whether mentoring youth, leading change, or spending time in the water, Eryn shows up fully and unapologetically—proud to be Black, proud to be first-generation, and proud to take up space where others like her have long been excluded, so that those who follow can feel welcome, safe, and empowered.