Erie's 40 Under 40: Class of 2021

by Erie Reader Staff June 30, 2021 at 9:10 AM

It's been a monumental year. Just ask anyone. It's taken a lot to get our community through these months together, and in those relatively dark times, there were people who helped to light the way. The class of 2021 for Erie's 40 Under 40 are some of these people.

Perhaps it's because of the difficulties we faced, then, that we were even more eager to recognize those hardworking people that helped. And recognize them our readers did. We received a record number of nominations this year. It's obvious that there's an ever-growing pool of talented individuals right here close to home.

Erie is a resilient place. We're adaptive and resourceful. So is this class, one filled with artists, dancers, health care workers, teachers, and business owners. They're the people going the extra mile, the ones who are following through with plans and making a positive change in Erie. And hey, do you know someone you'd like to see on this list? Well, our 2022 nominations are now open.

So take a look at some of the people finding creative solutions to get things done. They have packed resumes and bright futures ahead of them, illuminating the path for all of us.

 

Written by: Jonathan Burdick (JB), Kimberly Firestine (KF), Ally Kutz (AK), Aaron Mook (AM), Ben Speggen (BS), Cara Suppa (CS), Matt Swanseger (MS), Nick Warren (NW), and Jim Wertz (JW).

Photographs by Jessica Hunter.

Chelsea Curlett
Chelsea Curlett, 35
Owner/Counselor, Chelsea Curlett Counseling Services; Director of Student Support Services, R. Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School

As an Erie Native and a graduate of Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy and Edinboro University, Chelsea Curlett has seen her hometown adapt and change throughout her life. As a licensed professional counselor, she also knows that adaptation and change can weigh heavily on the collective well-being of the community. That's why she's committed her private practice to "helping people grow and make changes" in their personal lives.

Among other endeavors, she's participated in Young Erie Professionals and is a graduate of the Jefferson Civic Leadership Academy, directed by the Jefferson Educational Society. But she's taken a step back from those organizations to grow her private practice and focus on her work at the R. Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School. According to one nominator, "Chelsea serves as an example to youth and adults alike, of the direct relationship between hard work, self-discipline, integrity and the desire to empower others to improve their own lives and success … It is a ripple effect that helps students become responsible citizens; women become confident, loving mothers; men become patient, understanding partners; and teenagers learn healthy ways to cope with stress."

As the nominator suggests, Curlett's work at the R. Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School means that she works with students as well as their parents to ensure that families have the supports and structures necessary to ensure the student's success. That's the central piece to how she sees the Erie puzzle. "Everyday I have the opportunity to make my students feel loved and accepted," she says. "I try to push them to make good choices and to believe that they can be successful." — JW

Free To Read... But Not To Produce

Help keep journalism in Erie, PA alive by making a contribution to the Erie Reader.

One-Time
Monthly
$10
$25
$50
$100

We need your help today.

You can't put a price on critical local journalism, that's why the Reader has always been free. Over the past ten years we've been able to grow into Erie's only local source for news, arts, and culture, and the role we play in the community has never been more important as it is today. The need for quality local coverage is greater than ever before, and we're asking for your help.

The Erie Reader is completely free to access online and read in print. Will you consider a voluntary donation to help sustain our operation and continue providing free access to great local journalism to everyone?

Thank you for your support!