Hi! My name is Erin Walker.   

I am a 30-something, adventure seeking, central america obsessed, beef jerky eating, mother of two insanely hyper but very loving boston terriers. I am a socially and environmentally conscious consumer who strongly believes in supporting your community and the communities of those less fortunate. 

Back in April of 2013, I was struggling with what I wanted to accomplish in life. I had a successful career running a strategy and project management office at a large corporation, but still felt like something was missing. I have always loved and I mean LOVED fashion, and had this burning desire to be more entrepreneurial – always wanting to branch off from the corporate environment and do something on my own. 

I had booked a trip down to Nicaragua with some friends, hoping the down time would lift the fog and help me narrow in on what my next career move should be. The night before I left I got news that a close friend had passed away. This rocked my world. It reminded me that we are only on this planet for a limited amount of time. That you better give it your all and ensure you’re doing things that make you and the people you love happy.  

It was with a clarified outlook that I embarked on my trip to Nicaragua. My lens on life was different. I discovered the beauty of the country and the warmth of the people. But I was also humbled by extreme poverty and severe living conditions. Unemployment is widespread, hunger is common and millions of people lack access to clean water.  Most people in rural areas survive off of less than $1US each day.

When I returned to Canada, I made the decision to take a leave of absence to start up an organization with a mission to ease social deprivation. The idea was to partner with street artisans and grant them access to vital distribution channels in North American to expand their businesses. A portion of each sale would be donated back into Nicaragua by partnering with registered charities. And the seeds of PurpleDirt were planted! 

Over the coming weeks and months, I will be blogging about the journey, progress and impact we are collectively making and asking for your valuable feedback and support!  

I look forward to continuing the journey with you. 

Lots of love! 

Erin