Vera is a retired educator, who was employed by the New York City Department of Education (DOE) for twenty-eight years as a curriculum writer, professional developer, teacher trainer, and middle-school instructional specialist. She is also a poet and visual artist, who studied at the School of Visual Arts. Vera also worked with the LeAp Public Arts Program, which provides students from targeted, public, middle schools a platform to showcase their artistic talents and generate awareness of important issues facing their communities. She was a member of the curatorial team for the "Harrises of Harlem Show: Eight Generations," a WWSH photo exhibition.

Vera is also a co-founder of Sister/Sister—an organization that provides artists the opportunity to showcase their talents for the “soul support” of bringing to the forefront issues that effect the African-American community. She has also been a panelist for the New York State Council of the Arts.

Vera received a B.A. in education from Hampton Institute, an M.A. from City College in education, and earned credits toward a second M.A. in museum education, through Bank Street College.​