Her Story
About Nicole
I came to Serenity House for recovery - I was suffering from alcoholism. The longer I was here, the more I saw individuals outside of the window that looked like me before I came to recovery. As I was walking one day to work, it was put in my head: help my people, help everyone. When COVID started, I began doing weekly feedings and getting donations, working with the community to make them feel like, despite your circumstances, there's someone that sees you. I was never unhoused - I always had the support of my family when I moved from Chicago to California. The relationship that I've gained with the community members makes me want to keep growing and going, because if I can just save one person and put them on the right path, I'll be happy. I have saved community members who call me Mama, and I look at them like, really? Mama? You're older than me, but it's just the caring and the love. My previous employment was with Chicago Public Schools for over 20 years, where I started out as a parent volunteer, then went to guidance counselor assistant, and then to payroll clerk and principal secretary. That was rewarding as well, because some of the parents of the students I worked with were struggling, and some of my former students have babies now. My main area of expertise is the communication, making individuals feel heard, making them realize that someone does care about them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nicole
01What do you attribute your success to?
I come from a background of educators, and so being able to communicate with individuals in general is something that comes naturally to me. What's really made me successful is being the listening ear and showing the care and compassion that was showed to me when I first came to Serenity House. And not just Serenity House - I had an amazing mother who raised us herself with the assistance of my grandparents. Even though my mom is no longer here with me, she lives through me, and so her voice, you know, this silent voice that you sometimes hear, like, okay, you gotta keep going. Don't give up, you gotta keep going.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice that I've ever received is trust the process. It's gonna get better, but you have to be patient. Trust the process and be patient.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would speak to her about patience. And making sure that sometimes in this field, individuals make judgments on people, but this needs to be a judgment-free zone. Just be patient and learn that we all are different, but we have the tools to help those who are in need of help.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is not enough funding.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My inspiration for the work that I do comes from me going through the program and seeing the needs of others that weren't receiving the help. We used to have a slogan at Chicago Public Schools, no child left behind, right? And in my head, it's no adult left behind, because those adults were once children who fell through the cracks. And we want to restore them. My typical day varies, but what really matters is being the listening ear and letting people know that they're not alone. You see me, but I have also suffered from substance abuse. What drives me is making individuals feel heard, making them realize that someone does care about them. If I can just save one person and put them on the right path, I'll be happy.
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