Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Myers.
Nicole, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a native of Atlanta, I believe deeply in the power of our community. It is an exciting time to be an Atlantan as we welcome global expansion to the city, creating new jobs, new conversations, and new lessons for all.
I began my career in Commercial Interior Design and have fifteen years of both domestic and international business/fund development experience. My heart for service and belief in community responsibility has kept me closely tied to the nonprofit sector. I first learned of Back on My Feet when I was invited to a fundraising event by a friend.
The mission immediately made sense to me! In my own life, I had utilized walking and running to clear my mind, manage stress, and build confidence as I crossed the finish lines of races. I began volunteering with Back on My Feet with event planning and jumped at the chance to do this work daily when the opportunity became available. I have been the Director of Development since September 2018.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Pursuing passion is a delicate balance. It can provide the greatest joys and break your heart all at the same time. It is deeply important to establish good boundaries and be self-aware on this journey. My journey definitely hasn’t been a straight path! I think my belief that one’s career is a portfolio rather than a ladder has helped me to feel comfortable taking opportunities that might not have always seemed like a natural next step but ended up providing great experience. Ultimately it has been important to feed my soul and not my ego, so I’ve not been driven by title, but by the true work I have the chance to do.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Back on My Feet tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as an organization and what sets you apart from others?
As the Director of Development for Back on My Feet, I have the joy of growing our circle and helping to link people to our mission. Back on My Feet, a national organization operating in 13 major cities across the US, combats homelessness and addiction through the power of running, community support and essential employment resources.
Back on My Feet seeks to revolutionize the way society approaches homelessness and recovery. Our unique model demonstrates that if you first restore confidence, strength and self-esteem, individuals are better equipped to tackle the road ahead. For all in need, we aim to provide: practical training and employment resources for achieving independence; an environment that promotes accountability; and a community that offers compassion and hope.
We work with four shelter and recovery facility partners in Atlanta to create a transformative community for the individuals served. You’ll find our members and volunteers supporting each other through impactful miles three mornings a week at 5:30am. Once members have run with us for thirty days, they are eligible for our Next Steps program where they create goal plans, build skills, and ultimately return to the workforce. Our members do hard work and make big, healthy changes in their lives, but truly tackle it one step at a time.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Absolutely. From the outside looking in, my mother was a successful business professional. She cared deeply for me and instilled me with a love of people and community early in my life. What much of the world didn’t know was that she struggled most of her life with depression, anxiety, and as an adult with alcoholism. I believe her fear of being judged kept her from seeking help and when I was 27, I lost her to suicide.
It was an exceptionally traumatic loss, but today I have the chance to cheer on others seeking a different outcome. The Back on My Feet circle believes deeply in the power of another chance and in human potential. We believe that the labels of homelessness and addiction should not define a person’s future. Most of all we believe in the power of a supportive community that moves without judgement.
These guiding principles of our organization spill into the way I seek to live my own life. It is incredibly freeing to let down the walls of judgment that my own mother feared, and the remarkable opportunities that can create. I have learned so much from the amazing individuals Back on My Feet serves. They have changed my life for the better and helped my thinking to be far more open. They remind me to not live in fear, but to live in hope. It is a powerful gift.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.backonmyfeet.org
- Email: nicole.myers@backonmyfeet.org
- Instagram: @backonmyfeet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BackOnMyFeetAtlanta/
Image Credit:
These images are owned by Back on My Feet
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