Life & Work with Natasha Pierre McCarthy of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Pierre McCarthy.

Hi Natasha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
People often ask where my passion for vitiligo advocacy comes from. For me, it’s deeply personal. My journey with vitiligo became the foundation for my life’s purpose. As a mother, I also wanted to do something meaningful for my children because vitiligo can run in families, while in other cases it may be influenced by environmental factors. I believe my own vitiligo was triggered by environmental stress. One interesting fact many people don’t realize is that the genetic factors associated with vitiligo exist throughout the population, but only some people develop the condition when certain triggers occur. From my own experience, I also believe that managing stress and taking care of your overall well-being can play an important role in living with vitiligo and possible repigment and slow the progression. I have seen over time by using food as medicine, checking for outlying conditions like low vitamin d and reducing stress and inflammatory food that can have a significant positive impact on your body. It is a mind, body and spiritual mindset to managing a lifestyle condition like vitiligo.

My journey began while I was living in New York during 9/11. Every day I commuted on an express bus that passed through lower Manhattan and over the Brooklyn Bridge. I remember seeing the devastation, the thick black cloud of smoke that blocked the street and wreckage the same day as our bus drove by. Day after day we saw that and I continued to pray for the lost souls. It was surreal, and I believe that trauma had a significant impact on my body. Not long afterward, I started noticing tiny white spots on my wrist.
When I went to the dermatologist, I heard the words that so many people in the vitiligo community have heard: “It’s vitiligo and there is no cure.” Words like this can have a profound impact if you let it. I had to research the word vitiligo and everything was fragmented. The only thing that kept popping up was Michael Jackson had the condition. That itself did not help because people thought he was trying to turn white. I believe he had the condition. He put his messages in his music.

Getting back to my journey, I was prescribed a topical steroid, but my skin immediately blistered. My body was telling me that treatment wasn’t right for me. As I researched the medication, I learned about some of its potential side effects, and shortly afterward I found out I was pregnant. That experience taught me that vitiligo is not a one-size-fits-all condition. Every person’s journey is different, and treatment decisions should be made carefully and monitored with a healthcare provider.

A few years later, my family moved to Atlanta, and that’s where everything changed. We were called and became members of World Changers Church, where the teachings of Dr. Creflo Dollar brought healing, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose. At the same time, I was teaching at Point University, and as I continued growing spiritually, God’s Word began to transform my thinking. While teaching in the book of Nehemiah, I was inspired. I received a vision to build a community for people living with vitiligo a place where they could find hope, education, support, and connection. People who have modeled their group after our organization don’t realize it is written in the Bible in the book of Nehemiah.

That vision became the National Vitiligo Bond Inc. Foundation in 2010. What started as one support group has grown into a movement that now reaches more than 20 states, with international consultations and groups extending as far as Africa and Haiti. One of the things that brings me the most joy is seeing others duplicate what we’ve built because I don’t see that as competition I see it as progress. Every new support group, nonprofit, and awareness campaign helps reduce the stigma surrounding vitiligo and other visible differences. I truly believe that awareness and advocacy reduce stigma.

Looking back, I’m grateful for the journey. We’ve helped advocate for June to be recognized as Vitiligo Awareness Month in Georgia, partnered with Emory Dermatology, created youth empowerment and community outreach programs, and collaborated with organizations like L’Oréal, Dermablend, and Macy’s to expand education and awareness. Receiving honors like the 2023 USA Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service has been a tremendous blessing, but the greatest reward is watching someone who once felt alone discover confidence, community, and hope.
And I give God all the glory. I truly believe that if you trust our creator, Our creator will give you a vision for the very issue you’re facing a word that brings comfort and direction. We just have to listen. That’s what continues to guide my passion every day. For our youth remember to let your light shine. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Be yourself and what God has called you to be. You’re a seed of purpose that can bless humanity.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road for National Vitiligo Bond Inc., Foundation (Vitiligo Bond). The organization faced early challenges with limited awareness of vitiligo, making it harder to gain funding, visibility, and support. As a grassroots effort, it also relied heavily on volunteer work and personal investment while building credibility in both community and policy spaces. Despite these obstacles, those challenges helped strengthen its mission, deepen community trust, and expand its advocacy impact.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I lead Vitiligo Bond, a nonprofit focused on advocacy, education, and empowerment for individuals living with vitiligo. I also work as a business professor and consultant, supporting startups and nonprofits with strategy, operations, program development, and organizational growth. My work specializes in community-based advocacy, youth empowerment programs, and helping mission-driven organizations turn ideas into structured, sustainable impact. I’m known for building initiatives like June Vitiligo Awareness Month and creating platforms that center visibility, confidence, and representation. What I’m most proud of is growing this from a grassroots effort into a recognized advocacy movement that has helped secure awareness days, proclamations, and national conversations around vitiligo. What sets my work apart is that it blends lived experience with business strategy and policy advocacy, ensuring communities are not only represented but also equipped to lead and sustain meaningful change.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Start with clarity, not perfection. One key lesson from building Vitiligo Bond is that progress comes from consistency and purpose, not perfect conditions. I also learned that not everyone who joins will be in it for the long haul, so it’s important to build with people who are aligned with your vision and committed to the mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vitiligobond.org
• Instagram: vitiligobond
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitiligobondinc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-vitiligo-bond-inc-foundation
• Youtube: VitiligoBond