IN THIS EPISODE…
In this episode of Matters of Creative, JR. Nobles, Executive Director of Friends of the Children – Tacoma, joins Bobbie Bailey and Ayanna Pasha to share how the organization is reshaping youth mentorship. JR. talks about the importance of having paid, professional mentors who stay with children for over 12 years, the role of family, and the power of an abundance mindset in nonprofit work.
JR.’s journey began in education, but his mission led him to create transformative opportunities for youth in Tacoma, especially those facing systemic barriers. He discusses the importance of partnerships, community involvement, and consistency in changing the trajectory of children’s lives, helping them make their own decisions, free from the limits of statistics.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on mentorship, community impact, and JR.’s vision for building an empowered future for every child who needs a Friend. Don’t miss this episode on how consistency, compassion, and community can reshape lives!
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
JR. is a passionate leader in youth development and advocacy with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion. To that end, JR. serves as the Executive Director of Friends of The Children – Tacoma, where he has worked since 2019.
Prior to joining Friends of the Children, he was the Director of the Tacoma/South Puget Sound MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement) program for seven years where he became a well-known voice in numerous areas, including higher education, K-12 education, diversity, equity and inclusion, policy and advocacy, and STEM.
As a Tacoma native, Nobles is a product of Tacoma Public Schools and graduated from Silas High School (formerly Wilson High School). He also received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Washington and a Master of Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University.
Learn more about JR.:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jr-nobles-8bb930108/
HERE’S A GLIMPSE OF WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
- [2:35] JR. Nobles’ career journey from law school to youth development advocate
- [8:17] JR. talks about giving back to the community by working with disadvantaged youth
- [14:47] Friends of the Children’s mentorship model
- [17:57] How JR.’s childhood mentors shaped his advocacy efforts
- [23:17] The inspiration for Friends of the Children’s clubhouse
- [28:45] JR.’s leadership style evolution
- [36:59] Facilitating a leadership feedback loop and maintaining an abundance mindset
- [45:41] How to scale an organizational vision
- [49:57] A day in the life of a nonprofit organization — and the challenges in the nonprofit space
- [57:36] The role of partnerships in Friends of the Children’s growth
- [1:04:22] What are Friends of the Children’s future goals?
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Bobbie Bailey on LinkedIn
- M Agency Website | Instagram
- JR. Nobles on LinkedIn
- Friends of the Children
Quotable Moments:
- “I actually wanted to be an attorney… but… there were so many kids that I was seeing, too many kids that looked like me.”
- “To whom much is given, much is required.”
- “We don’t walk behind a child… we walk alongside them so they can determine where they want to go.”
- “Leadership is really… a privilege, and it’s about people.”
- “It’s not just about the friends… it’s about the development director… the operations administrator… the program director.”
Action Steps:
- Start with a selfless leadership approach, focusing on empowerment rather than command and control: This cultivates a culture of trust, inspires staff, and promotes their roles in impacting lives.
- Establish strong community partnerships to support organizational goals and resources: Partnerships can help bridge gaps by providing resources, expertise, and connections, fueling traction for initiatives.
- Engage in regular constructive feedback loops with your team to refine processes: Feedback provides opportunities for growth, ensuring the organization and its leadership respond to the community’s evolving needs.
- Maintain an abundance mindset to navigate funding and resource challenges: This mindset helps identify creative solutions to barriers, allowing an organization to thrive despite economic uncertainties.
- Commit to continuous personal and professional development: Continuous learning fosters a growth mindset among leaders and teams, equipping them with the latest knowledge and skills to serve the community effectively.
SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…
This episode is brought to you by M Agency, a full-service creative marketing agency in Tacoma, Washington.
We are a strategic partner for companies wanting to build memorable brands, websites, and marketing campaigns.
Our team of creative professionals leverages their unique talents and skills to provide various branding, design and development, marketing, and creative services.
If you’re ready to take action with your marketing, visit https://whatisyourm.com/.