Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Araya.
Nathan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a storyteller, community leader, social entrepreneur and College Professor focused in using media, education and social enterprise to improve lives and empower communities. I was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up in Garland, Texas. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications and currently hold a Masters degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. I grew up as the oldest of three boys raised by a single immigrant mom from Ethiopia. My mom filled me with faith, love, confidence and support as a child to believe I can achieve anything.
I grew up expressing myself by making satirical Youtube videos as a youth in Dallas that reflected parts of my culture and life. It was at that point where I learned I had the opportunity to reach people with my story in ways I could not imagine. This later led me to make my first independent documentary film, Sincerely Ethiopia, which became nominated best documentary of 2014 by the African Movie Academy Awards. After this film, I created more documentaries and community events that were focused on empowering narratives I haven’t seen much of existing within my community. These documentaries were The Diaspora Journal and Growing Up In America. As I began creating films and hosting film screenings across North America, I discovered a passion for education and inspiring college students through the art of storytelling. These moments of meaningful interactions on different college campuses lead me to want to make more of a long-lasting impact and become a college professor. I am now working as a College Professor at Concordia University in Austin, Texas where I teach classes on marketing, business and communication. As an educator I remain to be a practitioner with different community projects and initiatives. My newest creative community-based initiative is a social enterprise called Ground Zero, which is an East African Coffee Company and Podcast Service focused on community impact through storytelling and social enterprise.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life has not always been linear and clear for me. I encountered many struggles along the way of discovering my purpose in the midst of several barriers placed before me – one of them being growing up without a father in the household. This deeply impacted me as a child. I grew up struggling with abandonment and insecurity. Though I had a loving family that was always there for me it was extremely difficult to fill the void inside. Healing is still a process and I am learning through faith on how to see myself as a child of God and vessel in the world. My hope is to use the barriers I faced within my path as a bridge to impact others with my story. Many of my projects and community-based initiatives come from a deep and personal connection I have within myself and others around me.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Be intentional to network around you before attempting to network above you. The people around you are people you can grow with and it is always fulfilling to share the journey with others that have the availability and ability to grow with you in life. Find a mentor that believes in you as much as you believe in them. Networking is about walking into every room as an asset, not an invoice. Everything in life does not have to be transactional. Learn to always be resourceful and add value to those around you at all times without expecting anything in return.
Contact Info:
- Email: natearaya@gmail.com
- Website: www.nathanaraya.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natearaya/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamNateAraya/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamnatearaya
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCultoNGphEnxesGVSIZDKLw
- Other: www.groundzero.coffee
