Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Nicholson.
Hi Adrienne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in Dallas, serving and giving back to the community was the cornerstone of my upbringing. My parents instilled in my siblings and I that serving others is what life is all about. The summer before my Senior Year of high school at Ursuline Academy, I participated in a weeklong immersive week of service (The Summer Visiting Youth Program) at The Stewpot with fellow Ursuline students. The experience was one of the most rewarding and impactful weeks of my youth, and it was when I first felt truly convinced that serving and helping others was what I wanted to spend my life doing.
I went on to attend Trinity University, where I studied Religion and Communication. Following graduation, I served for a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) with the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Upon returning to Texas, I was married and served at various Presbyterian churches in positions including Director of Preschool Ministry and Director of Membership.
I began working at The Stewpot in 2018 and am now the Manager of Volunteer Services at The Stewpot. In my position, I help to connect individuals and groups with volunteer opportunities and share with the community all about the resources that The Stewpot offers. The Stewpot provides services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as well as to housed children, families, and adults who are low- and extremely low-income. We offer wraparound services, which include Meal Services, Housing, Client Services, Children, Youth & Family Stabilization, and Enrichment programs.
I have been at The Stewpot for nearly 5 years, and I feel honored and humbled to serve on staff alongside the most remarkable and inspiring coworkers and am privileged to help serve our neighbors in need. There is not a day that goes by that I do not learn something from my colleagues, our clients, or from our volunteers.
My husband, Wilson, is Associate Pastor of Discipleship & Nurture at Grace Presbyterian Church Plano and we currently live in uptown with our boxer named Odie.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Overall, it has been a smooth road! I feel fortunate and grateful that I am in Dallas, surrounded by my entire family and my community of friends. I am blessed beyond measure to be where I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the Manager of Volunteer Services and on the Philanthropy and Engagement team at The Stewpot. My team and I help to recruit, schedule, train, and supervise volunteers. I help provide tours, attend volunteer fairs/events, and present about The Stewpot at various speaking engagements in the community.
I am proud of the volunteer program we have at The Stewpot, and I am proud of our volunteer team. We strive to make the process of signing up to volunteer easy and barrier-free, and we have a wide array of volunteer opportunities that folks can choose from based on their interests. Our opportunities include (but are not limited to) helping to serve a meal, volunteering with children and youth, or helping sort and bag groceries at our twice-monthly Food Distribution events. We are always trying to think of new and fun ways to engage volunteers, and we have opportunities for individuals, civic organizations, churches, and corporations.
The Stewpot is a special community – like a family – and it is hard to leave here without feeling transformed on some level. I believe wholeheartedly in our mission, and I feel honored to be part of it.
If you would like to learn more about The Stewpot, please do not hesitate to schedule a tour by emailing volunteer@thestewpot.org. To learn more about our volunteer opportunities, please visit our website at www.thestewpot.org/volunteer.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Dallas! Dallas will always be special to me since it is my hometown. Some of my favorite things include great food, cultural diversity, and friendly people. Some of my favorite places/sites in Dallas include downtown, Klyde Warren Park, Griggs Park, White Rock Lake, and The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. My least favorite thing about Dallas isn’t specific to Dallas but rather to living in Texas itself – the summer heat is brutal!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thestewpot.org
- Instagram: stewpotdallas
- Facebook: @stewpotdallas
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stewpot-dallas/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheStewpot
Image Credits
Photographer Tim Smith
