Wider Circle’s Stories From The Circle: “We’re not members. We’re a family”– How Nikia Found Her Circle

Taking care of our health is a lifelong journey, and it’s a journey that is always better shared with the people we love.

In this edition of Stories from the Circle, meet Nikia. Navigating chronic health conditions alongside her son, she found a lifeline in her Wider Circle community. Through events built on connection, she shared resources and healthy-living tips with members who understood her journey, turning that knowledge into support for others. Today, she’s a lead ambassador and a familiar voice her community counts on.

We hope her story reminds you that the people around us can be a source of strength, support, and belonging.

Nikia P.

Nourishing Her Family: Nikia’s Story of Health, Healing, and Community

Rashida’s commuManaging her own chronic health challenges, Nikia found vital resources and a true family through community—and now, she’s giving back.

For Nikia, managing her health meant working around everything life threw at her. Living with high blood pressure and borderline diabetes, she had weathered hard seasons, including time in shelters. Providing for a household of six as grocery prices climbed meant some weeks stretched incredibly thin.

When Wider Circle Community Engagement Specialist Tas’Mirr “Taz” Hall first reached out, she and Nikia connected instantly. Nikia found Taz easy to talk to and deeply passionate about her work—a warmth that made a lasting impression. “I wasn’t meeting a stranger,” Nikia recalled. Nikia said it felt like “I met someone I’d known for a while.”

Encouraged by Taz, Nikia dove into events. Before long, she was trading tips—from housing resources to navigating eating healthy meals as a large family. Having known these systems from the inside, she turned her hard-won knowledge into a lifeline for others.“I’ve learned from the other members,” Nikia says—her community has taught her how to eat and how to manage life alongside a chronic illness. 

What kept Nikia coming back was the deep “camaraderie” she found at every gathering. “It’s a sense of community in the gatherings we’ve had, and the rapport we’ve built with each other,” she shared. Soon, members were sharing far more than just tips—they were trading personal strategies for eating well and easing stress. 

Connecting deeply with others navigating high blood pressure and diabetes, Nikia found new, wholesome ways to cook for her household. Today, her blood pressure is down into a manageable range.

Nikia also brought her family along, turning food resources into a chance to bond and learn how to eat healthier together. For her son, who manages Type 2 diabetes, the nutritional tips have been invaluable. As Nikia shares, the events help her “teach him how to make a meal and keep him away from stuff that will harm his body”. Today, her kids are among the most regular faces at family events—from Easter egg hunts to trampoline outings. “I love the family events,” she says, knowing they’ve made the whole family a firm part of the circle.

Inspired by the support, Nikia was all in on giving back. When Taz invited her to become an ambassador, she said yes without hesitation, throwing herself into organizing. Today, Nikia is the lead ambassador in her area, helping Taz plan events and coordinate resources. When local business owners hear about her impact, they are eager to help, often telling her, “We wish we had a program like Wider Circle when we were younger.”

At events, Nikia has become a fixture members count on. “She’s a second voice in all of our events,” Taz said. “When people look for me, they look for her.”

And in leaner weeks, the gatherings have quietly helped Nikia’s family as well,”I know my children will have something to eat that day.“

For Nikia, the community has become much more than a network. “We’re not members. We’re a family,” she said. “I have a slew of aunties, uncles, cousins, and new sisters I can turn to.”

Thank you, Nikia, for being a guiding voice for your community and reminding us of the power of connection. And thank you to our partners for helping make stories like Nikia’s possible every day.