March 20, 2024 • 23 mins
Imagine growing up in a neighborhood where every day was a lesson in resilience and community. That was the reality for our season three opener guest, Niconda Garcia, a social justice advocate whose story of transformation from the Hillcrest neighborhood of Asheville to a champion for financial and social justice is nothing short of remarkable. Niconda's candid reflections on her formative years, including attending predominantly white schools as a social experiment and her unwavering commitment to helping marginalized communities, are at the heart of this conversation. She also shares the inspirational tale behind the founding of a medical office that provides stigma-free healthcare to transgender and HIV-positive communities, a testament to her dedication to creating a more equitable world.
Have you ever considered the impact of intuitive consulting or the significance of nurturing community relationships that last? This episode also offers a deep dive into my journey, leveraging organic connections to foster a reliable reputation in Asheville's consultancy scene since 2016. The spotlight then shifts to the transformative Consultants of Color program by WNC Pathways, where, as a facilitator and coach, I had the privilege of contributing to the elevation of diverse voices in nonprofit consultancy. This initiative, designed to confront racial disparities and foster financial empowerment for people of color, is a breakthrough in turning voluntary efforts into a respected, compensated profession. Through engaging discussions and specialized workshops, this episode is an invaluable resource for anyone eager to explore the convergence of consultancy, community, and social justice.
Website: https://nonprofitpathways.org/
Facebook: Niconda Garcia
Instagram: Niconda_Forever
LinkedIn: Niconda G.
02-04-2025
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Veronica (00:05):
Welcome to the Veronica Edwards show where we
have fun financial conversationsthat everyone listening can
apply to their personal andprofessional life.
I'm your host, veronica Edwards, and I'm so excited to be back
here, season three on bizradious.
So always, I want to thank theV team.
(00:27):
I've been doing a little bitmore on social media.
I hope you guys are liking thestories and we're also on TikTok
now.
So we're really trying to pushto hit over 4000 downloads
before we hit season four in thefall and I know today's show is
going to help us get over thathump.
So today's guest has worked in asocial justice capacity for
(00:50):
almost 20 years.
She is currently a programcoordinator for WNC pathway,
specifically the consultants ofcolor program, where I met this
beautiful young lady, and she isalso the owner of the chain,
the owner of change the rubric.
This guest has served as thepre child release manager of
Buncombe County, as well as thedirector of administration,
(01:13):
customer services supervisor andreferral coordinator in the
nonprofit health sector, serving18 counties in western North
Carolina Wow.
As an avid volunteer in variouslocal organizations, she is
committed to continued personalgrowth and service in the
community.
So, without further ado, Iwould like to introduce my
(01:35):
friend Ms Naconda Garcia.
Welcome, naconda.
Niconda (01:39):
Oh, good morning Veronica.
Thank you so much for having me.
I am honored to be here withyou all.
Veronica (01:45):
Girl, I'm honored to have you.
I'm just just a little littlesnippet of your bio and I'm like
, wow, girl, you've been doing alot over these last 20 plus
years.
Niconda (01:56):
Well, you know it doesn't feel that way.
You know it's for me it justfeels like life.
But you know, when you put iton paper it does look like huh.
Veronica (02:04):
Yeah, I like to put it into this little bit, just a
little snippet.
Oh, so that leads us right into.
We always start the show askingthe guests to tell us about you
, where you're from and yourstory that led you to
entrepreneurship.
Niconda (02:19):
Okay, so that's a loaded question.
But yeah, let's dive in.
Where am I from?
I'm a native of Asheville.
My family goes about four orfive generations back and
started out as sharecroppers inMars Hill.
I'm a single child.
I have three children.
(02:40):
I'm a mother of three plus adog.
I'm a dog, but I count as humanI'm, so I don't hear her in the
background.
I hope she didn't see asquirrel, because no matter how
many doors I closed, you mighthear her from it, and so, like I
grew up in Hillcrest, I'm proudof that.
(03:01):
Yes, Hillcrest, you know startedout, went to Randolph
Elementary School and at thattime it was like I didn't
realize what a jewel it was.
It was an all black school withblack, mostly black, educators.
That's where these days.
And then, at the age of about11 or 12, my parents moved to
(03:25):
South Asheville, the shallowcommunity, and so I love that.
The shallow community,frequented the community centers
, and that was that was mysecond home.
I graduated from TC Robertson,but what, what that experience
did, that I didn't know.
It was a social experiment forme, going from all black
(03:47):
neighborhood and black schoolsand black teachers to an all
white neighborhood.
Well, the neighborhood wasn'twhite, but the school was all
white school and teachers, andso what it did at an early age
that I reflect on now is itchallenged all of the
assumptions and biases that Ihad for both and gave me a
(04:08):
grounding for who I am today.
So that's a little background.
And then I went off to collegeat NC State and came back to
Asheville looking for a job andI landed.
I literally was walking downthe street of Haywood Road in
West Asheville just going toevery business seeing if anyone
(04:32):
was hiring I know that's right.
Veronica (04:34):
Nobody does that anymore, just door to door.
Niconda (04:37):
Just door to door.
And what was interesting isthat I went to this building
that I had seen in every, youknow all the time, but never
noticed you ever had that happen.
Yes, you see it, but you don'tsee it.
And so I get to this buildingand it's been there for years
and it's a medical office, and Istarted talking to a lady in
(04:58):
the lobby and she was justtelling me how impactful the
place had been to her life, howthe people had been so kind to
her and this I was like you know, after hearing her talk about
it, I was like this is it, thisis where I want this job and I
got it and I started working atthe front desk as a receptionist
(05:20):
and I think we had about 5,000patients at the time Wow.
And but what I loved about itwas it served my community.
Like it started in his reviewapartments, miss Minnie Jones.
He used to have marched with DrMark Luther King and she was
the first person to integratepublic housing here in Asheville
(05:43):
.
I didn't know all these things.
Veronica (05:44):
Wow, you're teaching me something in Women's History
Month.
Niconda (05:47):
I don't know about that .
Veronica (05:48):
You said Miss Minnie Jones.
Niconda (05:50):
Yes, Miss Minnie Jones, Check her out.
You know he and Carlos Gomezand Dr Polly Ross started that
doctor's office and it wasexclusively meant for the
underserved and I had no clue.
So you had to live in 2806because 2806 was the lowest
income community at that timeand that's what the code
(06:11):
currently shout out to 2806.
Veronica (06:14):
God bless you for letting me get a house.
Niconda (06:16):
Thank you, that's OK.
Repping that 2806, honey, comeon West.
Veronica (06:21):
Side, so we die All, right, sorry, go ahead.
Niconda (06:24):
That was so good, and the only exception to that was
you to live outside, live in theAitlin County area and be
transgender or HIV positive.
The reason is that I did notknow, but what I learned was
that exception was made becauseof the stigma that comes with
(06:47):
those things and they wantedpeople to have access to health
care without experiencing stigma.
So that experience really laidthe foundation for my social
justice work, even though itwasn't intentional.
I worked alongside of peoplethat were typically marginalized
and developed the true love andunderstanding and that
(07:10):
spearheaded my career and how Ilook at people and life in
general.
Veronica (07:14):
Wow, there's so much I could touch on the condo.
Where one?
I just want to say wow, fifthgeneration Asheville.
Niconda (07:22):
Whoa.
Veronica (07:23):
You really don't see that a lot.
And then the history that youhave when it comes to social
justice You're not just doingthis when it got cool In recent
and everybody when I want to bewoke the fact that this is what
you've always have done and it'salmost like you were destined
to do it.
You were just drawn to it.
And I just love that and I likethat you're still doing that,
(07:45):
while also being able to be anentrepreneur with your business.
So I love the name of yourbusiness.
Change the Rubric.
How did you come up with thatname?
And, please, to the listeners,what are your services?
Are you taking new clients?
How can we support yourbusiness?
Niconda (08:01):
OK, well, change the Rubric came out of just lived
experience.
You know, like I did the 20years in health care, and then I
went to Buncombe County in thecriminal justice sector, where I
used what I learned to createprocesses that were equitable
(08:22):
and open access and providedmore support in my sphere of
influence, and what I realizedis the ultimate Human beings are
human beings and organizationswere created by human beings,
right, so even organizationswith the best intent are
(08:44):
swimming in the waters of whatwe all been swimming in, which
is social constructs,hierarchies and some are, you
know, I've not seen any of themare bad, but what I realized is
me, as a person in my own agency, understand that you know,
people are people and notintended to be managed.
Veronica (09:07):
Yes.
Niconda (09:08):
We manage.
We're supposed to manageresources and not people, and so
that's something that I learnedwhen I supervised.
You know I worked my way upfrom front desk and you know I
always supervised large teamsand one of the biggest things
that became a joy when I learnedto let go of the mental
constructs in my mind of, likeme and I have control and and
(09:32):
ownership and the scarcitymindset and whatever.
When I started to developleaders and delegate and like
really get to know them and helpthem, like see in themselves
what I saw and maybe some more,that gave me fuel that still
gives me energy, that Like whileI'm still on my journey to
(09:56):
becoming doing that for othersas well like fuels my soul.
So that's where to change therubric.
Where you know I work with, Ido some consulting work and and
I do it intuitively, like I amtaking new clients but I don't
go looking for people.
People come to me because Ibuild relationship with people.
Veronica (10:21):
You definitely do.
I tell people in the kind isthe plug like, even if it's in a
completely different realm fromwhat I know, the condom like,
well, just talk to her becauseshe knows people and she can get
you in the right direction.
So I appreciate that about youbecause, again, that's one of
the many strengths that you have.
With also just being here foras long as you have been, you've
built so many goodrelationships.
(10:43):
And one thing I will tell you,being somewhat of a newer person
in Asheville, I moved here in2016.
You get a lot of people come inAsheville real hot and they
leave really fast too.
So it says a lot that you'vebeen here doing the same work
and I can't find nobody thatsays anything bad about Miss
Nakana Garcia.
Okay, so I just appreciate thework that you're doing and how
(11:05):
consistent you are, because Iknow in this work it could be
draining and you and you have toas much.
As you said, it feeds your soul.
We want to make sure that youknow we're pouring into you as
well.
Niconda (11:17):
Oh, I can appreciate that and you definitely do with
that energy and you bring everytime I'm in a space with you.
Veronica (11:23):
I either I tell people you either gonna love it
or you gonna hate it.
I appreciate that from you andI would.
That leads us to how we met.
You know Naconda reached out tome some time ago about this
amazing program that WNCPathways has here called the
Consultants of Color, and youwere kind enough to ask me to
facilitate a few workshops and,you know, do some coaching.
(11:44):
So I would love if you couldtell the listeners about what is
the consultants of color, whyit's necessary and, if folks are
interested, how they can signup to participate.
Niconda (11:55):
Yes, gladly so.
That leads into my body of workwith WNC nonprofit pathways.
Shortly after I left the countyI met, had the pleasure of
meeting Some of the SearingCommittee members and Jeanette
Butterworth, the seniorconsultant at Pathways, because
(12:16):
they were looking to bring on aconsultant to help with
programming and curriculumdevelopment and things that I
had some Experience in.
And what drew me to the workwith Pathways the most is that
it tied into that social socialjustice spirit side of me
Because at that time you knowshe To.
(12:38):
She had given me a lot ofbackground about what Pathways
does and Pathways helpsNon-profits build their capacity
and become stronger.
The whole 18 County regionwhich I had already been
familiar with.
From my 20 years in health care.
So those things sort of linedup.
But what I really loved aboutit at that time, you know, I
(12:59):
learned that they had startedthis consultants of color
program out of a explicitawareness that the consultants
that they Relay on to helpprovide support for the
nonprofits in the 18 Countyregion were predominantly white.
Being able to acknowledge thatand then also taking steps to
(13:23):
Build up consultants to bringdiverse voices into those 18
counties was like okay, I canrock with this.
I can rock with this becausethis was, and this was happening
before George Floyd.
Before it was, mm-hmm, you know,a Fad you know, before the
(13:44):
radar like that resonated withme, and so the consultants of
color cohort.
There was a small cohort.
That happened in 2017, before Icame on to Pathways, and when I
came on, you know, one of thethings that they were very
passionate about was making surethat to start that back up
(14:04):
again, and so so I did andbrought in people that were a
ride wide range and variety ofskill sets, of Levels of
consulting, because what weoften don't name is that people
of color are often doing thework, especially the boots on
(14:25):
the ground work, and have thelived experience and expertise,
but do it for free period.
So, yeah, I was like, okay,well, we bring in some of those
into the fold.
We're bringing some that aredoing it, and doing it on a
larger scale, so that they cannetwork, shopping each other and
Support the nonprofits in theregion and so that's where we
met, because I, you know,reached out to you after getting
(14:47):
some information from our firstcohort, like trying to figure
out when the gaps were that Icould help fill in, or not even
gaps, like how could I amplifythe program, and one of the
things that came out of thefirst cohort, and I dropped some
names from that first cohort.
You'll know the employee.
(15:08):
They speak around here.
They ain't gonna say nothing,right?
Veronica (15:12):
right.
Niconda (15:13):
There's all Jimenez leaving cows.
I feel it's hardly like thesewere people that were doing
things and still are like AishaAdams.
Those who were in the firstcohort.
Like, and they are, it's Mikoand Rose Murray, like, who
doesn't know these people thatare doing the work in Asheville,
you know?
And so in talking with thesepeople in the first cohort, you
know they're doing well, they'reliving their missions, they're
(15:36):
changing community, and theywere like you know what I wish I
would have known a little bitmore about the financial piece.
I wish I would have known thenwhat I know now, and hence
that's why I've reached out toyou, because it was like, well,
we have to get someone that cansort of ask.
You know that people can askthose questions and lean on for
the.
You know the, the, the havereal talk about finances, cause
(15:59):
we often don't do that incommunities of color, cause most
of the time it's because wenever really had money to manage
.
Veronica (16:05):
Exactly.
Niconda (16:07):
But then you know I was like so let me reach out to
Veronica Edwards.
I had heard all kinds of goodthings about you from Wade.
Oh yeah, and I was like let mereach out to Veronica, because
the other important part was youknow, I really wanted to bring
in someone of color in finance.
Yes, and I don't know if youknow, but y'all are like
(16:29):
unicorns.
We don't know about people ofcolor.
Veronica (16:33):
Yes, I just want to shout out for Iindia Pearson,
who was running for city council.
I had just met her and she is awoman of color from Asheville
that's an amazing bookkeeper,caterer, all of these things,
mother of five, I believe, andso, yeah, it's like outside of
Iindia I really don't know manypeople of color, specifically in
(16:54):
accounting and finance.
So that's why I so appreciateyou, naconda, for reaching out
and also just your appetite foreducation, cause when, when we
get all said and done, nacondamight be a junior accountant,
cause you are very oriented andyou have the interest, and so
that's something I'm definitelylooking into as another stream
of businesses training morebookkeepers, especially
(17:15):
bookkeepers of color.
Niconda (17:17):
Holler, chagirl, I am interested and you know, like
the, the, the, the coaching thatyou provided me was so helpful.
Like you are so easy to to to.
You explain things very well,very clear.
You make it.
You know you take that stressout of money.
When people think numberssometimes it comes with a
connotation of, like a level ofdifficulty that may be maybe,
(17:42):
you know, a little scary forpeople, but you definitely broke
it down in ways that I canunderstand.
Veronica (17:48):
Well, I appreciate it and you know that's something I
tell people.
If I can do accounting, anybodycan do it.
It's just that it's a foreignlanguage.
So a lot of times if we'rechildren and we're learning a
foreign language younger, it'seasier, but a lot of times we go
through our whole life until wehave a business or until we're
ready to get a house and wereally never had that financial
literacy.
So, in the kind of before we go, we know we always ask the
(18:11):
guests to give the listenerssome tips, some jewels, and with
your many years of amazingexperience across all areas, but
now you're really settling intoyour entrepreneurship journey.
What is something that you wish?
Somebody told you at thebeginning of that journey that
you would like to share with thelisteners, Maybe if those
listening are just startingtheir business or they're
thinking about getting into it.
(18:32):
But they might be a littlenervous.
Niconda (18:35):
What I would say is often that we, when we think
about wanting to step on our own, we often are visioning, trying
to create something new in ourmind or we.
What I mean to say is we oftendon't take the time to pause to
(18:57):
really think about theexperiences and the resources
that we currently have thatbrought us to this moment and.
That's often where your glorylies, that's where your peace
lies, because nothing you know,the gifts that are our, gifted
to us, are not foreign.
It's not something that we haveto create.
(19:18):
They're already in us and lifehas a way of Giving us the
training that we need to doexactly what we're supposed to
do.
So I would say, like, take apause, look at your resources,
look at, look at yourexperiences, because all of
those things didn't happenhaphazardly.
Veronica (19:37):
Yes, I Definitely have had.
One of my cousins was on theshow some months back, reverend
Tamika Milton, and she saysthere's power in the pause.
And you're absolutely right.
Sometimes we're just going,going, going, going going and
people like, well, I don't knowwhat my passion is and I don't
know what my purpose is.
All these peas got a pause.
(19:59):
You got to figure out, well,what exactly has happened that
led me to this.
It wasn't by chance that youwalked by that building and you
went inside and you got the jobyou know and that you followed
through with that and that youcontinued.
Even after 20 years ofexperience and you know I still
there's something still pullingat me that that all of these
(20:20):
things helped lead me to thatpoint.
But, nikon, I'm just sothankful for you and the work
that you're doing in WesternNorth Carolina and, as
complimentary yard to me, I haveto be the same to you.
I love your energy, I love thatyou just keep it straight up,
which I can appreciate.
You're not gonna get 50 shadesof gray with Nikon.
You gonna get black or white andI'm the same way and I
(20:42):
appreciate that because wereally don't have time to waste,
especially in the work thatwe're doing.
So, just like that Nikon to,we're already to the end of the
show and we Definitely are gonnahave you back.
You know, I'm all about aquarterly segment and I would
love to keep talking with youabout some of the things that
don't get Highlighted in regardsto social justice, especially
(21:02):
in Asheville, that we kind ofwant to keep people accountable
to, especially like reparations,child, but as a whole, nother
story.
But but, again for anybodylistening that wants to get in
contact with you.
How can we reach you if youhave a website, social media,
all that stuff?
Niconda (21:20):
So if you want, if you are non-profit and would like
capacity build and support, youcan reach me at Nikonda at
nonprofit pathways.
If you are looking forleadership development oh and
that's nonprofit Nikon atnonprofit pathwaysorg.
If you are looking forleadership development or
coaching, you can reach me atchange the rubric at gmailcom
(21:43):
and, to be determined, I'll letyou know about the website.
It's something that I've neverwanted to do and mentors have
been saying you have to do it,you have to do it.
So that's in development andI'll update you at our quarterly
, quarterly meeting wheneverthat happens.
Veronica (21:58):
Yes, well, thank you again for the work that you're
doing it, regardless if you havea website or not, you're the
plug, so we know how to get incontact with you and your work
speaks for itself.
So thank you again, and I hopethat we have another 20 years of
you here in Asheville doing thework that you have been doing,
because it's very muchAppreciate it and need it.
Niconda (22:16):
Oh, I appreciate you so much.
I'm sending you positive energyand light until we meet again,
my friend.
Veronica (22:23):
Yes, and I just want to Thank all the listeners for
tuning in to biz radio dot USfor the Veronica Edward show on
Wednesdays across all platformsis when it airs and if you miss
the live area, you can listen toall prior shows at Veronica
Edwards.
That buzz brought calm, I.
Welcome to the Veronica Edwards show where we
have fun financial conversationsthat everyone listening can
apply to their personal andprofessional life.
I'm your host, veronica Edwards, and I'm so excited to be back
here, season three on bizradious.
So always, I want to thank theV team.
(00:27):
I've been doing a little bitmore on social media.
I hope you guys are liking thestories and we're also on TikTok
now.
So we're really trying to pushto hit over 4000 downloads
before we hit season four in thefall and I know today's show is
going to help us get over thathump.
So today's guest has worked in asocial justice capacity for
(00:50):
almost 20 years.
She is currently a programcoordinator for WNC pathway,
specifically the consultants ofcolor program, where I met this
beautiful young lady, and she isalso the owner of the chain,
the owner of change the rubric.
This guest has served as thepre child release manager of
Buncombe County, as well as thedirector of administration,
(01:13):
customer services supervisor andreferral coordinator in the
nonprofit health sector, serving18 counties in western North
Carolina Wow.
As an avid volunteer in variouslocal organizations, she is
committed to continued personalgrowth and service in the
community.
So, without further ado, Iwould like to introduce my
(01:35):
friend Ms Naconda Garcia.
Welcome, naconda.
Niconda (01:39):
Oh, good morning Veronica.
Thank you so much for having me.
I am honored to be here withyou all.
Veronica (01:45):
Girl, I'm honored to have you.
I'm just just a little littlesnippet of your bio and I'm like
, wow, girl, you've been doing alot over these last 20 plus
years.
Niconda (01:56):
Well, you know it doesn't feel that way.
You know it's for me it justfeels like life.
But you know, when you put iton paper it does look like huh.
Veronica (02:04):
Yeah, I like to put it into this little bit, just a
little snippet.
Oh, so that leads us right into.
We always start the show askingthe guests to tell us about you
, where you're from and yourstory that led you to
entrepreneurship.
Niconda (02:19):
Okay, so that's a loaded question.
But yeah, let's dive in.
Where am I from?
I'm a native of Asheville.
My family goes about four orfive generations back and
started out as sharecroppers inMars Hill.
I'm a single child.
I have three children.
(02:40):
I'm a mother of three plus adog.
I'm a dog, but I count as humanI'm, so I don't hear her in the
background.
I hope she didn't see asquirrel, because no matter how
many doors I closed, you mighthear her from it, and so, like I
grew up in Hillcrest, I'm proudof that.
(03:01):
Yes, Hillcrest, you know startedout, went to Randolph
Elementary School and at thattime it was like I didn't
realize what a jewel it was.
It was an all black school withblack, mostly black, educators.
That's where these days.
And then, at the age of about11 or 12, my parents moved to
(03:25):
South Asheville, the shallowcommunity, and so I love that.
The shallow community,frequented the community centers
, and that was that was mysecond home.
I graduated from TC Robertson,but what, what that experience
did, that I didn't know.
It was a social experiment forme, going from all black
(03:47):
neighborhood and black schoolsand black teachers to an all
white neighborhood.
Well, the neighborhood wasn'twhite, but the school was all
white school and teachers, andso what it did at an early age
that I reflect on now is itchallenged all of the
assumptions and biases that Ihad for both and gave me a
(04:08):
grounding for who I am today.
So that's a little background.
And then I went off to collegeat NC State and came back to
Asheville looking for a job andI landed.
I literally was walking downthe street of Haywood Road in
West Asheville just going toevery business seeing if anyone
(04:32):
was hiring I know that's right.
Veronica (04:34):
Nobody does that anymore, just door to door.
Niconda (04:37):
Just door to door.
And what was interesting isthat I went to this building
that I had seen in every, youknow all the time, but never
noticed you ever had that happen.
Yes, you see it, but you don'tsee it.
And so I get to this buildingand it's been there for years
and it's a medical office, and Istarted talking to a lady in
(04:58):
the lobby and she was justtelling me how impactful the
place had been to her life, howthe people had been so kind to
her and this I was like you know, after hearing her talk about
it, I was like this is it, thisis where I want this job and I
got it and I started working atthe front desk as a receptionist
(05:20):
and I think we had about 5,000patients at the time Wow.
And but what I loved about itwas it served my community.
Like it started in his reviewapartments, miss Minnie Jones.
He used to have marched with DrMark Luther King and she was
the first person to integratepublic housing here in Asheville
(05:43):
.
I didn't know all these things.
Veronica (05:44):
Wow, you're teaching me something in Women's History
Month.
Niconda (05:47):
I don't know about that .
Veronica (05:48):
You said Miss Minnie Jones.
Niconda (05:50):
Yes, Miss Minnie Jones, Check her out.
You know he and Carlos Gomezand Dr Polly Ross started that
doctor's office and it wasexclusively meant for the
underserved and I had no clue.
So you had to live in 2806because 2806 was the lowest
income community at that timeand that's what the code
(06:11):
currently shout out to 2806.
Veronica (06:14):
God bless you for letting me get a house.
Niconda (06:16):
Thank you, that's OK.
Repping that 2806, honey, comeon West.
Veronica (06:21):
Side, so we die All, right, sorry, go ahead.
Niconda (06:24):
That was so good, and the only exception to that was
you to live outside, live in theAitlin County area and be
transgender or HIV positive.
The reason is that I did notknow, but what I learned was
that exception was made becauseof the stigma that comes with
(06:47):
those things and they wantedpeople to have access to health
care without experiencing stigma.
So that experience really laidthe foundation for my social
justice work, even though itwasn't intentional.
I worked alongside of peoplethat were typically marginalized
and developed the true love andunderstanding and that
(07:10):
spearheaded my career and how Ilook at people and life in
general.
Veronica (07:14):
Wow, there's so much I could touch on the condo.
Where one?
I just want to say wow, fifthgeneration Asheville.
Niconda (07:22):
Whoa.
Veronica (07:23):
You really don't see that a lot.
And then the history that youhave when it comes to social
justice You're not just doingthis when it got cool In recent
and everybody when I want to bewoke the fact that this is what
you've always have done and it'salmost like you were destined
to do it.
You were just drawn to it.
And I just love that and I likethat you're still doing that,
(07:45):
while also being able to be anentrepreneur with your business.
So I love the name of yourbusiness.
Change the Rubric.
How did you come up with thatname?
And, please, to the listeners,what are your services?
Are you taking new clients?
How can we support yourbusiness?
Niconda (08:01):
OK, well, change the Rubric came out of just lived
experience.
You know, like I did the 20years in health care, and then I
went to Buncombe County in thecriminal justice sector, where I
used what I learned to createprocesses that were equitable
(08:22):
and open access and providedmore support in my sphere of
influence, and what I realizedis the ultimate Human beings are
human beings and organizationswere created by human beings,
right, so even organizationswith the best intent are
(08:44):
swimming in the waters of whatwe all been swimming in, which
is social constructs,hierarchies and some are, you
know, I've not seen any of themare bad, but what I realized is
me, as a person in my own agency, understand that you know,
people are people and notintended to be managed.
Veronica (09:07):
Yes.
Niconda (09:08):
We manage.
We're supposed to manageresources and not people, and so
that's something that I learnedwhen I supervised.
You know I worked my way upfrom front desk and you know I
always supervised large teamsand one of the biggest things
that became a joy when I learnedto let go of the mental
constructs in my mind of, likeme and I have control and and
(09:32):
ownership and the scarcitymindset and whatever.
When I started to developleaders and delegate and like
really get to know them and helpthem, like see in themselves
what I saw and maybe some more,that gave me fuel that still
gives me energy, that Like whileI'm still on my journey to
(09:56):
becoming doing that for othersas well like fuels my soul.
So that's where to change therubric.
Where you know I work with, Ido some consulting work and and
I do it intuitively, like I amtaking new clients but I don't
go looking for people.
People come to me because Ibuild relationship with people.
Veronica (10:21):
You definitely do.
I tell people in the kind isthe plug like, even if it's in a
completely different realm fromwhat I know, the condom like,
well, just talk to her becauseshe knows people and she can get
you in the right direction.
So I appreciate that about youbecause, again, that's one of
the many strengths that you have.
With also just being here foras long as you have been, you've
built so many goodrelationships.
(10:43):
And one thing I will tell you,being somewhat of a newer person
in Asheville, I moved here in2016.
You get a lot of people come inAsheville real hot and they
leave really fast too.
So it says a lot that you'vebeen here doing the same work
and I can't find nobody thatsays anything bad about Miss
Nakana Garcia.
Okay, so I just appreciate thework that you're doing and how
(11:05):
consistent you are, because Iknow in this work it could be
draining and you and you have toas much.
As you said, it feeds your soul.
We want to make sure that youknow we're pouring into you as
well.
Niconda (11:17):
Oh, I can appreciate that and you definitely do with
that energy and you bring everytime I'm in a space with you.
Veronica (11:23):
I either I tell people you either gonna love it
or you gonna hate it.
I appreciate that from you andI would.
That leads us to how we met.
You know Naconda reached out tome some time ago about this
amazing program that WNCPathways has here called the
Consultants of Color, and youwere kind enough to ask me to
facilitate a few workshops and,you know, do some coaching.
(11:44):
So I would love if you couldtell the listeners about what is
the consultants of color, whyit's necessary and, if folks are
interested, how they can signup to participate.
Niconda (11:55):
Yes, gladly so.
That leads into my body of workwith WNC nonprofit pathways.
Shortly after I left the countyI met, had the pleasure of
meeting Some of the SearingCommittee members and Jeanette
Butterworth, the seniorconsultant at Pathways, because
(12:16):
they were looking to bring on aconsultant to help with
programming and curriculumdevelopment and things that I
had some Experience in.
And what drew me to the workwith Pathways the most is that
it tied into that social socialjustice spirit side of me
Because at that time you knowshe To.
(12:38):
She had given me a lot ofbackground about what Pathways
does and Pathways helpsNon-profits build their capacity
and become stronger.
The whole 18 County regionwhich I had already been
familiar with.
From my 20 years in health care.
So those things sort of linedup.
But what I really loved aboutit at that time, you know, I
(12:59):
learned that they had startedthis consultants of color
program out of a explicitawareness that the consultants
that they Relay on to helpprovide support for the
nonprofits in the 18 Countyregion were predominantly white.
Being able to acknowledge thatand then also taking steps to
(13:23):
Build up consultants to bringdiverse voices into those 18
counties was like okay, I canrock with this.
I can rock with this becausethis was, and this was happening
before George Floyd.
Before it was, mm-hmm, you know,a Fad you know, before the
(13:44):
radar like that resonated withme, and so the consultants of
color cohort.
There was a small cohort.
That happened in 2017, before Icame on to Pathways, and when I
came on, you know, one of thethings that they were very
passionate about was making surethat to start that back up
(14:04):
again, and so so I did andbrought in people that were a
ride wide range and variety ofskill sets, of Levels of
consulting, because what weoften don't name is that people
of color are often doing thework, especially the boots on
(14:25):
the ground work, and have thelived experience and expertise,
but do it for free period.
So, yeah, I was like, okay,well, we bring in some of those
into the fold.
We're bringing some that aredoing it, and doing it on a
larger scale, so that they cannetwork, shopping each other and
Support the nonprofits in theregion and so that's where we
met, because I, you know,reached out to you after getting
(14:47):
some information from our firstcohort, like trying to figure
out when the gaps were that Icould help fill in, or not even
gaps, like how could I amplifythe program, and one of the
things that came out of thefirst cohort, and I dropped some
names from that first cohort.
You'll know the employee.
(15:08):
They speak around here.
They ain't gonna say nothing,right?
Veronica (15:12):
right.
Niconda (15:13):
There's all Jimenez leaving cows.
I feel it's hardly like thesewere people that were doing
things and still are like AishaAdams.
Those who were in the firstcohort.
Like, and they are, it's Mikoand Rose Murray, like, who
doesn't know these people thatare doing the work in Asheville,
you know?
And so in talking with thesepeople in the first cohort, you
know they're doing well, they'reliving their missions, they're
(15:36):
changing community, and theywere like you know what I wish I
would have known a little bitmore about the financial piece.
I wish I would have known thenwhat I know now, and hence
that's why I've reached out toyou, because it was like, well,
we have to get someone that cansort of ask.
You know that people can askthose questions and lean on for
the.
You know the, the, the havereal talk about finances, cause
(15:59):
we often don't do that incommunities of color, cause most
of the time it's because wenever really had money to manage
.
Veronica (16:05):
Exactly.
Niconda (16:07):
But then you know I was like so let me reach out to
Veronica Edwards.
I had heard all kinds of goodthings about you from Wade.
Oh yeah, and I was like let mereach out to Veronica, because
the other important part was youknow, I really wanted to bring
in someone of color in finance.
Yes, and I don't know if youknow, but y'all are like
(16:29):
unicorns.
We don't know about people ofcolor.
Veronica (16:33):
Yes, I just want to shout out for Iindia Pearson,
who was running for city council.
I had just met her and she is awoman of color from Asheville
that's an amazing bookkeeper,caterer, all of these things,
mother of five, I believe, andso, yeah, it's like outside of
Iindia I really don't know manypeople of color, specifically in
(16:54):
accounting and finance.
So that's why I so appreciateyou, naconda, for reaching out
and also just your appetite foreducation, cause when, when we
get all said and done, nacondamight be a junior accountant,
cause you are very oriented andyou have the interest, and so
that's something I'm definitelylooking into as another stream
of businesses training morebookkeepers, especially
(17:15):
bookkeepers of color.
Niconda (17:17):
Holler, chagirl, I am interested and you know, like
the, the, the, the coaching thatyou provided me was so helpful.
Like you are so easy to to to.
You explain things very well,very clear.
You make it.
You know you take that stressout of money.
When people think numberssometimes it comes with a
connotation of, like a level ofdifficulty that may be maybe,
(17:42):
you know, a little scary forpeople, but you definitely broke
it down in ways that I canunderstand.
Veronica (17:48):
Well, I appreciate it and you know that's something I
tell people.
If I can do accounting, anybodycan do it.
It's just that it's a foreignlanguage.
So a lot of times if we'rechildren and we're learning a
foreign language younger, it'seasier, but a lot of times we go
through our whole life until wehave a business or until we're
ready to get a house and wereally never had that financial
literacy.
So, in the kind of before we go, we know we always ask the
(18:11):
guests to give the listenerssome tips, some jewels, and with
your many years of amazingexperience across all areas, but
now you're really settling intoyour entrepreneurship journey.
What is something that you wish?
Somebody told you at thebeginning of that journey that
you would like to share with thelisteners, Maybe if those
listening are just startingtheir business or they're
thinking about getting into it.
(18:32):
But they might be a littlenervous.
Niconda (18:35):
What I would say is often that we, when we think
about wanting to step on our own, we often are visioning, trying
to create something new in ourmind or we.
What I mean to say is we oftendon't take the time to pause to
(18:57):
really think about theexperiences and the resources
that we currently have thatbrought us to this moment and.
That's often where your glorylies, that's where your peace
lies, because nothing you know,the gifts that are our, gifted
to us, are not foreign.
It's not something that we haveto create.
(19:18):
They're already in us and lifehas a way of Giving us the
training that we need to doexactly what we're supposed to
do.
So I would say, like, take apause, look at your resources,
look at, look at yourexperiences, because all of
those things didn't happenhaphazardly.
Veronica (19:37):
Yes, I Definitely have had.
One of my cousins was on theshow some months back, reverend
Tamika Milton, and she saysthere's power in the pause.
And you're absolutely right.
Sometimes we're just going,going, going, going going and
people like, well, I don't knowwhat my passion is and I don't
know what my purpose is.
All these peas got a pause.
(19:59):
You got to figure out, well,what exactly has happened that
led me to this.
It wasn't by chance that youwalked by that building and you
went inside and you got the jobyou know and that you followed
through with that and that youcontinued.
Even after 20 years ofexperience and you know I still
there's something still pullingat me that that all of these
(20:20):
things helped lead me to thatpoint.
But, nikon, I'm just sothankful for you and the work
that you're doing in WesternNorth Carolina and, as
complimentary yard to me, I haveto be the same to you.
I love your energy, I love thatyou just keep it straight up,
which I can appreciate.
You're not gonna get 50 shadesof gray with Nikon.
You gonna get black or white andI'm the same way and I
(20:42):
appreciate that because wereally don't have time to waste,
especially in the work thatwe're doing.
So, just like that Nikon to,we're already to the end of the
show and we Definitely are gonnahave you back.
You know, I'm all about aquarterly segment and I would
love to keep talking with youabout some of the things that
don't get Highlighted in regardsto social justice, especially
(21:02):
in Asheville, that we kind ofwant to keep people accountable
to, especially like reparations,child, but as a whole, nother
story.
But but, again for anybodylistening that wants to get in
contact with you.
How can we reach you if youhave a website, social media,
all that stuff?
Niconda (21:20):
So if you want, if you are non-profit and would like
capacity build and support, youcan reach me at Nikonda at
nonprofit pathways.
If you are looking forleadership development oh and
that's nonprofit Nikon atnonprofit pathwaysorg.
If you are looking forleadership development or
coaching, you can reach me atchange the rubric at gmailcom
(21:43):
and, to be determined, I'll letyou know about the website.
It's something that I've neverwanted to do and mentors have
been saying you have to do it,you have to do it.
So that's in development andI'll update you at our quarterly
, quarterly meeting wheneverthat happens.
Veronica (21:58):
Yes, well, thank you again for the work that you're
doing it, regardless if you havea website or not, you're the
plug, so we know how to get incontact with you and your work
speaks for itself.
So thank you again, and I hopethat we have another 20 years of
you here in Asheville doing thework that you have been doing,
because it's very muchAppreciate it and need it.
Niconda (22:16):
Oh, I appreciate you so much.
I'm sending you positive energyand light until we meet again,
my friend.
Veronica (22:23):
Yes, and I just want to Thank all the listeners for
tuning in to biz radio dot USfor the Veronica Edward show on
Wednesdays across all platformsis when it airs and if you miss
the live area, you can listen toall prior shows at Veronica
Edwards.
That buzz brought calm, I.
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