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Meet Nikki Madden of Lali’s Foundation For Families In A Crisis in Central Phoenix

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Madden.

Nikki, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a 39-year-old divorcee, single mother of two, Nonprofit CEO & Founder, and an online business owner. I have conquered many struggles, tackled depression issues, and ultimately came to understand my purpose in life.

I was introduced to domestic violence at the age of five. I remember hearing everything! As a young girl, I was frightened, but I knew my mom was going to care of us. Thirteen years later, history repeated itself, and I too became a single parent. While I did not suffer from physical abuse, I endured other kinds as well. At the age of 15, I developed a skin disorder called psoriasis. During my most stressful and challenging times, patches would pop up over my body, which fueled my depression. Trying to overcome my own battle of depression, I decided to better the life for myself and my child. I went to Havre,MT and graduated from college with a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education-Extended Major in English, and a minor in Communication. I was offered a teaching position immediately afterwards, and grew into a new found purpose of being a teacher. Three years into teaching, I became sick, and the laws changed, which forced me out of the classroom. With no income, and medical ailments on the rise, my daughter and I were forced to live with my mom. I lost my home, my car, and all of my belongings. Once again, my confidence depleted to nothing. Depression and I were once again intertwined.

Several years later, I attempted to shake my demons of depression off, began seeing a therapist, and developed a relationship with my absent father. Slowly, I was feeling better about the world around me. I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Alabama with my daughter. For five years, I continued to struggle with my depression, but this time, I was eager to find out the root of the cause. I got married and had another child. I believed I was “right where I needed to be.” Drastically, my health threatened my survival. I had to retire from teaching and became a housewife. My depression sunk into an abyss of darkness, and I was fighting every day to get out. In January 2018, we moved back home to Arizona. After a short time, my husband and I decided to go our separate ways. Once again, I had to start from the bottom. A new found depression was uncovered. With no means of income, no transportation, no mental support, and divorce in front of me, a dark place surrounded me. Past wounds opened, and memories which were suppressed were vivid. For months, it was hard for me to get out of bed and face the day. That’s when I realized how loud my quiet voice was speaking. I soon understood that I have been my own worst enemy all these years. With the help of my family, I began to peel back layers which have caused me to have depression. I no longer look at my skin disorder as the only way of defining me, and depression is NOT me! I stopped claiming it and began feeding my soul with positivity.

I’ll admit it I have had a very rocky road. I’ve lived through pain, suffering, torment, and exhaustion. I know what it’s like to want to give up. Last year, my father in Alabama said something that reverberates in my head over and over again: Nikki, you have to find your purpose; you can’t just exist. I sat and thought about it, and what popped in my head was how strong my mom remained through our times of crisis. I also thought about other families enduring life altering challenges, and whether they’re getting help. I knew there were other families walking in my shoes. “I would like to be an advocate for them”. Then, my purpose was identified and over the next few months, Lali’s Foundation For Families In A Crisis was born. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families with kids under 18, in a crisis. Our goal is to build bridges over gaps of support they may already receive. Throughout the remainder of the year, we are launching three programs: Teen Parent Mentoring Program (It Takes A Village), Homeless Outreach, and Community Outreach. We are partnered with Art Night Phoenix to help build a stronger foundation for our Art Therapy Program.

It took me 39 years to understand that the environment our children are raised in provides them with a perception of life. Every moment is a teachable moment, and if we skip out on providing those to our future leaders, we can’t equip them on how to be an effective adult. I’m not trying to change the world, but we can make an impact reaching out to those in need. My crisis opened my eyes to see how other people live in the world. When I’m in the streets speaking to a homeless person or providing resource information to a homeless person, I know I am fulfilling my purpose. We may not all have the same story, but I know my story is also their story.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In the beginning, it was not a smooth road. It was extremely bumpy, but over time the road smoothed out. My biggest struggle was overcoming depression while going through a divorce so I can be a strong parent for my daughters. While my days are still difficult, I have learned to take it one day at a time and focus on the one aspect needed for me to keep a healthy environment for my girls. What has pulled me through my struggles is knowing that I will be able to help another family. I have obtained resources and began a networking system to help support our belief in Lali’s FFC.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am the CEO & Founder of a nonprofit organization called Lali’s Foundation For Families In A Crisis. We are dedicated to providing assistance for families with kids under 18. We are here to provide emotional support, resourceful information, counseling, and assistance to families in our programs.

The most aspect I am proud of, as an organization, is that our board of directors all have a story of their own. We are able to connect with our members in our program on a more personable and intimate level. Additionally, we understand that we are not trying to reinvent the wheel but to fill in the gaps to connect bridges that will help the families.

What sets us apart from others is that we are focused on building a stronger support presence for the children AND parents. We have programs that will support families for an extended period of time. During that time, they will have the opportunity of attending workshops/classes, academic assistance, and much more. We stand by our tagline: where hope is restored. That is what we strive for!

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career so far is the overwhelming love and support from the community. There are companies and organizations interested in partnering with us because of our passion for hope. Even though we are in the infancy of our foundation, countless volunteers are ready to assist us by: creating hygiene kits for the Homeless Community, donating clothes, and providing us with any other assistance needed.

We have recently partnered with Art Night Phoenix and will be featured at their Art Nights on the 2nd Fridays of the month. They are also going to assist us with launching our Art Therapy Program.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Abby Woulard

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