We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicholle Walton-Durban a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nicholle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Thank you for the opportunity to share a bit about a project we are working on through our Educational NonProfit – The Foundation for Innovative and Restorative Education. This project not only “differs from the Industry Standard”, but I would argue is how we can redefine the way we do things in the Industry altogether. We are building a first-of-its-kinda, Educational Empowerment Center right here in Texas.

The Education Empowerment Center will take our experiences and vision further by casting all residents of Texas as Heroes, embarking on their journeys in a community campus integrating high-quality, affordable education, opportunities accessible to all learners, and economic development beneficial to all. We will build and pilot the flagship EEC in Round Rock, designed to be replicated in underserved communities in Central Texas and beyond. EECs will equip young people with real-world skills and training, catalyze growth for local businesses and providers, and be hubs for cultivating community and opportunity across differences.

Our experience in Educational Empowerment and years of success with ESTEAM Academy and ESTEAM Learning Labs led us to envision a space uniting all aspects of these programs into a self-sustaining community asset and nerve center for experiential education. The EEC’s physical design was developed by ESTEAM Academy students, who studied architecture and pitched concepts to our contracted firm. Conceptually, the EEC is designed to prepare learners for the real world of the 21st century, with applicable opportunities providing professional and life skills experience. Evidence supporting the pedagogic design of the EEC learning environment includes the efficacy of our ESTEAM model, which is based on extensive research demonstrating the benefits of project-based learning. As an example, a recent meta-analysis study concluded from research into 66 papers published over 20 years that “compared with the traditional teaching model, project-based learning significantly improved students’ learning outcomes and positively contributed to academic achievement, affective attitudes, and thinking skills (Zhang L. and Ma Y., 2023. Frontiers in Psychology 14).” Real-world skills development will provide learners with competencies most vital to their success in the global economy, including those identified in a 2020 report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce: communication, collaboration, sales/customer service, leadership, and problem-solving/complex thinking (Carnevale et. al. “Workplace Basics: The Competencies Employers Want”).

Nicholle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Happy and honored to share my journey and passion for empowering children through education. As a Texas parent and film producer, I embarked on this path in 2014 when my children expressed a desire for higher-quality arts programming than what was available in our local school system and community. Their enthusiasm ignited a spark within me to create something more impactful.

In response to their demand, I established a project-based learning youth film school, laying the foundation for what would later become ESTEAM Learning Labs (bringing Art & Tech together in hands-on, project-based learning experiences). This endeavor wasn’t just about offering education; it was about providing real-world skills and experiences that would equip children to thrive in the 21st century.

In 2016, I joined forces with Jo Ann Nolte of Learning Fun 101 STEM education to launch ESTEAM Academy, a micro-school in Round Rock. Rooted in the Acton Academy Socratic-based pedagogy, ESTEAM Academy aimed to revolutionize education by fostering a dynamic learning environment where students are active participants in their own growth and development.

Driven by the overwhelming demand for the ESTEAM model, we expanded our reach with ESTEAM Learning Labs. Through partnerships with hundreds of Central Texas public and private schools, we’ve been able to extend our after-school and summer enrichment programs, reaching even more children with the transformative power of experiential learning.

Our mission at the FIRE Foundation is clear: to empower the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to succeed in an ever-evolving world. I, along with a board including ESTEAM Academy parents and Round Rock community leaders Stephanie Tyler and Stephanie Shuttles are deeply committed to this cause, dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children in our community and beyond,

In an era where technological advancements and global collaboration stand juxtaposed with individual isolation and community disconnection, the Educational Empowerment Center (EEC) emerges as a beacon of hope, redefining the essence of communal learning and professional growth. With a foundation built on the pillars of shared public spaces, educational enrichment for all ages, and professional development opportunities accessible to every member of our community, the EEC is dedicated to nurturing the human spirit through continuous learning and shared experiences.

Our campus is a vibrant tapestry of ESTEAM Studios, Learning Labs, a community-run restaurant and bake shop, a multifunctional performance space, collaborative Co-Lab environments, multimedia recording studios, a STEM center, maker spaces, and a comprehensive athletic facility. These spaces are designed not just to serve but to inspire learners from ages 4 to 99, fostering a culture of curiosity, creativity, and community engagement.

At the core of the EEC’s mission is a commitment to inclusivity, affordability, and innovation, made possible through a sustainable model of shared expenses and collaborative partnerships with local nonprofits, corporations, and the FIRE Foundation. By intertwining state-of-the-art digital infrastructure with a robust social support system, we ensure that every interaction within the EEC is seamless, secure, and enriching, empowering our community to book, navigate, and contribute to the EEC ecosystem with ease.

The EEC stands as a testament to the power of unity in diversity, bridging the gaps between traditional and experiential education, between individual learning and community engagement, and between current assets and future innovations.

Our vision is to not merely coexist with existing community assets but to amplify their impact, creating an ecosystem of cross-organizational programming that enriches, educates, and elevates every individual and organization within our reach.

As we lay the foundations for this groundbreaking campus, we are not just building structures; we are cultivating the grounds for a future where education and community are intertwined, where every individual, regardless of age or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to a thriving, engaged, and interconnected society.

The EEC is more than a campus; it is a movement towards a future where education transcends boundaries, where community is not defined by proximity but by shared purpose, and where every moment on our campus is a step towards realizing our collective potential.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One significant lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that failure equates to personal inadequacy or incompetence. Growing up, there was a prevailing notion that failure was something to be ashamed of, something to avoid at all costs. This mindset led to a fear of taking risks and trying new things, as I was terrified of the possibility of failing and what it might say about my abilities.

However, as I embarked on various endeavors and gained more life experience, I came to realize that failure is not a reflection of one’s worth or capabilities. Instead, it is an essential aspect of growth and learning. Failure provides valuable feedback, highlighting areas for improvement and guiding future actions.

The backstory behind this realization lies in my journey of personal and professional development. I encountered setbacks and disappointments along the way, but rather than allowing them to discourage me, I chose to embrace them as opportunities for growth. Each failure became a stepping stone towards success, teaching me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of embracing a healthy mindset towards failure.

Ultimately, unlearning the misconception that failure is inherently negative has allowed me to approach challenges with greater courage and resilience. I now understand that failure is not the end of the road but rather a crucial part of the journey towards achieving meaningful change and innovation.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Our team at EEC consists of remarkable co-founders, partners, and board members, all united by our journey toward enhancing educational opportunities for our children. Each of us, as mothers, has been deeply inspired by our children’s quest for better learning experiences and collectively we met at various times through our involvement with the programs we support.

Our children have been instrumental in shaping the vision of EEC, actively contributing to the design and definition of the programs we offer. Their insights and aspirations have guided us in creating a space that not only caters to their needs but also enriches the entire community.

Together, leveraging our diverse skills and experiences, we are committed to realizing this vision. We firmly believe that our children are capable of achieving far more than society often perceives. It’s time to provide them with the opportunities they truly desire, rather than imposing our preconceived notions upon them. Let’s empower them to reach their full potential and showcase their remarkable capabilities to the world. Who better to do that, than a group of determined mothers?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fire-foundation.org/
• Instagram: nicholle_walton_durban
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicholle.walton/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholle-walton-durban-32546024/
• Other: https://www.esteamacademyrr.com/ https://esteamlearninglabs.com/