We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Reed recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I am one of the Co-Founders of The Still Searching Project. We are a 501C that uses the arts to highlight missing women and girls in the Chicagoland area. This project is meaningful to me because of my ability to use my platform as a Creative to help the missing women, and the families of those that are missing. The Still Searching Project also acts as a mediator between the police detectives working the cases and the families who have missing loved ones. We also have a 360 approach to this issue by helping to bring attention to the missing women, and also creating a loving environment for the families. We offer self-defense classes and safety tools, workouts for anger and anxiety management, mental health panels, community mural events, and social outings. www.thestillsearchingproject.com

Nicole, 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?

NICOLE REED ACTRESS/AUTHOR/ACTIVIST As an avid student, Nicole began her career journey by attaining her BS in Computer Information Systems at DePaul University. Believing that she could play a vital role in bringing computer literacy to inner-city communities she was greatly taken aback when a Photographer saw her and advised her to get into runway modeling. Soon after, Nicole found acting as a catalyst to enhance her modeling, but little did she know that it would soon take the leading role in her career plans. Getting bit by the acting bug, Nicole has been in Chicago Fire, Randy to the Rescue, U and Me in the Morning, multiple appearances on the Steve Harvey Show, and numerous other television programs. Nicole’s undeniable talent has gotten her cast in Jaded, Over the Edge, Paradigm Grey, Project Fly, Division, and numerous lead roles in the Chicago Theater scene. Nicole loves how acting can motivate others to live out their dreams and aspirations.
Loving the ability to create her own characters, Nicole has written a wonderfully entertaining Christian Fiction novel called Greater Exploits of Love. This novel will be turned into a stage play ready for theaters 2024, called the Principle. She has currently finished writing her first 8-part miniseries, called Love Undefined,
which will be filming its pilot episode in March 2024. Whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes as an actor with Hayes Talent Agency, UPM for the Desperate TV series now on Amazon Prime, Executive Producer for Sightline, CEO of Nicole So Random, LLC, Artistic assistant and consultant for numerous other independent projects, Nicole is all about the Creative Arts Life. Nicole also invests her time and resources in mentoring/training a group of gifted teens and children to learn all aspects of acting, directing, writing, producing, and investing. Nicole is also the Co-Founder of the 501c3 the Still Searching Project, which uses the visual and performing Arts as a way to highlight Missing Women and Girls in the Chicagoland area. Catch her on all social media outlets bringing memes to life on her Nicole So Random platforms.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I am a 3 year Cancer Survivor. During the pandemic, I was hit with terminal cancer. I had 1 large mass right behind my aorta, and 3 weeks later 10 more went down my lumbar spine and took out my ability to walk. As an actress, I had to choose to either believe in God and fight or to just allow my body to give in to the Mediastinum Lymphoma 3b that had hit my life. I chose to fight. I wrote some of my first shorts, short films, and my 8-part Limited Series during this time. The unique thing about this situation is that I prayed and fasted and I only told very few that I had cancer. In prayer, I was led to show that cancer does not have to be a death sentence, but I can show joy through the process to the point that no one would see the difference. For me, I had to do 6 rounds of the most aggressive chemotherapy, over 15 surgeries, and 5 days a week 24/7 chemotherapy. With an additional day for bone treatment and intravenous chemo as well. I have two daughters as well, and I refuse to leave them motherless. My husband and I fought through the process of not being even able to stand, and not to walk. I was told I was terminal. In the hospital, they thought I was delusional because I asked for a physical therapist. They brought the chaplain who told me I needed to get my affairs in order. I had one doctor who believed in me and told me I would be an actress again and wear heels. Which I was known for. Even through cancer, I couldn’t let go of my love for the Arts. And still today, I never will.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I love people. I love to help people. I believe this is what NFTs are for at their core. The ability of one person who has a little or a lot more than someone else to help their neighbor is imperative. I believe in making sure that others reach their destiny. That could come from inspiration or financial assistance. NFTs can bridge the gap and be a mediator for those who need just a little help to get over the finishing line. For those, who truly do it with integrity and not as a cover to get funding from others for their malicious ways, it can be a beautiful thing to be a part of. The Still Searching Project is an NFT that is making changes in the world. With our Hulu documentary coming out this year, being on so many TV platforms, Revolt TV interviews, TedX Quincy, and numerous newspaper/magazine/blog articles we are doing our best to make sure that it is helping people.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nicolesorandom.com, www.stillsearchingproject.com
• Instagram: Nicole So Random
• Facebook: Nicole Reed
• Linkedin: Nicole Reed
• Youtube: Nicole So Random
• Other: TIKTOK: Nicole So Random

Image Credits
DAVID SHEPHERD HASSAN MUHAMMAD TIM STEED NICOLE REED DAMON REED