We were lucky to catch up with Nikki Brooker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nikki, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

As an educator of over 20 years, I thought I was going to be a teacher forever. My education and training all focused on teaching both children and adults. But when two moms took their lives and the lives of their children, I realized that I had a new focus and soul-fulfilling endeavor. I am meant to save moms. I am meant to change the world, one mom at a time.

I created a nonprofit to save moms. Our program gives moms the connections, the village and the feeling of belonging. When moms become part of a support system that proves to them that they ARE enough and an integral part of the community, their ability to be the best mom they can be is greatly increased.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am originally from northern Michigan and married my husband when I turned 20. We have been together for 35 years and have 3 kiddos (ages 21, 19 and 15). We have created a comfortable life for our kids and our eldest is starting law school (on a full-tuition scholarship) in New York City! Our middle daughter is in pre-nursing school and our freshman in high school is earning his associate’s degree while in high school. We are beyond proud!

My husband earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Michigan and works for Lockheed Martin (he is a rocket scientist!). My Bachelors is in Behavioral Science with a K-6 teaching license and my master’s degree is in Adult Education and Development. The PLAN was to be a professor and teach teachers how to teach but 3 kids later, the PhD didn’t happen.

When I started YANAM2M, I just wanted to create a safe space for moms. I wanted all moms to feel safe, valued and accepted. Little did I know this nonprofit was going to change my life in so many ways. Our program has changed lives, it has saved lives and it has created systems that will change the world, one mom at a time.

Our program has supported moms from all over and will continue to pair moms with a support mom. A support mom is just another mom who can say, “I’ve been there…I’ve locked myself in the bathroom and cried too!” This peer-to-peer support is a great connection to another mom who “gets you” even if they don’t live in your state! Our outreach program continues to change lives and if you are interested, please reach out to Nikki at yanam2mhr@gmail.com for more information.
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ANAM2M also has a new program we are (hopefully) starting in local two hospitals that will change the way motherhood is supported throughout our state and eventually the country. Strong Mamas, Thriving Babies is a peer-to-peer support system that creates villages of moms with the same-aged children. We have moms who give birth in the month of January come back in the month of February and experience a room full of other mamas who have babies the same age and are going through the same thing at the same time! It is powerful when you look around and realize that half the room also has puke in their hair, haven’t slept in a week, and don’t know what a shower is either! That’s powerful! This village will have an app to communicate virtually in addition to the 4 in-person gatherings (which will also have a zoom option). Creating this village for mamas will change motherhood for them in a way that they might not ever understand.

Every mama will also receive a 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month postpartum phone call. It is a mental health check-in on mom. After moms attend their 6-week postpartum visit, no one is checking in on them. Babies start life with an APGAR score and are checked weekly and then monthly to ensure they are hitting milestones. Moms are left on their own to figure it all out! We need to do better for our moms! We need to support them so that their emotions, mental well-being and ability to thrive as moms is on SOMEONE’s radar. Our program, Strong Mamas, Thriving Babies will change motherhood and give every mom the village they so rightfully deserve.

Securing funding for this program is our top priority. We are searching for grants, private donors, partnerships, corporate sponsorships, etc. so that we can change the way moms are supported in this country.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I have learned that we all have mental health (like we have heart health) but some people suffer from mental illnesses that can change the trajectory of their lives. The ripple effect of suicide and homicide change the lives of whole communities and the lesson that I unlearned throughout this journey is that mental illness affects every gender, every economic status, and age. Mental illness is scary and difficult to define since it is so different for every person. Being sensitive to the needs of each and every person’s mental status and needs is always a struggle.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Running a nonprofit is a lot of work. I have been the CEO of this organization for the past 5 years without any sort of monetary compensation. I have worked hard to try to secure funding but it is a never-ending job! I believe so strongly in this mission that I work other jobs to contribute to our family financials but running YANA is my soul-fulfilling endeavor and I am determined to change the world, one mom at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yanam2m.org, nikkibrookerphotography.mypixieset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkibellmore/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikki.bellmorebrooker
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nichole-brooker/