For Nia, life in Chicago had always been about grit and ambition. She had once thrived as a college student in Alabama, excelling in her studies and even making the dean’s list while pursuing a career in dermatology. But when tragedy struck—her best friend was killed, her father was severely injured in a car accident, and her family was on the brink of losing their home—it felt as if the ground beneath her was crumbling.
Nia made the heart-wrenching decision to leave school and return to Chicago to support her family. The transition was anything but easy. She found herself working job after job, struggling to stay afoat. The weight of her family’s challenges, combined with her own grief, led her to develop unhealthy coping habits. “I felt lost,” Nia says. “Like I had no safe ground to stand on.”
Her life took a turn when a friend introduced her to the 548 Foundation. For Nia, the opportunity felt like a lifeline—one she was determined to embrace fully. “Once I got accepted, I decided to go completely sober,” she says. “I didn’t want to go through the program with old habits and expect a new result.” To fully commit to her journey, she even gave up her bed, embracing the discomfort as a necessary part of growth. “This is about work, grind, and moving to the next level—not about comfort,” she says.
Through the program, Nia gained not only technical skills but also the tools to reclaim control over her emotions and her life. “The most valuable thing I’ve learned here is how to maintain my anger and my emotions,” she shares. “This program has given me the tools to take control of myself and bring sovereignty into my life.”
Nia credits the 548 program with reigniting the grit and ambition that had been buried under her struggles. With renewed purpose, she is now focused on creating a
legacy. Her vision is to one day own land, build small homes, and establish a program similar to 548—but specifcally for women interested in the trades. “I want to build something that will outlast me, something that will give back,” she says.
Refecting on her time in the program, Nia says, “It’s amazing to have the opportunity to learn something that once felt insurmountable to me. Being here has empowered me to step into this male-dominated feld I’ve always wanted to be a part of. It makes me feel like I can do anything.”
Today, Nia is not just rebuilding her life—she’s building a future flled with purpose and possibility.