Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Golden
Hi Nicole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was raised in Texas and went to college at UT, so I’ve been here a long time. I have a background in social work and always wanted to make an impact in people’s lives. When my kids were small, the Sandy Hook school shooting struck me to the core and forever changed the lens through which I view the world. I immediately immersed myself in gun violence prevention as co-founder of the Austin group of Moms Demand Action and found my voice as an advocate. I discovered that I loved public speaking, going to the Capitol, and bringing people together around an incredibly important shared cause – saving lives from preventable gun tragedies.
After years of volunteer advocacy, I wanted to dedicate my career to gun violence prevention. I joined the staff of Texas Gun Sense in 2021, and in the spring of 2022, I took the reins as the Executive Director. I now have the privilege of leading an organization that is fighting for common sense gun laws across the state. I am incredibly proud that I have grown our staff, our profile, and our partnerships in the two and a half years that I have been in this role.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Advocating for gun violence prevention in Texas is never a smooth road. It’s exhausting, heartbreaking, and a constant uphill climb. I have seen our policies move in the wrong direction time and time again, despite evidence that safe gun laws work. The month after I took the role of Executive Director, we experienced the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde – after years of witnessing so many other unspeakable tragedies. I had not seen our state and country that despondent since Sandy Hook. We at Texas Gun Sense desperately wanted to support the survivors and help to bring about some change. While policymakers didn’t pass the ‘raise the age’ law the families fought for last session, we moved it farther than we thought we would – and we will keep fighting!
It’s never easy to change hearts and minds on issues that are divisive or hard to talk about. Sometimes people will argue with you or push your view to the side. But we know that most Texans support common sense gun laws and if we can keep bringing people together, we can move forward. It’s an incremental process and you have to stay focused.
On a personal level, I have to constantly try to set boundaries with my work so I don’t burn out, which is hard, because I care very much. I need that quiet time with family when I can unplug from the intensity of the day-to-day and all the expectations I set for myself.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a a professional gun violence prevention advocate and Executive Director of the state’s leading gun violence prevention organization, I specialize in public speaking, advocacy, and coalition-building. I think I am known for being a strong voice in the movement, for being a good listener and fair leader, and for being persistent.
I am so proud that I’ve built a meaningful career out of my passion. I am willing to put myself out there even when it’s scary or I feel uncertain. And I’ve hung in there despite set-backs! I hope I’m remembered for my devotion to the issues I care deeply about.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
In my world, empathy, honesty, courage, and self-awareness are important. You have to stay focused and strategic and not take on everything at once. You also have to be able to take care of yourself to reset and recover. It’s really important to have a sense of humor, empower others, and turn setbacks into even more motivation to plug ahead.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://txgunsense.org
- Instagram: @texasgunsense
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/txgunsense
Image Credits
Casey Chapman Ross
