Today we’d like to introduce you to Nyeka Arnold.
Nyeka, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a sixth-generation Austinite, born and raised in communities that have faced decades of displacement, health inequities, and lack of access to resources. I’ve lived through it myself — as a Black woman, a mother, a student, and a leader — and I’ve also seen the resilience, brilliance, and strength of my neighbors. I founded The Healing Project in 2021 because I wanted to create something that didn’t just hand out resources, but truly walked alongside people as they navigated barriers. We’re “who we serve” — and that means we build everything from lived experience. Our Resource Navigation Program helps marginalized families connect to food, housing, baby supplies, household items, hygiene , and other essentials. We run the Healing Closet and a monthly market-style food pantry in partnership with Texas Empowerment Academy and Central Texas Food Bank. Weekly, we’re picking up donations from Costco and H-E-B — serving hundreds of families with dignity and choice. We also create space for healing and leadership development through programs like the Project Babies Advocacy Program and Healing in the Hood, and we’ve partnered with schools, health clinics, faith-based groups, and grassroots leaders to reach people who are often overlooked. Our approach is community-rooted, culturally responsive, and data-driven — last year alone, we distributed thousands of pounds of food and essential items while tracking needs so we can respond quickly and effectively. Right now, we’re volunteer-led, but we have big goals. By 2025, we plan to secure our own building in Austin to operate as a collaborative hub for local leaders, entrepreneurs, and youth — and by 2026, we’ll launch our NAVI mobile app to make resource navigation even more accessible and sustainable. Long-term, we’re looking to expand our work statewide and eventually globally, creating a model that any community can adapt to meet its own needs. Everything we do is about impact and connection. We’re building an ecosystem where families don’t just survive — they lead, they thrive, and they have the tools to support one another. That’s the heart of The Healing Project. WE ARE WHO WE SERVE
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course it hasn’t been a smooth road. I’m going against a system that was built against me and everybody before me. I’m breaking a generational curse, dismantling it, and trying to restore myself while preserving what’s left of my family. It’s the constant balance of getting out of survival mode, but still having to stay in it, while also trying to heal — and letting people know healing is a lifelong journey.
Being volunteer-led is hard. Funding is hard. Funding is our biggest barrier. We are directly impacted — we are who we serve. We didn’t come from silver spoons. Many of us didn’t grow up knowing how to write grants or ask for money. We have to teach, learn, teach again, live life, be moms, dads, daughters, sons — all while leading, serving, and trying to change the world.
It’s messy. It’s exhausting. But it’s also beautiful, because every struggle is proof that we’re still here, still moving, and still fighting for something bigger than ourselves.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Healing Project?
The Healing Project is a community-rooted, culturally responsive resource navigation organization based in Austin, Texas. We specialize in helping marginalized families access food, housing, baby supplies, household items, clothing, and other essential needs — not through a one-size-fits-all approach, but by meeting people where they are, walking alongside them, and connecting them to sustainable support.
We’re best known for our Healing Closet and our monthly market-style food pantry in partnership with Texas Empowerment Academy and Central Texas Food Bank. Every week, we pick up donations from partners like Costco and H-E-B, serving hundreds of families with dignity and choice. We also run programs like the Project Babies Advocacy Program and Healing in the Hood, which focus on leadership development, maternal health, mental wellness, and building community support systems.
What sets us apart is that we are who we serve. Our team comes from the same neighborhoods, has faced the same barriers, and carries the same lived experience as the people we’re helping. We’re not outsiders “helping the needy” — we’re neighbors building an ecosystem where families can lead, thrive, and heal together.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that our name and logo truly reflect our mission. The fist in our logo is not just a symbol — it represents building our community and our village brick by brick, with strength, unity, and purpose. When people see The Healing Project, I want them to think of trust, dignity, and results. I want readers to know that every program we run, every partnership we form, and every dollar we raise goes right back into the community to create lasting impact.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is going to church with all the kids from my neighborhood — the same ones I rode bikes with, played wrap-up football with, went to the playground with, went to school with, and spent days at Givens Park with. Sometimes we went to church to eat, sometimes to get the word, and sometimes just to be together. It wasn’t just about the service — it was about the sense of community, the laughter, the connection, and knowing we had a place where we belonged. Fontaine Memorial Baptist Church – Rest in Peace Pastor Jackson
I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW LOVE AND APPRECIATION TO ALL OF THE HEALING PROJECT’S CLIENTS, BOARD MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS! WE CAN NOT DO GOD’S WORK WITHOUT YOU ALL!
WE ARE WHO WE SERVE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thehealingprojectatx.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehealingproject_atx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehealingprojectatx
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-healing-project-atx/
