Meet Nemiah Hobbs | CEO and Founder of Project NEMIAH

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nemiah Hobbs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nemiah, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In the words of Author, Amy Mesa, “We don’t grow when things are easy; we grow when we face challenges.” Growing up, I had seizures, astigmatism, hearing loss, and walked late, and those challenges helped me grow into the person I am today. Because of my obstacles, I also had to be resilient and learn how to turn stumbling blocks into stepping-stones. Facing these obstacles was not easy; oftentimes, I would feel discouraged and feel like nothing great could happen to me. Most of my childhood was spent either in surgery, speech therapy and with several doctors due to my various medical issues. My youth has set the stage for my future; it has helped me realize how important it is to stay determined to be great and make a difference in the world.

While going through and growing through these obstacles, I realized I needed to use my story to help others grow and understand that they can be more than expected and rise above their circumstances. Many of who deal with disabilities believe that that’s all they’re going to be. I want to help them develop their mindsets to think more positive about their lives; I want them to visualize themselves excelling in their personal and professional goals. Because of the struggles that students with disabilities have, I decided that a non-profit organization for students with disabilities would be a solution to help them. So, I developed Project NEMIAH, a non-profit organization that provides students and parents with educational and career readiness resources. No Excuses: Making It All Happen! His acronym inspires me because it reminds me not to make excuses and balance my daily life, and while I can’t do everything at once, I can “Make It All Happen” if I plan effectively. At Project NEMIAH, we want everyone to know exactly what they need to do to be successful. Also, we want everyone to be in a safe environment where students can feel loved, not judged, and be around people just like themselves. Here at Project NEMIAH, everyone, no matter their background, will have a foundation that can propel them into a bright future.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Project NEMIAH is not only about helping students with disabilities; it’s also about inspiring youth, young adults, and the older generation via social media. As the CEO and founder of Project NEMIAH, I must provide my audience with encouraging news that will help guide them to the path of excellence. Some of the topics I discuss are self-love, goal setting and implementation, believing in yourself, surrounding yourself with positive people, being a servant leader, etc. What sets Project Nemiah apart from others is the fact I actually provide mini-trainings on my social media platforms, promote other influencers and servant leaders who I believe are making a profound difference in the lives of others, and I am transparent, meaning I share my personal story as a means of helping others overcome obstacles they may be facing. In addition, though much of the focus of my platform centers around students with disabilities, I also focus on universal topics as well. One of the key lessons I have learned is consistent engagement matters, which is why I do my best to be engaged with my followers at least 5 days per week. When you’re not engaged, people will go elsewhere. People are looking for consistent inspiration, so I must be consistent on my platforms. I also learned to be authentic. Others may have more followers or whatever, but I have to be true to my mission and vision. When you are authentic, you can be more effective, as people will get to know the real you and embrace your real message.

In addition, my goal is to expand my audience beyond the students with disabilities because I know my messages can touch thousands of people who don’t suffer from disabilities. I even post some of my accomplishments, such as features in publications, excellent academic awards, videos of me being interviewed in podcasts, etc. I do so as another way to illustrate that resilience pays off. As a leader, I must be transparent with my audience, and I want my example to inspire my followers. I believe actions speak louder than words, and I desire for my messages and the actions behind my messages to inspire and empower those who follow me or hear my messages directly or indirectly.

As I reflect on my journey, I’m proud to know I can do more than even I imagined. Being able to inspire others through my story is what I’m most proud of, as it can help others overcome their obstacles. Knowing that I can be a life-changing leader within someone’s life is something I’ve always wanted to be. Making and see others happy is what keeps me motivated. If I’m not serving others and pursuing my goals, I know I won’t fulfill my purpose within society.

Before Project NEMIAH came about, I was dealing with other issues besides medical issues. As a child, I was bullied a lot; people would call me names, talk about my unibrow, the way my hair looked, and the fact that I stuttered and talked fast. Sometimes, the words hurt me so badly that I wouldn’t have confidence in myself; I would believe what the bullies told me. As I got older, I realized that I had to not feed into what they said about me; I had to believe that I was better than they said I was. If you don’t believe in yourself, then who else will? If it weren’t for me going through these obstacles, there wouldn’t be a Project NEMIAH. My story, the good, bad, and ugly- is what helped me grow in my leadership, and because of that, I’m able to show the world the value of being victorious through resilience.

While working on Project NEMIAH, I receive monthly coaching from one of my mentors. He helps me develop my speaking and writing skills, video content, prepares me for interviews and sharpens me on several levels. As humans, we must realize that we don’t know it all, and sometimes, we need guidance to help us reach our goals. There is nothing wrong with getting help from an expert; if you need the help, get it. My organization is growing daily, and by getting my inspiring messages out and doing interviews via social media, I’m able to expand the reach of Project NEMIAH.

Throughout my journey, I’ve learned to not give up on myself and to believe within myself. I’ve also learned that you need to have passion for what you do. It’s essential that we not only listen to the lessons but we put them into action. We can’t expect to grow if we don’t put in the work. Project NEMIAH will provide its services locally, nationally, and globally. At Project NEMIAH, we believe wherever there are students with disabilities, we must be an asset to them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting Georgia, I would take her to restaurants such as Slutty Vegan, Thumbs Up Diner, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Iron Age Steakhouse, Yard House, and Maggianos. We would explore various restaurants and local fun spots such as Dave and Buster’s and Six Flags. We may even attend a couple of shows or events in downtown Atlanta as well. I would also want her to visit the King Center, Aquarium, and other sites. Of course, whatever we did, we would follow social distancing guidelines, as I believe in safety first. I am a firm believer in enjoying myself after working on and in my purpose.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As I faced many disabilities during my childhood, my family was there for support. They made sure I received my medication, got to my doctor’s appointments, accompanied me to surgical procedures, and most importantly, they made sure I received the proper services in school. In addition, they loved and nurtured me and always made me feel confident, regardless of my disabilities. Also, Carey’s Math Center has helped me within my education; they taught me and other students skills to help us better understand various mathematical topics. Throughout my teen years, I joined a student leadership organization called, The South Fulton Arrow Youth Council. Within this organization, I was able to be mentored by various leaders within the community. I was also able to work on my speaking abilities by participating in speaking performances and getting involved in community projects. Because of a support system/village outside of my family, as well as supportive peers and friends, I was able to uplift myself and become a servant leader, knowing life was going to get better for me.

Instagram: projectnemiah

Facebook: Nemiah Hobbs

Image Credits
Doris Pinkett- Hobbs and Keith L. Brown