Meet Theresa Nix | CEO/Founder Downside Up, Inc.

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

Hi Theresa, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
Most of my adult life has been connected to children either in coaching soccer or teaching a variety of subject areas in grades K-12th, so I always knew I wanted to be a mom someday. It took way longer for that to happen for me than expected, so I was elated when I got pregnant at 41. When my son was born with Down syndrome, the trajectory of my life changed a little bit. Being thrown into a world that is unfamiliar makes you see things through a different lens. Empathy and compassion multiplies, and the fierce desire to change the world for the better is magnified. Focusing on the future of my child and creating more opportunities for him and others like him was what pushed me to start Downside Up. At Downside Up, we help children with disabilities and their families build community through our creative spaces and experiences. This nonprofit has had a huge influence in the last eight years on families and children like ours. So, I think the most important thing I have done as a parent in terms of the impact on my little boy is that unique opportunities have opened up, conversations have been started, lives have been positively changed, awareness has been improved, and his future looks a bit brighter.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Although we had been a nonprofit since 2013 doing camps and events, we opened our creative learning space in January of 2020. The world paused right when we were getting going. A year earlier I had stepped away from my teaching career where I felt completely comfortable. I had a plan and knew what I was doing with my future, but then I decided to follow this dream of creating fun and unique opportunities for families and children like mine. Total shift in a multitude of aspects of my life. Learning about nonprofit life, business management, public speaking, board organization, connecting with donors, grant writing, website development, social media marketing, and how to be a CEO are all things that have pushed me out of my comfort zone for sure. But it is all worth it every time I meet a new parent who cries in my arms because they know they are heard, understood, and belong or see the face of a little who laughing and smiling because they are truly welcomed into a camp or a class for the first time ever. Creating a community of strong families, connecting them to resources they need, and developing opportunities for all abilities, all ages, and the entire family is what it is all about.
It seems that many nonprofits begin because someone sees a gap in the system or there is a need not being met. From the minute Everett was born and we were told he had Down syndrome, people said, “I’m sorry”, What parent of a newborn baby that you have prayed to have for years, wants to hear that instead of “Congratulations!”? So, I think from the very beginning of his life, I wanted to show the world all the things he could do and would do — he just needed the opportunity and the support. I knew I wasn’t the only parent feeling this way, so I began connecting to others and here we are ten years later — Moms’ retreats, day camps, social nights for teens+ with disabilities, work programs, after school classes, date nights for parents, family camps, etc.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are in Chattanooga, so the mountains and the water are a huge part of who we are. On Lookout Mountain, we would go up the Incline, visit Rock City, and watch the hang gliders take off. On Signal Mountain, we would go up the “W” Road, see the “Spaceship House”, and hike to Mushroom Rock. Kayaking or paddling in the river is a must on a hot day — getting in/out at Coolidge Park so that the bridges, art museum, city, and mountains are all in view. There are so many yummy places to eat — State of Confusion, Feed, Stir, Wooden City, and Southern Star to name a few. Friday nights throughout the summer you can enjoy local musicians playing downtown at Nightfall.

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?
When Everett was 2, I started Downside Up while teaching full time and coaching, and the first thing we did was Camp Wakawalu. It is a weekend family camp that is going on its eighth year this September. During the first weekend of camp, I knew that was what I was meant to do and absolutely loved it. I wanted to open a space that nurtured that camp feeling all year. A place where families could come to experience connection, community, and acceptance wherever they were on the journey of disability. But I had been a teacher for 22 years, felt super comfortable in that realm, and taking risks is not in my nature. During the school year of 2018, I began reading a few books. They are what stirred in me the courage and the momentum to take a chance at my dream. The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes made me say “yes” to all the things I would normally shy away from or definitely say “no” to. Half Time by Bob Buford made me ask myself what my legacy would be. What have I been doing all my life that has led me, prepared me, and guided me to where I am so that I could do what I was called to do? What would I be leaving behind for my child, my family? And lastly, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson taught me to pray circles around my biggest dreams, be specific and intentional, and trust God to lead the way. The combination of encouragement, soul searching, and butt kicking these all provided was the catalyst to me stepping away from my teaching position and following my heart. A year later, I opened a space in downtown Chattanooga that has provided so much to so many, and I am incredibly grateful.

Website: www.downsideupinc.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/downsideupinc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downsideupinc/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@downsideupinc.68

Image Credits
Drew Eldridge