Nuka Solomon
7 min read ⭑
“Even as a CEO, I have learned that I need to pray, lean on others, and, most importantly, rely on God to grow and sustain my spiritual walk.”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
Food, to me, is more than just a meal; it is a representation of experiences, memories, and cultures. I am most attracted to dishes that are comforting as well as colorful and pleasing to look at, with taints of exotic flavors. I am a first-generation American, and my parents were immigrants from Haiti. For me, there is something comforting about a bowl of traditional Haitian squash soup. The familiar aroma of it cooking in the kitchen instantly brings back memories of the Caribbean. At the same time, living in America, I have learned to embrace the rich tapestry and flavors of food and cultures here. Bolognese and a good hot dog have also become classic comfort foods for me. My palette for food is a fusion, and I guess you could say the same about me as a person!
Neslihan Gunaydin; Unsplash
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
I find immense joy in art and creativity. Whether through jewelry making, painting, or even gardening, I love to create things with my hands. I attribute much of this love for art and aesthetics to the way I was raised. My extended family and Haitian culture as a whole tend to be very creative. I learned from an early age how to express myself by manipulating tools and craft supplies to create beauty. Most recently, I completed an oil painting of Cavaillon, a rural town in Haiti. It shows a street that was destroyed by the tragic 2021 earthquake. I find my art to be a means of self-reflection and expression.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
I have to admit that I definitely have a sweet tooth. But I feel like an even bigger kryptonite for me is that I don’t drink enough water. I know that it’s dangerous because every superhero needs sustenance. But to be completely honest, I don’t do a good job of staying hydrated. This started back in my early adulthood and carried into motherhood. I’d find myself so busy with work, projects, and taking care of my kids that I didn’t make it a priority. Even today, in my role as CEO of Free Wheelchair Mission, I find myself so busy taking care of my team and doing my best to make sure more people around the world receive wheelchairs that it’s often hard to take the time to take a sip of water. I know how important it is to stay healthy and take care of myself, so this is definitely something I am working toward!
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
As CEO of Free Wheelchair Mission, I am wholeheartedly invested in our important work of providing brand-new wheelchairs to individuals in developing countries around the world. In my specific role right now, I am looking at the future and strategic growth of the organization. I was brought on six years ago to help establish a legacy beyond the story of our wonderful founder, Don Schoendorfer. He founded our nonprofit more than 20 years ago, and it is my goal that the next 20 years and beyond will be marked by strength, exponential growth, and more people joining us in solving the immobility crisis. Especially amidst the ever-changing climate of the pandemic, I am working closely with our team members and stakeholders to evaluate and adapt the way we do things as an organization. Free Wheelchair Mission has already reached the incredible milestone of providing its one millionth wheelchair, but there is still so much work to do as an estimated 75 million individuals around the world are waiting for mobility. I encourage friends reading this to check out our work at FreeWheelchairMission.org and to consider donating or spreading the word!
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
I experience God’s voice and the Holy Spirit’s work in many forms, but all of these instances are marked by an inexplicable sense of peace. Sometimes it’s through a gentle tap on the shoulder through a spoken word from someone in my life. It may be a colleague or advisor who says something that causes me to look at my situation differently. I also strongly believe in the power of prayer. I pray daily for my team, our work, and for God to give me the answers to some of the toughest problems that arise. Other times, I feel the Lord speak to me in the middle of the night when an idea pops into my mind and He is putting something on my heart. Even as a CEO, I have learned that I need to pray, lean on others, and, most importantly, rely on God to grow and sustain my spiritual walk.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
Rituals are crucial for me to stay on course in my relationship with God. I’ve made it a practice to set time apart to pray each day and to set other times throughout the week to attend church or fast. I’ve found it helpful to treat this time with God as an appointment that I can’t miss, just as I would with a team member or stakeholder, so I block time on my calendar to do these things. It’s easy for me (and for all of us) to get caught up in the day-to-day and take our relationship with God for granted. Through these times of intentional prayer, reflection, and worship, I find myself able to connect with him and regularly surrender my needs to him. If you are in a busy season of life where you find it difficult to take time to be with God, I encourage you to give this a try, even if it’s just 10-15 minutes per day!
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?
The Bible is my ultimate guidebook, but I specifically gravitate toward the book of Psalms. It is also my go-to whenever I am between book studies. I love that it covers so much: fears, love, relationships, and more. When I read these chapters, I feel like the Lord encourages me and reminds me of his promises.
Another recent read that resonated with me was a historical novel called The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. It shares the true story of the first African American personal librarian to J.P. Morgan. She was a woman of color who was breaking into a profession that wasn’t acceptable at the time. This read was very interesting to me because I can relate, as I am the first female and woman of color serving as CEO of Free Wheelchair Mission.
The third resource would be Atomic Habits by James Clear, which is about creativity and cultivating habits in incremental ways for greater efficiency. It’s helped give me small changes that I can make to be more productive in my role.
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it’s done for you.
The news is my go-to resource. On a daily basis, I go to various news outlets of all leanings via print, radio, and the web. It gives me the opportunity to filter current events through various lenses. I am able to get the bigger picture of what is going on in the world, understand individuals better, and see the needs that exist amidst different cultures. With an understanding of current events and situations, I am able to be more compassionate as a person and leader. This is especially important in the nature of my role and field as we work with those in developing countries around the world.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
The biggest thing on my heart right now is communicating the great need. Seventy-five million individuals need wheelchairs, and a surprising number of people don’t know that. Even I—someone who has worked in the nonprofit sphere for years—was unaware of this need before getting involved with this work. Our mission at Free Wheelchair Mission is so simple yet so powerful: to provide the transforming gift of mobility to people with disabilities living in developing nations as motivated by Jesus Christ. So what continues to stir in me is that I want more people to know about this amazing mission and to come alongside us and support us. I’ve seen firsthand the tremendous life-transforming experience it is for people to receive brand-new wheelchairs. They are able to attend school, get jobs, provide for their families, and go outdoors to see the sun. My desire is for others to recognize this need and join us in creating a world where everyone who needs a wheelchair has one.
While Nuka lives out her passion to see people receive the equipment they need to live fulfilling lives, she knows that prayer is the foundation for it all. She reminds us that peace comes when we ask for help from the Holy Spirit, and she encourages us to value our prayer time by putting it on the daily calendar. What are some ways you can cultivate your connection to God in the midst of the busyness of your responsibilities?
Nuka Solomon joined Free Wheelchair Mission as Executive Director in 2017 and was appointed CEO in 2019. She has the overall operational responsibility for Free Wheelchair Mission programs and management of its team, leading the strategic planning process and implementation of programmatic strategic initiatives for the organization's growth. Nuka has extensive experience in nonprofit fund development and operations, corporate giving, and mass-and-major-donor event fundraising. Nuka graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in studio art and has two young adult children. Because of her Haitian heritage, she felt called to work with an organization that has been making a significant impact in Haiti.
