Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Gale Nelson of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami Is Helping To Change Our World
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gale Nelson.
Gale Nelson is President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami, where he has played a significant role in the growth and development of the agency’s mentoring and fund development programs. Gale has worked his way up the ladder the hard way — always confident, determined and focused on his goals and building strong personal relationships. His professional career includes over 27 years of non-profit management and leadership, and Gale also serves as the Minister and one of the elders at the Miami Gardens church of Christ.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
So what’s interesting about my career path in nonprofit leadership, it really goes back to my experience running a juvenile justice boarding school. I was invited to come and visit and I was given some textbooks to work with some young men, all of whom had broken the law. I was told, “Go and teach them. They need to get their high school equivalency or their GED.” And so, when I found these young men that had zero interest in education at that time, I asked them for a basketball. They all looked because I peaked their interest. And I said, “Look, meet me on the basketball court.” These young men, with quite a bit of joy, met me on the court, and I proceeded to teach them a math lesson.
