Renowned author and inspiring change-maker Nicole Lynn Lewis put herself through the College of William & Mary as a teen mother, starting as a freshman when her daughter was just three months old. Author of her memoir and NPR Best Book 2021 honoree, Pregnant Girl: A Story of Teen Motherhood, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families, Nicole has been named a CNN Hero and won the Roslyn S. Jaffe Award. She has appeared on CNN, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and many others, and her journey has been covered in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, TeenVogue, and the Chronicle for Higher Education. Now the Founder and CEO of Generation Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young parents and families succeed through all levels of education, Nicole is shaping policy and creating history every day. On the latest episode of Madam Policy, hosts Dee Martin, Yasmin Nelson, and Adriney Chepeian sit down with Nicole to discuss her journey overcoming obstacles as a young mother in college and how it inspired her to help others.
Tune in to hear Nicole talk about the intersection of race, cultural bias, poverty, and parenthood. Nicole also gives great advice on finding your cheering squad and knowing your own worth. Count Madam Policy as part of your cheering squad, Nicole!