Nikki Gates serves as an Outreach Lead with AMA bringing both lived experience and professional experience to her work alongside community members. Grounded in the principles of mutual aid, she is passionate about building relationships, reducing barriers to resources, and meeting people where they are with compassion, dignity, and respect. Her lived experience, combined with her work in direct service, allows her to connect authentically with individuals and families and understand both the challenges they may face and the strength it takes to move forward. She is committed to helping build stronger, more connected communities where support is shared, people are seen as more than their circumstances, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

My passion for supporting is rooted in both lived experience and professional service. I know firsthand the difference community support can make during difficult times and the impact of having people show up with compassion, dignity and practical help. Through my work supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness, recovery, mental health challenges,and crisis, I have learned that everyone has a story and everyone deserves to be met with respect and understanding. Mutual aid is deeply personal to me because it reflects what I believe communities should be: neighbors supporting neighbors and ensuring no one had to face hardship alone. Being part of AMA allows me to turn my experience into action and help build the kind of community care that changes lives.