Literacy Point of Light: Nate Church, Young Professionals Group Vice Chair
Nate Church, the Vice Chair on the Executive Leadership Team for the Young Professionals Group, has been an active member of the organization for over two years. His journey with YPG began when he crossed paths with fellow members at a Young Professionals networking event. Intrigued at the opportunity to volunteer for a literacy foundation, Nate attended his first Tacky Sweater Party later that year.
Literacy holds a special place in Nate’s heart, rooted in firsthand experiences. Reflecting on his early struggles with reading, he recalls a particular moment with his mom during his many attempts to tackle the Harry Potter series.
“I remember trying to read the Harry Potter books with her when I was extremely young, and I got frustrated because I couldn't sound out the word ‘mustache.’ Even after saying it incorrectly about 12 times, my mom continued to work with me on the pronunciation. I remember getting very frustrated and saying something to the effect of, ‘I give up. If I can't read mustache, then I'm not a good reader, and I'll never be able to read an entire book.’ She looked at me directly and said, ‘You are a good reader. If you keep working on it, you'll be able to read hundreds of books in your lifetime.’"
Nate has not only embraced his love for reading and education, but he has also given back to the community. His involvement in the summer program Camp Adventure stands out, where he and fellow YPG members assisted elementary students in creating magnetic slime and digging for fossils.
“YPG has impacted me in an indescribable way. It's helped me build a community of friends who support me, feel fulfilled by helping others, and realize how lucky I was to have literacy as an important part of my upbringing. It's also helped me to develop skills that I can and hope to utilize in my career and has also taught me to never take the skill of reading for granted.”
Outside of volunteering, Nate engages in many other extracurricular activities. He can speak Dutch and French, sing, and play piano, and has completed two full marathons. Some of his recommended reads include “Sapiens” by Yuval Harari, “Feel Good Productivity” by Ali Abdaal, and “Fluent Forever” by Gabriel Wyner.
The Young Professionals Group thrives thanks to like-minded individuals such as Nate. Their tireless contributions serve as a testament to the impact volunteering can have. We thank Nate for sharing his story and cultivating a legacy of literacy and empowerment for our community.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Young Professionals Group, please visit: https://www.barbarabushhouston.org/ypg.