Community Hero Action Group

Community Hero Action Group

By Arielle Kilgore and Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided By Nicole McGruder

The phrase, “...it takes a village to raise a child,” stands true today in the life of Nicole McGruder. Most people don’t consider the foundation of that village, making sure it is sustainable and healthy for that child to grow. Nicole knew the importance of this and how her organization would be the roots of that village.

Nicole is the founder of The Community Hero Action Group. This non-profit organization educates the Black community about voting, health, and civic issues through community events such as online forums and town hall meetings. The organization also supplies resources and services to those in need.

Nicole says Community Hero is passionate about breaking the cycle of stagnancy in the African American community. The group is composed of well-trained and passionate individuals who work in underrepresented communities, especially the Black community, to close the void of progression where the community’s needs exist. “Our mission is to decrease the wealth and health disparities in the Black community utilizing education and strategic collaborations,to ensure we have a financially stronger and healthier Black community,” she says.

Nicole grew up in Philadelphia, PA but spent most of her childhood in California. Nonetheless, her adolescent years foreshadowed the various issues and topics she would be standing for. After high school, she lived in Ohio, attended Cleveland State University, and eventually graduated with a bachelor’s in English. Next, she received her Masters for Urban Planning Design and Development. After meeting and marrying her husband, Nicole moved back to Philadelphia, where she says the real work would begin.

“My passion is health. If we are not healthy, really nothing else matters.”

Nicole has always desired to serve and help anyone she could. She shares her life of service began in the emergency room on the night shift at Cleveland State University Hospital. She would also become a team lead assistant analyst and department administrator at Kaiser. She has also served as a caretaker for her mother-in-law. Her volunteer work has also involved her being a girl scout leader and serving on the board for Habitats for Humanity. Even as her life was being shaped, she knew there was still more to do.

She has served as the political action chair for the NAACP State Conference of the 2020 election cycle, working on projects like voter registration, awareness campaigns, and advocating for civil unrest in communities. After working with the NAACP, her focus changed to the development of the Community Hero Action Group. One of her first initiatives was Vote Today Montco, which included the Golden Window project. “The was a first on many fronts, where you could actually get your ballot, register to vote, and cast your ballot all in the same day,” she says.

“I didn’t realize how much I love community engagement until I started with all the work that I was doing in 2020.”

The Community Hero Action group always brought light into Nicole’s eyes. She recalls the energy that was present even in the early development stages. “From the special voting events that were held with the sounds of Public Enemy playing, to the voting rallies held for black communities. While traveling to polling stations to influence underrepresented communities to take action, to the educational forums conducted on health and living disparities of African Americans; There was always positive energy present. Even still, Nicole always thought, what more could she do to help advance her people.

Nicole has committed to not just talk about the improvement of her community. She is actively seeking and building tomorrow’s leaders. “It all starts with health. We die at a higher rate than our counterparts from diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. That’s not because our bodies are faulty. It is because of systemic inequities,” Nicole explains. She is seeking answers and resolutions for those directly affected by these ailments. This has included collaborating with the Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania to provide a scholarship fund for Black students that will assist them with taking and preparing medical exams and more.

For Nicole, she believes her work is never done. From seeing African Americans displaced on the streets living in tents, to helping young girls believe they can pursue a career as a judge, she knows that her work is more important than ever.

The PA Engage Day event held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Nicole says, gave the youth in her community a natural look into their futures. There was a youth mock court held with the Honorable Judge Nichols as a special guest. In the end, a student’s life was changed as she saw that she could be a judge as well.

In the future, Nicole would like to increase her organization’s presence and create attainable housing for poor African American communities. She also hopes to continue serving anyone who needs her help.

For more information about the Community Hero Action Group, please visit their website.