Help Nora raise money

This cause is deeply personal to me. After earning my master’s degree in counseling, I worked at a homeless shelter in the Twin Cities providing counseling to youth and families who were in crisis. That experience opened my eyes to how many young people face housing instability, trauma, and uncertainty—and how powerful the right support can be in helping them find stability and hope.

It also resonates with me on a personal level. As someone who has experienced panic disorder and postpartum anxiety and depression (PPA/PPD), I know firsthand how life-changing access to mental health care and support can be. No one should have to struggle alone, and everyone deserves access to compassionate, quality care.

Running is another part of my story. I was never a runner, but joining the OrangeTheory community has been truly life-changing for my own mental health. Two years ago I ran my first 5K, last year I completed the 10 Mile, and this year I’m taking on my biggest challenge yet: the Half Marathon.

I’m fundraising for Face to Face, an organization that has provided essential support for marginalized young people since 1972. They began as a volunteer-run walk-in crisis counseling and reproductive health clinic for youth. Today they support youth ages 11–24 through six core service areas that address the inequities young people face, combat systemic racism and other forms of oppression, and help youth pursue their aspirations despite the barriers they experience.

At a time when mental health programs and critical support services are facing funding cuts and increasing challenges, organizations like Face to Face are more important than ever. Every young person deserves access to compassionate care, a safe place to turn, and people who believe in their future.

This mission is incredibly meaningful to me because it reflects both my professional background and my personal journey. If you’re able to donate or share this page, it would mean so much—to me and to the young people who rely on this support. Thank you for being part of it.