By Sara Blake
CASA Advocate Nate traces his commitment to benefit others back to his high school teacher. “I had exceptional teachers I credit who I am today with,” Nate explains. “My government teacher brought so much passion into the classroom that she was able to inspire our interest in civics. She conveyed how important it was to us at an age where it can be hard to care.”
“Being a kid is hard no matter what. But kids who don’t have a whole lot of support at school or in their family must navigate a very complex world alone."
Nate was born and raised in Texas, moving from Dripping Springs to Houston as a child. Family has always been an anchor in his life, something he is even more aware of and thankful for since taking on the role of a CASA volunteer.
“My dad died when I was 10 years old, so my mom, siblings and I moved in with my grandparents. I had both familial support and role models growing up, and it was still difficult,” he shares. “Being a kid is hard no matter what. But kids who don’t have a whole lot of support at school or in their family must navigate a very complex world alone. Anyone they ever looked up to, they probably have been separated from.”
Nate returned to Austin in 2016 to attend UT where he studied government, history and Latin. He interned at the Capitol for a year but realized that he would rather be involved in more direct community efforts. Having graduated at the height of COVID, he was fortunately able to find a job in grant management for the Victims of Crime Act. “We were responsible for providing federal funding to police departments, women’s shelters and other nonprofits.” Today he continues his work in grants for the education sector and has developed a hobby of amateur wrestling.
As he completed training and began his first case, Nate was struck by the tenacity of the children CASA works with.
Nate began volunteering with CASA in 2023. “A friend of mine was a volunteer and one of my aunts was a volunteer with CASA of Travis many years ago. My mother also worked in nonprofits her whole life,” Nate remembers. “On the weekends we used to volunteer with her at her job or at food kitchens.”
As he completed training and began his first case, Nate was struck by the tenacity of the children CASA works with. “I’ve always heard about the resiliency of children and their positive energy, and I’ve seen it in kids in my own life. But witnessing it in these circumstances is different. It’s inspiring watching someone grow and work so hard to improve academically and socially despite everything they have been through.”
“This is by far the most important thing I do with my time,” Nate says. “And I believe that the most important thing we can do with our time here on earth is to help and support as many people as we can.”
Nate is quick to acknowledge it took time to build rapport with the youth on his case and to see things begin to change in the child’s life. “For the first few months I think they were uncertain about me and how much to share. I had to prove I was trustworthy by showing up. But as time has gone on, they realized I was there to help and support them – that I wasn’t going to disappear. Now we sit and chat like we’ve known each other for years.”
And Nate believes this is the purpose of CASA. “I think the most impactful thing CASA does is give kids a person in their corner. Someone to be vulnerable with and to cheer them on.”
“This is by far the most important thing I do with my time,” Nate says. “And I believe that the most important thing we can do with our time here on earth is to help and support as many people as we can.”
