40 Under Forty 2019: Nicole Bell
Photo | Erika Sidor
Nicole Bell, founder of Living in Freedom Together
Photo | Erika Sidor
From the 20th anniversary of the WBJ 40 Under Forty are (from left) 2019 winner Julie Bowditch, 2002 alumni Kate McEvoy, 2015 alumni AiVi Nguyen, 2019 winner Nicole Bell and 2019 winner Ted Strzelecki at George's Coney Island in Worcester.
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Nicole Bell, 38
CEO
Living In Freedom Together, Inc., Worcester
Residence: Worcester
Birthplace: Boston
Education: Ph.D. from the streets
After struggling for more than 10 years to escape a life of prostitution and substance abuse, Bell founded the nonprofit LIFT essentially out of necessity. After she was initially victimized by a 35-year-old brother of her friend, Bell’s late teenage years were spent on the streets, trapped in prostitution until she found help a few years later. However, she would again fall into drug abuse at 24 and found herself on the streets of Worcester. At 33 and after another stint in jail, she found her way out: a collective of women who all struggled in lives of prostitution and were working to find a way out of the dangerous life. Bell founded LIFT five years ago and has helped more than 230 find support around their experiences in the commercial sex Industry. The nonprofit on Oct. 1 is opening Jana’s Place, which Bell calls the first recovery home in the nation to specifically help women exiting prostitution and in recovery from substance abuse. Over the last year, Bell increased LIFT’s annual operating budget from $23,000 to $1.9 million. The organization is partnering with the City of Worcester and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office to help end incarceration among women in prostitution, by offering diversion services with LIFT. – Profile written by Zachary Comeau
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. It still gives me comfort and reminds me of the short time I had with my incredible mother.
Why do you live in Central Mass.? This is where I found my recovery and my inspiration for creating LIFT.
Who is responsible for your success? My supportive family, my chosen tribe, the survivors, and team I work alongside give me strength and the fight to continue.
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