“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer to neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
Nicole Jon Sievers, MSW, LCSW, is an innovative problem solver, author, speaker, licensed clinical social worker, educator, and social justice advocate. For over 30 years, she has worked with youth and the systems serving them. Her diverse roles have included therapist, teacher, educational district consultant, Outward Bound instructor, and forensic consultant. With her colleague Norene Gonsiewski, Nicole co-authored It’s Your Mind: Own It! a National Indie Excellence Award-winning book offering neuroscience-based information and tools for adolescents.
Nicole is the founder and executive director of Stand for Courage (standforcourage.org). This bullying-prevention program employs stories, creativity, and popular culture to recognize students leading bystander action to eradicate bullying. In 2014, SFC was honored by the American Psychological Association with a Visionary Award. In 2017, an academic study reported that victimization decreased dramatically when schools actively taught and adopted SFC bullying-prevention practices. Notably, SFC is among the first bullying prevention programs to be statistically validated with empirical evidence that is both open sourced and student led. As such, SFC is becoming a popular program in schools. Building on her bullying prevention work, Nicole currently is a producer for an upcoming IndieFlix documentary entitled The Bully Factor, about the bystander’s role in bullying prevention.
Also an avid supporter of the arts, Nicole has served on the Seattle Music Commission since 2014, championing community-building, creative-arts, and educational initiatives while promoting Seattle's vibrant music culture. She also is an Advisory Board member of the Origins Project Foundation, which strives to address the challenges of the 21st century through public events with thought leaders. She is joined on the Origins Project Board of Directors by Nobel Laureates, award-winning authors, distinguished scientists, artists, and business leaders. In addition, Nicole serves on the Advisory Board for Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care–Kenya. PECC–Kenya is an international collaboration committed to improving the management and outcomes of critically ill children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Nicole lives in Seattle with her husband, Dr. Eric Sievers, and their five sons.