Welcome to The Route To Success with Sara Orellana
In this powerful episode, Sara sits down with Nikki T Hamilton, longtime victim advocate, nonprofit leader, and founder of A Promise Kept Foundation. This conversation dives deep into advocacy, resilience, trauma recovery, and what it really takes to navigate systems that can feel overwhelming and cold.
Nikki explains why advocacy is not a personality trait but a skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time. She shares practical tools for building that skill in everyday life, especially during emotional situations when it feels hardest to use your voice.
Inside this episode, you will learn:
• What advocacy actually means in clear, practical terms
• Why advocacy is the driver behind true resilience
• How to separate emotions from facts during high stress situations
• Why victims often feel supported in crisis but alone in the long journey
• The gaps in the justice system when it comes to long term support
• How to teach children advocacy without labeling them as difficult
• Simple language shifts that reduce conflict and increase understanding
• The power of tone, body language, and neutral communication
• Why asking “Can you explain why?” changes everything
Nikki also shares the decades long journey behind Justice for Angel Ormston and what it has required from her year after year. From parole hearings to public opposition, she speaks honestly about re trauma, persistence, and protecting families while navigating the criminal justice system.
This episode is especially valuable for:
• Victims of violent crime
• Families navigating custody or parole hearings
• Parents raising emotionally intelligent children
• Nonprofit leaders balancing advocacy and compliance
• Anyone who wants to strengthen communication and self advocacy skills
If you have ever struggled to use your voice in a difficult moment, this conversation will give you clarity, language, and courage.
Connect with Nikki T Hamilton on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkithamilton/
Subscribe to The Route To Success for more conversations on leadership, resilience, nonprofit impact, personal growth, and real world advocacy.
What is The Route to Success?
Success rarely follows a straight line.
On The Route to Success, I sit down each week with business owners, nonprofit leaders, founders, and changemakers from different backgrounds to talk about the real stories behind leadership, growth, hope, and resilience.
Together, we explore the challenges people do not always see. Burnout. Setbacks. Purpose. Wellness. Asking for help. Starting over. We also talk about the practical tools, decisions, and habits that helped each guest keep moving forward.
These are honest, thoughtful conversations. They are not polished stories about perfect success. They are real discussions about what it takes to lead, grow, and find hope during difficult seasons, with plenty of moments to connect and laugh along the way.
New episodes are released every Thursday.