BILLY NICHOLLES

The Change I Want to Bring to the World

I want to empower LGBT+ young people, primarily through education, to take pride in their identities and to use the power of pride to create a more tolerant, inclusive, and innovative society in which LGBT+ people thrive. Education is a powerful tool in shaping our future: I want to use it not only to create a safer world for LGBT+ people, but also to unlock LGBT+ people’s often restricted potential. 

Moreover, I want to promote intersectionality as a means of comprehending ourselves and others. Recognizing our various social and political identities interact to form modes of privilege and discrimination is the key to encouraging collaboration, innovation, and the creation of a more equitable world. In essence, we need to recognize our differences are what make us human.

How I’ve Been Involved in Changemaking So Far

I work with various educational charities and run workshops in schools on the LGBT+ community, as well as on discrimination more broadly and how to combat it. I am also passionate about the power of media to change attitudes and to increase the reach of my work. I am a published author at Gay Times, one of the UK’s leading LGBT+ media outlets, and have interviewed notable LGBT+ figures such as British sports presenter Claire Balding.

What Drew Me to This Fellowship

Any opportunity to work with driven and interesting people on projects that fascinate and motivate us is always a privilege, and I am sure the Mentora Foundation team and Youth Changemaker fellows will exemplify this environment. This fellowship’s focus on understanding yourself and your emotions before trying to influence others is also intriguing and exciting. And, of course, I cannot wait to live in New York and explore all the city has to offer!