Community Spotlight: Nicole Farley/H4WRD Board Member and Lifelong Advocate for the Vulnerable

Nicole Farley, Emergency Room Coordinator and valued Board Member of Hollywood 4WRD, is someone whose life’s work has been defined by empathy, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to serving others.

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Like many of our previous Community Spotlight-ees, Nicole’s quiet strength and relentless compassion ripple outward to create real and lasting change. 

Nicole’s journey began in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where her father Neville worked as a Longshoreman. Her childhood was full of love from her parents and older brother, Neville III, but was also marked by the shadow of her mother Mary Ann’s long battle with cancer.

With their father at sea six to nine months every year, Nicole often served as her mother’s caretaker, a role that would shape her calling for life.

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After her mother’s passing, the family relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana. The family’s roots there included Nicole’s grandfather, the famous alto sax jazz musician, Captain John Handy, as well as her loving Aunt Dorothy who helped raise Nicole and her brother while their father was away. These early experiences of caring, loss, and community shaped Nicole’s desire to dedicate her life to helping those most in need.

Nicole's professional career began with Catholic Charities and a brief stint with the New Orleans Police Department’s Crisis Unit. But it was with Volunteers of America (VOA) that Nicole found a professional home for over two decades, supporting individuals with mental illness, dual diagnoses, or those recently released from incarceration. Her impact ran deep: one client even named his first child after her. To this day, Nicole has kept the same phone number so he can always reach her.

In 2005, Nicole married Dr. Marlon Farley and the couple settled in Los Angeles, where Nicole found work with Step Up on Second. She made an immediate impact there as well and was selected to serve on the LA County Department of Mental Health’s newly created “Host team”, a pioneering outreach team that worked directly with people experiencing homelessness in Hollywood.

It was during this time that Nicole first connected with Kerry Morrison, then-Director of the Hollywood Business Improvement District (now The Hollywood Partnership) and a founding member of Hollywood 4WRD, the homeless coalition launched in 2008.

Nicole quickly became a vital presence in the coalition, attending weekly meetings at The Center in Hollywood, strategizing with fellow providers and community members about how to support individuals on the streets, one person at a time. The group created a list they called “The Top 14,” which tracked those most in need of housing and care.*

Nicole proudly recalls being part of the team that housed the first 32 residents at Step Up on Vine.

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When the pandemic struck, Nicole transitioned to work as Emergency Room Coordinator with Wesley Health Centers (JWCH), where she collaborated with Kaiser Permanente’s Community Health Manager, Mario Ceballos. Recognizing Nicole’s extensive background and heart for the work, Mario invited her to join the Hollywood 4WRD Board, a natural next step in her journey of service.

Nicole beams when reflecting on her time with H4WRD and the lives she’s touched. Two memories stand out in particular:

• Her participation in the 2020 Rose Bowl Parade alongside Herbert Butler, a formerly homeless man she had helped move into permanent housing. Their bond had been built through trust and a shared love of music – Herbert was an avid admirer of Nicole’s jazz-legend grandfather.
• Another proud moment came in 2023 when Nicole produced a short film titled Feet on the Street for a special H4WRD member event, In the Eye of a Tragic Storm: The Intersection of Homelessness and Addiction in 2023. The powerful video featured raw interviews with unhoused individuals – shot solely from the knees down to preserve their anonymity. It was a poignant example of how Nicole gives voice to those so often unheard.

Most recently, after sixteen months with Independent Living Systems as their Southern California Housing Navigator/Manager, Nicole returned to her role as ER Coordinator at JWCH. 

When asked what advice she’d give to anyone wanting to make a difference in the fight against homelessness, Nicole’s response is firm, honest, and from the heart: “Stop listening to the politicians and stop listening to the news.” Instead, she urges community members to take to the streets themselves, to look into the eye – and walk in the footsteps – of their unhoused neighbors.

“Just one time,” Nicole says, “come walk the streets and see for yourself before you make a judgment call as to why that person is there.”**

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It’s that kind of perspective – grounded in direct connection, compassionate care, and systemic advocacy – that makes Nicole Farley a vital force in Hollywood and beyond.

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Additional resources:

• Saving Lives and Rebuilding Hope: An article on Kaiser Permanente’s Bridge Program, featuring interviews with Nicole and Mario.
• View Nicole’s short, Feet On The Street HERE on Hollywood 4WRD's YouTube channel.
• * For more on Hollywood 4WRD’s history, please check out the History section of the About Us page on the H4WRD website.
• ** To follow Nicole's advice and engage directly yourself, consider joining a SELAH outreach volunteer team.