1. Nekima Horton
Helping Veterans is her calling
Nekima L. Horton is a game changer. Horton, the founding President and CEO of the Veterans
Coalition of North Central Texas, the largest of such an organization helping veterans in the state of
Texas, believes helping veterans is her calling. "My passion is seeing the many men and women who
has served this country succeed," she says.
Nekima has a proven track record in assessing, designing, developing, implementation of programs,
and organizational development. She started her career in the school system in the state of Louisiana,
working with elementary, middle and high school students, identified as at risk. She then transferred to
the largest charity hospital in Monroe Louisiana. Working in the Social Services Department of the
hospital, Nekima was thrust into the after math of Hurricane Katrina. She also worked part time at a
geriatrics clinic. Leading group sessions with seniors was the most memorable education she had
received, as well as a highlight of her career. While she enjoyed her work, she knew she wanted to have
more of a voice in program development.
It was her work in tobacco cessation that brought Nekima to Texas. Prior to coming to Texas, Nekima
was the North Regional Director for the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco free living. Adding tobacco
cessation to her focus on building healthy communities was a welcome addition to her work. In 2009,
she was hired by University of Texas at Arlington to make the campus tobacco free. She enjoyed her
work but still felt like she had more to develop and give. As the campus moved forward with her
recommendations, becoming smoke free in 2011, she went back to her passion of direct community
service. "I just felt like something was missing," she said.
It was at this time she added service to Veterans and their families to her portfolio. As Director of the
Operation Healthy Reunions program at Mental Health America, Nekima focused on the mental health
state of returning Veterans. It was here she built the Veterans Coalition of North Central Texas. Within
five years, she and a dedicated Board of Directors, Coalition members, and community partners built the
largest, most comprehensive, Veterans Coalition in the State of Texas. Garnering over 75+
organizations, on a monthly basis, to discuss best practice and service to those that have served, their
families, and Veteran Service Organizations, they consider themselves the “Gap filler.” Her goal as the
President and CEO is to grow the organization into a State and National model. She attributes the
success of the Coalition to working in excellence, networking, collaboration, and most importantly
staying focused on the mission and service before self! She attributes her success to her faith in God,
her strong mother, and loving father, a WWII Veteran.
Nekima received her Masters of Social Work from Grambling State University and Bachelors of Science
in Sociology, minor in English, from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. The Yakima, Washington
native enjoys spending hours at the gym and being soccer, volleyball, basketball, cheer, and football
“taxi” mom to her three beautiful children, the “FAT Kids.” FAYTH, 16, Amina and Tereze, 14.