Nekima Horton is the President and CEO of the Veterans Coalition of North Central Texas, which brings together over 75 entities to provide support services for veterans, their families, and veteran organizations. As the head of this coalition, she has consistently raised $75,000-$100,000 annually for their programs. She has extensive experience in areas like community and public relations, fundraising, community development, and networking. Previously, she held roles directing various programs focused on veterans counseling, tobacco cessation, and youth education. Nekima received a Master's degree in Social Work and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology.

1. Nekima Horton
Curriculum Vitae
Nekima L. Horton, a native of Yakima Washington. She is the President and CEO of the Veterans
Coalition of North Central Texas. The Coalition brings together over 75 entities to provide support
services for Veterans, their families, and Veteran Service Organizations. Representatives from
the Federal Government, State, and local entities meet on a monthly basis to network and discuss
best practices. Nekima has a proven track record in community & public relations, fund raising,
community development, & organization, and networking. As a volunteer organization, she has
consistently raised $75-$100,000 a year for programs alone.
Ms. Horton was the Outreach Director of the “We Help Ourselves Program (WHO)”, at Mental
Health America of Greater Dallas. The WHO program teaches children and youth (ages 4-18) how to
protect themselves against various methods of victimization including: child abuse and neglect,
violent assault, peer pressure, abduction, sexual harassment, and emotional abuse. Nekima works
with Independent School Districts, securing contracts, to implement the WHO program with in
schools or community based entities. She is responsible for ensuring new contractors attend
mandatory training to implement the program.
Nekima served as the Director of Operation Healthy Reunions, a program previously of Mental
Health America of Greater Dallas, now of VCNCT. As the director Nekima is responsible for ensuring
Veterans of any War Time Era, particularly the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring
Freedom(OEF), and Operation New Dawn(OND), receive free counseling in 14 North Central
Texas Counties, including 2 in the Ft. Hood area, Bell and Coryell County. The program has 58
licensed Providers, has seen over 500 clients, and provided over 2,700 hours of counseling.
She managed the daily operations, grant goals & objectives, a $250,000 budget, staff deliverables,
and program evaluation.
Nekima is also a key liaison with the Veterans Court of Dallas and Fort Worth. She attended
weekly court sessions to offer support services, resources, and free counseling services to 23
Veterans in the program, as well as their family members.
Ms. Horton served as the Health Educator/Development Specialist for the University of Texas
at Arlington. Here she developed and implemented the “Fresh Start from Tobacco” program for the
35,000 plus faculty/staff and students. She was on the forefront of leading the campus in
becoming 100% smoke free in 2011. Nekima conducted individual counseling sessions with
students, faculty, and staff regarding any health or tobacco education concerns. Mrs. Horton was also
the Academic Advisor for 30+ girls in the undergraduate chapter Delta Sigma Theta Inc. on
campus.
Ms. Horton served on a Statewide Tobacco Cessation Initiative, funded by The Louisiana
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. Nekima was the Regional Coordinator where she formed 10
district level Coalitions, throughout North Louisiana, promoting healthy living and tobacco
cessation. She was able to coordinate community health fairs, youth programs, education
seminars, implement intervention strategies, evaluate programs and provide feedback to her
granting agency on various programs. She managed a team of community 11 workers and 15
volunteers and a $300,000 annual budget.
Ms. Horton served as the Coordinator for Better Health for the Delta, a Grass Roots Initiative
covering 29 districts. Nekima implemented over 50 Comprehensive Health Assessments and

2. various programs in North Louisiana. Nekima managed a budget of over $250,000 annually. The
program reached over 130,759 in year one and two of initiation. She was able to build
professional relationships with various organizations, whom became major sponsors for her initiatives
and programs. As a result of her leadership, partners and sponsors of programs directly
provided approximately $87,500 in services to impoverished, low social economic status
communities, and rural districts throughout Northern Louisiana.
She began her professional career, prior to her graduation, at Louisiana Tech University. She was
a motivational speaker for both youth and adults and has been honored with the Outstanding
Speaker Award for her presentations on health and nutrition. Nekima was also a certified Louisiana
Pathways Trainer, providing over 20 workshops (for needed accreditation hours), educational
seminars, and in-service trainings.
Nekima received her Master’s of Social Work from Grambling State University (Grambling, LA.) and
her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sociology, minor in English, from Louisiana Tech University
(Ruston, LA.).
Nekima is the proud parent of three beautiful children. Fayth (15) and twins Amina & Tereze (14).
Nekima is a soccer, baseball, cheerleading, volleyball, track, and basketball mom!