My Story 💜
I know firsthand what it's like to struggle in silence. Growing up in a loving home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I still battled with ADHD (before anyone really called it that) and reached the point of attempting suicide more than once. Even surrounded by love, I had the thought: "What is wrong with me? I could never seem to do things good enough."
That gap - between having people who care and feeling truly safe to share - is what drives everything I do today.
Fast forward to now: I've raised 5 children and fostered 16 more, homeschooled, converted my dining room into my office and ran businesses right from there, and spent 25+ years coaching individuals, families, educators, and C-suite professionals through their toughest challenges. I've seen what happens when adults know how to create genuine safety - and I've seen the devastating consequences when they don't.
Meet Lesley Nicole
Founder & Executive Director, Just One Can
My Story 💜
I know firsthand what it's like to struggle in silence. Growing up in a loving home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I still battled with ADHD (before anyone really called it that) and reached the point of attempting suicide more than once. Even surrounded by love, I felt 'alone' and 'misunderstood' that I couldn't or mustn't share my circling thoughts.
That gap - between having people who care and feeling truly safe to share - is what drives everything I do today.
Fast forward to now: I've raised 5 children (2 biological), fostered 16 more, homeschooled, run businesses from my kitchen table, and spent 25+ years coaching individuals and families through their toughest challenges. I've seen what happens when adults know how to create genuine safety - and I've seen the devastating consequences when they don't.
Why Just One Can? 🌍
The Problem: Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24. The #1 reason survivors give for their attempts? Not having someone they felt they could trust to share what was on their mind without fear of judgment, punishment, or dismissal.
The Solution: Just One Can trains adults - teachers, parents, coaches, youth workers - to create safe spaces where children feel heard, respected, important, included, accepted, and secure.
The Difference: While other organizations teach kids to be brave enough to speak up, we train adults to be trustworthy enough that kids WANT to speak up. One trained adult can impact hundreds of children. Just one can make the difference between life and death.
What Makes My Approach Different 🎯
- Prevention Through Relationship: We build trust BEFORE crisis hits, not just react when warning signs appear
- Adult Empowerment: We focus on training those with influence and authority, not placing the burden on struggling kids
- ADHD Integration: I bring unique expertise in creating safe spaces for neurodivergent youth and families
- Global from Day One: Our mission knows no borders - we're launching worldwide to create safe spaces in communities across the globe
- Lived Experience: I've lived both sides - as a child who struggled and as an adult who's raised 21 children through their own struggles
My Professional Background 📚
Beyond Just One Can, I'm the founder of Thrive Sphere LLC, where I've spent over two decades coaching individuals with ADHD and supporting families in crisis. I'm working toward my Professional Certified Coach (PCC) certification with the International Coach Federation, and I've had the honor of speaking at organizations like Berkshire Hathaway, PepsiCo, and Nova University.
I'm also an author - my book "Come to Me with Anything: How Play, Love, and Growth Save Lives" shares practical strategies for building the kind of trust that makes children feel safe enough to share their deepest struggles.
Oh, and I have a background in stand-up comedy - because if there's one thing I've learned, it's that humor and authenticity are powerful tools for connection!
What I Believe 💭
It's never too late to build a bridge with a child - whether that child is six, sixteen, or sixty. Healing and deep connection can happen at any age.
Connection saves lives. Every statistic represents a real person who needed just one adult to create a safe space for them. We can be that adult.
You don't have to be perfect to make a profound difference. You just have to show up, over and over, in big ways and small ways, so that when the storms hit, the kids in your life know they can come to you with anything.
Let's Connect! 🤝
Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, youth worker, or simply someone who cares about the young people in your community, there's a place for you in this movement.
Together, we're creating a world where no child feels alone in their struggles - because every child knows they can come to a caring adult with anything.
Just One Can | 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Preventing Youth Suicide Through Adult Empowerment