The Impact of a Lending Hand - Nate Miles
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”- Mahatma Gandhi
Forward-thinking leader Nate Miles, actively works to serve his community and create a sense of unity. As the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and State Government Affairs at Eli Lilly and Company, he works to create innovative public policies for organizations, including social justice organizations such as the NAACP and National Action Network.
One of the ways in which Nate serves others is creating a sense of unity in every environment he works in, He emphasizes that together we can do more and create better opportunities for all. People are stronger when they can work together, free of bias or judgement.
His passion for advocating for others in adverse circumstances stems from his own personal experiences. Throughout his career path, Nate has been directly impacted by the power of lending a hand to someone in need.
When asked why he fights for those in need, Nate shared some of his own encounters to describe how he experienced firsthand the impact of giving.
“People ask me ‘Nate why do you go out and help so many people, why do you fight for all of these causes?’
“I cannot tell you except for that it’s in me.
“They said ‘you fight for farmworkers rights.’
“You don’t understand. I fight for farmworkers rights because of Mrs. Espinoza.
“When I was trying to make ends meet and help my family out, I used to cut beets, pick grapes, cherries, and apples over in the orchard in eastern Washington.
“We got up at 3 o clock in the morning with the migrant workers and we’d be on the branches, where we were about to fall out because the dew was fresh and the branches were slippery. There were migrant workers with a baby on their back, a bucket in their hands, it’s hard to imagine the struggle of these workers.
“When my boss wanted to fire me due to my pace, Mrs. Espinoza helped me. She dealt with back pain, had a baby on her hip wrapped in a blanket, and yet she reached over to help me. I fight for Mrs. Espinoza.”
