BlogWomen Build began, like so many powerful movements do, with a simple idea.

Women Build began, like so many powerful movements do, with a simple idea.

In the 1990s, Mary Nell was early in her nonprofit career, working in administration and operations at what was then Habitat for Humanity Charlotte. She was also a working mother with a young toddler, balancing professional responsibilities with family life, a reality many Women Build volunteers and leaders know well.

That moment came shortly after Habitat Charlotte had completed the 24-Hour House, an ambitious project that pushed the limits of what a dedicated group could accomplish together. Exhausted but energized, a conversation among colleagues sparked something unexpected.

“We had just completed the 24-Hour House when our co-worker, Darlene Jonas, said, ‘If we can do this, I’m sure a bunch of women could build a house!’ Of course, we were punch-drunk from lack of sleep, but the idea stuck.” What followed was more than a passing thought. It was the beginning of what would become Women Build, an initiative that has empowered women to come together, learn new skills, and play a hands-on role in building safe, affordable housing for families for 35 years. Reflecting on that moment, Mary Nell points to the lasting lesson it offered her. “It taught me the power of an idea, the importance of dreaming.” She connects that spark to the children’s book What Do You Do With an Idea?, which ends with a simple but profound message: you just might change the world. For her, that sentiment rings true. “Indeed, it’s what happened, and Women Build has been changing the world ever since.”

The impact of that early idea didn’t stop with Habitat Charlotte. It also shaped Mary Nell’s own leadership journey beyond Women Build. Inspired by what’s possible when people rally around a shared vision, she went on to become the Executive Director of Freedom School Partners, a Charlotte-area nonprofit dedicated to combating summer learning loss by providing a high-quality, six-week summer literacy and enrichment program for students in grades K-8 who otherwise lack access to these opportunities. The organization focuses on building reading skills, social-emotional growth, and confidence through culturally responsive curriculum and community support, while also offering meaningful paid leadership experiences for college interns who serve as classroom leaders

In that role, she helped the organization grow into the largest provider of Freedom Schools in the country, serving up to 2,500 children each summer. Much like the Habitat model, Freedom School Partners relies on collaboration, bringing together community partners and sponsors to create meaningful, lasting impact for children and their families.

Looking back 35 years later, the legacy of Women Build is clear. What began as a tired, hopeful conversation among coworkers became a movement, one that continues to open doors, build confidence, and change lives through the power of community and the courage to believe in an idea.