In this episode of At the Table with Greg & Elliott, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper sit down with Nicholas Wiggins, founder and principal of NIW Design and Managing Director at Values Partnerships, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, strategy, and the importance of building spaces where culture and advocacy intersect.

Nicholas shares insights from his years working with the NAACP, including helping shape experiences around the NAACP Image Awards, conventions, and leadership gatherings that bring together activists, creatives, and decision-makers. He reflects on the challenge of keeping legacy organizations relevant for younger generations, the importance of combating misinformation, and how coalition-building across communities remains critical in today’s social and political climate.

The conversation also explores Nicholas’s work in narrative strategy and cultural storytelling through Values Partnerships, including projects like the PBS documentary Black and Jewish, which highlights the shared history and partnership between Black and Jewish communities in the fight for civil rights.

Greg, Elliott, and Nicholas also reflect on the legacy of leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois and Reverend Jesse Jackson, the importance of mentorship, and the often unseen work of people who build the rooms where important conversations and decisions happen.

This episode is a compelling discussion about leadership behind the scenes, the evolution of advocacy, and why thoughtful strategy, collaboration, and community remain essential for lasting change.