Who We Are

          CHIGBO Community advancement was founded on February 21, 2026, out of a lifetime of resilience and a profound love for people by Sharita N. Onugha, better known as Nicci. For her, the CHIGBO mission is personal. Born in Elkhart, Indiana, and becoming a Texas ward of the court in 1980, she learned early on that survival, and eventually thriving, is only possible when a community steps in to anchor its members. Her journey of service took a formal shape on January 12, 1996, when she joined the United States Army delayed entry program. Throughout a distinguished 29+ years of military service, Nicci realized that "Community Advancement" isn't just a project; it is a way of life. Whether serving as a young first-line supervisor, a Senior Adviser for the former U.S. Army Resilience Directorate at the Pentagon, or the Headquarters, Installation Management Command at Fort Sam Houston, TX., her focus remained the same: identifying the upstream drivers that enable individuals to overcome personal challenges and systemic barriers in order to realize their full potential.

          Now, Nicci has returned to plant permanent roots in Texas, the state that first adopted her. As a licensed Community Health Worker, certified Resilience-Building Leader, a LivingWorks ASIST Suicide First Aid Responder, and Master of Public Health candidate, she uses her credentials, a multi-source network, and the CHIGBO 7-Root Model to open doors for our San Antonio residents.

 "I believe that equal access to housing, education, and healthcare shouldn't be a matter of luck," Nicci says. "It should be a foundational guarantee for all." - Nicci

           Through CHIGBO, she leverages a multi-resource network to dismantle structural disparities and foster resilience through professional health and wellness coaching. Her hope for the future is simple yet bold: a San Antonio where every individual is empowered by a strong foundation, ensuring that when our community's roots are secure, we can all rise.