What if everything you survived in life was preparing you to become the person who changes someone else's future? Nivia Bejarano's story is one of extraordinary resilience, determination, and the power of turning pain into purpose. Growing up in the Bronx, New York, Nivia spent much of her childhood in foster care. Her mother struggled with addiction, her family life was unstable, and by her teenage years, Nivia had experienced homelessness, hunger, abandonment, and the painful reality of navigating the world without the support most children take for granted. At one point, a school guidance counselor suggested she drop out rather than help her overcome her circumstances. She slept in a car, struggled to find food, and faced challenges that could have easily destroyed her hope for a better future. But Nivia refused to let her circumstances determine the rest of her life. In this deeply moving conversation, John Quick, host of Stories Worth Hearing, sits down with Nivia to explore how a young girl who once felt forgotten by the world became a successful artist, entrepreneur, curator, and founder of Arts After Dark, one of Las Vegas' largest independently operated community art centers. Nivia shares the defining moments that changed her life, including leaving dangerous environments behind, caring for her grandmother, confronting her struggles with alcohol, and discovering that creating a different future required difficult decisions about the people, habits, and environments surrounding her. Art became more than a creative outlet. It became her lifeline. After years of producing exhibitions and creating opportunities for artists, Nivia pursued a boarded-up building in Las Vegas with a vision of transforming it into something her community desperately needed. Today, that vision is Arts After Dark, a 6,600-square-foot creative community that has showcased more than 1,000 artists in just over a year. Nivia has built an environment where artists can exhibit their work, develop their talents, learn to generate income, and connect with people who genuinely want them to succeed. And she does it without charging artists to showcase their work. But the most powerful part of Nivia's story isn't what she has built. It's why she built it. Nivia remembers Anna Rye, a woman who taught ceramics at a Boys & Girls Club when Nivia was a little girl. While others overlooked her struggles, Anna offered kindness, encouragement, and a safe place to create. Decades later, Nivia still honors her by offering free ceramics classes to others. One person's kindness helped change Nivia's life. Now she's determined to pass that gift on to thousands more. Nivia also shares her ambitious vision for the future: creating a community where young adults aging out of foster care can find housing, learn trades, explore their creativity, earn money, and build meaningful relationships. Throughout this inspirational conversation, John and Nivia explore childhood trauma, homelessness, addiction, entrepreneurship, personal responsibility, compassion, and what it truly means to create lasting change. Nivia Bejarano is living proof that your past does not have to define your future, and sometimes the greatest legacy we can leave behind is becoming the person we once needed. Connect with Nivia Bejarano and Arts After Dark: Website: https://artsafterdark.com/ Nivia's Instagram: @thenivia Arts After Dark Instagram: @artsafterdark.lv If you're in Las Vegas, visit Arts After Dark and support the artists and community Nivia is building. About Stories Worth Hearing Hosted by John Quick, Stories Worth Hearing features remarkable people with extraordinary stories of perseverance, entrepreneurship, leadership, personal transformation, and purpose.
