Bathsheba Nichole Adams is a remarkable force, seamlessly weaving her identities as a mother, advocate, and founder of Eyes Like Mine Inc. Her journey — shaped by the challenges of foster care and a courageous battle with cancer — has gifted her profound insights into the nature of grace. With a mission to empower youth, Bathsheba champions a nonprofit model that emphasizes fierce empathy and creativity, demonstrating that true strength lies in vulnerability. By infusing Black culture and ancestral wisdom into her work, she cultivates a space where young people can embrace their narratives and see themselves as heroes. Join us as we explore Bathsheba’s inspiring story, her innovative approach to advocacy, and the transformative power of self-discovery and purpose. In her words, “Your voice is your power — never let anyone mute it.”
You wear many hats — mother, advocate, founder, survivor. Which version of yourself taught you the most about grace?
My survivor self taught me grace. After cancer and years in foster care, I learned that true grace isn’t perfection — it’s the quiet act of forgiving yourself for being human, for falling, and then rising again. Every time I choose compassion over anger, I honor that hard-won gift of second chances. I learned that self-mastery equals power.
How would you define your Swag as a non-profit owner, and what sets your non-profit organization apart from others providing these same services?
My ‘swag’ is fierce empathy fueled by relentless grit. At Eyes Like Mine Inc., we refuse one-size-fits-all mentorship — instead, we fuse healing and creativity, from DJ-powered empowerment sessions to trauma-informed healing events. Every dollar we raise goes straight into programs for youth — no overhead, no executive salaries, just impact. Sponsors don’t just write a check or donate a service — they meet the kids they support and hand-deliver gifts and services, experiencing the transformation firsthand. What truly sets us apart is that each initiative springs from my own story — a former foster child and breast cancer survivor — because every young person deserves to see themselves as the hero of their own journey.
As we approach Juneteenth, how do you infuse Black culture, ancestral strength, or spiritual grounding into the work you do with youth?
Too many families treat Black history like an elective, but in my home, it’s required reading. My daughter can name Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Michelle Obama, and dozens more because we dive into books like Young, Gifted and Black Heroes: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson. From freedom fighters to trailblazing changemakers, she knows their stories — and that knowledge fuels her pride, purpose, and the belief that she, too, can change the world.
What does softness look like for a strong woman like you, and how are you learning to embrace that, too?
Softness is permission to rest, to feel, and to receive care. I practice it by blocking tech-free Sundays, by letting myself cry in the shower, and by leaning on my own community — trusting that vulnerability is a superpower, not a weakness.
How has surviving cancer reshaped the way you define strength and femininity in your day-to-day life?
Cancer taught me that strength isn’t about invincibility; it’s about showing up with your scars on full display. Femininity for me now means wearing my wounds like jewelry — each scar a testament to endurance, each day a victory lap of grace under pressure.
If your life’s mission were turned into a book or documentary, what would the title be — and why?
Scars into Stars
From foster care and cancer surgery to courtroom courage and community uplift.
Why: Because every challenge I’ve faced — being shuffled through foster homes, fighting breast cancer, surviving workplace terror — became the fuel for something greater. “Scars into Stars” captures the alchemy of turning wounds into wisdom, pain into purpose, and fear into fierce advocacy. It’s the story of one woman who didn’t just heal herself but lit the path for countless foster and adopted youth, proving that our deepest scars can become our brightest beacons.
If you could whisper one truth into the heart of every young girl who feels unseen or unheard, what would it be?
Your voice is your power — never let anyone mute it. You are the heroine of your own story.
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