Honoring Nora Michaelis: A Champion for Inclusion and Teen Mentorship
At GiGi’s Playhouse Atlanta, we have the honor of working alongside some truly remarkable young people—but few shine as brightly as Nora Michaelis, founder of our teen mentoring program, bEquals. Nora, a 17-year-old junior from Milton, Georgia, is not only changing lives—she’s changing the way the world views Down syndrome.
What started as her Girl Scout Gold Award project has grown into a powerful, national initiative. Nora created bEquals to pair teens with Down syndrome with neurotypical teen mentors through a series of fun, inclusive events. Her goal: to build communication skills, boost confidence, and most importantly, dissolve the stigma surrounding students with disabilities. Thanks to Nora’s vision, empathy, and leadership, this program has thrived and expanded to multiple GiGi’s Playhouse locations, including GiGi’s Raleigh, with more on the horizon.
A Legacy of Service and National Recognition
Nora’s incredible work has earned well-deserved national recognition:
- She was recently named a 2025 Citizen Honors Award Finalist by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States of America, one of only 20 finalists selected nationwide.
- She received the 2025 Mission Award for Policy & Advocacy through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year program.
- She was awarded a Hershey’s Heartwarming Project Grant to host a special Global Youth Service Day event in partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse.
- And she was a featured guest on the GiGi’s Playhouse podcast, “A Little Something Extra,” sharing her mission and inspiration with a national audience.
A Lasting Impact
Through bEquals, Nora has empowered teens with Down syndrome, inspired their peers, and brought communities closer together. Her events are more than just fun—they’re safe spaces where friendships form, self-advocacy grows, and confidence soars.
We are beyond grateful to Nora for the love, dedication, and leadership she brings to our Playhouse. She is a role model not just for our teens, but for the entire GiGi’s community and beyond. Her journey is only just beginning, and we know her future is going to be just as impactful and inspiring as the work she’s already done.
Thank you, Nora. Your heart for others, commitment to inclusion, and vision for a more connected world embody everything GiGi’s stands for. We can’t wait to see what you do next!
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