Meet Mirchelle Louis: CEO, Cancer Support Community North Texas

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mirchelle Louis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mirchelle, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in Cape Town, South Africa, the youngest of 4 girls. My parents provided a loving, solid, no nonsense home environment and encouraged me and my sisters to believe that we could accomplish anything if we were persistent and worked hard. They encouraged me to do well at school, to think for myself and to be curious. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At the start of my working career I started off doing something completely different than what I’m doing now, mainly because it was a way to support my family. Along the way, I had the chance to really look at the times in my life when I was most happy working. That insight led me to make a 180-degree turn. I went back to graduate school to pursue a degree in social work, which opened up many new career opportunities and finally brought me to what I love and do now. For sure there were some challenges along the way. What really helped was just focusing on the next thing that needed to be accomplished and then doing that, and then also believing that I could do pretty much anything I put my mind to. I’d encourage everyone to find the work or career they can truly believe in and feel passionate about, whatever that is for them. Cancer Support Community is a small nonprofit organization that always finds the a way to stay true to our mission and vision. We believe that there is always more we can do – the result is that, even though a small organization, we consistently find new, creative and better ways to reach and assist more people with our services in our community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s so much to do and enjoy in and around the Metroplex. We’d go to the State Fair, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, people watch and grab a bite from one of the food trucks at Klyde Warren Park. Then, we’d visit the Kimbell Art Museum and the Stockyards, Joe T. Garcia’s for a Mexican feast and get fitted for a pair of custom cowboy boots. After that, we’d head to a Mavs, Cowboys or Stars game, shop at NorthPark Center and enjoy the art, go for a bike ride around White Rock Lake and grab a barbecue sandwich at the Pecan Lodge. Of course, we’d need to find the time to drop in to Café Momentum and enjoy some great original fare at Fearing’s. Then we’d go home, wind down, and taste some local whiskeys. Lastly, get back on the diet!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who have given support, provided inspiration, love, encouragement, and mentorship along the way. They all deserve credit; certainly my parents and my three awesome sisters, so many wonderful friends and multiple bosses along the way. Most importantly, Cancer Support Community North Texas, as an organization, has had a huge impact on my life. Our amazing team, cancer patient members and caregivers, and our mission of “no one should face cancer alone” has inspired me to explore new opportunities, be creative and allow for personal growth.

Website: www.cancersupporttexas.org
Instagram: @cancersupporttexas
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cancer-support-community-north-texas/
Twitter: @CSCNorthTX
Facebook: @CSCNT
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CSCNTX/channels

Image Credits
Cancer Support Community North Texas