WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
Follow your heart
ST . LOUIS JUDGE NICOLE COLBERT-BOTCHWAY LIVING THE DREAM
By Vicki Bennington
As an associate circuit judge in the Missouri 22nd Judicial Circuit Court , Division 24 , Nicole Colbert-Botchway is at the height of public service . And though she didn ’ t quite know what form it would take , serving others was always at the top of her career goal list .
Growing up in North St . Louis in the early 1980s in an underserved , inner-city neighborhood , Nicole did not have much exposure to career choices for women . There was no community center ; the parks weren ’ t safe to play in , and she began to notice changes , like an influx of drugs and gang activity . She was determined to take a different path .
Her parents were adamant that the children attend private Catholic school , even at the expense of other things . Now 45 , Nicole believes that education and instilling of living life in a Godly manner made a huge difference for her and her siblings .
Another positive outlet came through summer programs at what was then Mathews-Dickey Boys ' Club . She signed her younger brother up for tennis , and even though she was a girl , she was allowed to stay and play too .
“ I felt like we needed an outlet to keep out of trouble ,” Nicole said . “ It ’ s not that I was great in sports , but I gained confidence and learned how to get in the game . I embraced Mathews-Dickey ’ s three ‘ R ’ values of respect , restraint and responsibility , and never let go of them .”
Nicole has been in the workforce since she was 13 years old – beginning at a Baskin-Robbins . Since then , she ’ s worked at several banks , for United Parcel Service , in the Mickey Mouse store at Union Station , The Gap and other retailers in management capacities . Each one added to her real-world , life experiences .
In her early teens , she discovered the Upward Bound Summer Program at Saint Louis University , which helps inner-city youth . There she was exposed to possibilities that changed her life when a female African-American lawyer spoke to the group .
“ I was shocked to think that I could be a lawyer ,” she said . “ I never thought of a woman - especially an African-American woman - becoming a lawyer .”
But Dorothy White-Coleman with the Mound City Bar Association opened her eyes to that option .
“ I knew I wanted to be a public servant ; a community leader or activist of some kind , because we were taught that your life is a gift and you need to give back and do things for the greater glory of God ,” Nicole said .
She brought her mom to “ career day ,” and at 14 , they laid out the course of her education and life ’ s work , and never looked back .
“ It was a huge commitment – financially and otherwise , but I knew we could figure it out ,” she said .
Her older sister , Dr . Susan Colbert Threats , was the first person on both sides of the family to graduate college . Nicole and her sister , Lisa , followed suit .
Nicole graduated from Rosati-Kain High School , and earned a bachelor ’ s degree in political science and a Juris doctorate at Saint Louis University .
Some of her biggest role models , along with her sister , Lisa , who is now deceased , have been Margaret Bush Wilson and Frankie Muse Freeman , both civil rights attorneys ; both women ; both African-American .
“ Meeting them was a dream come true ,” Nicole said . “ Ms . Freeman just turned 100 , and is still my mentor and friend . She went through so many challenges .”
Nicole recently completed an oral history on Freeman for the American Bar Association ' s “ Women Trailblazers In The Law Project ,” which was donated to the Library of Congress , and is currently doing one of her sorority role model , mentor and friend , Johnetta Haley , a relative of Alex Haley , and past regional director of Alpha Kappa Alpha .
“ It ’ s my goal to help preserve the legacy of our St . Louis African- American female legends by sharing information about those who inspired me as a means to inspire inner-city , at-risk youth who may not see role models in their community ,” she said .
Nicole made history herself , as the first African-American president of the Women ’ s Lawyer ’ s Association , where her biggest challenge was increasing diversity in the organization , particularly in leadership roles .
“ I wanted to bring the women together - as attorneys , we all have struggles ,” she said . “ I am grateful that I was in that place at that time to help the plight of all women .”
After college , Nicole worked in the Circuit Attorney ’ s office in the city of St . Louis as a prosecutor in the Child Support Unit . She returned to school , earning an MBA at the University of Missouri-St . Louis , working toward a leadership position .
She later joined the Missouri Attorney General ’ s office as unit chief in the Financial Services Division , supervising a large staff and litigating on behalf of the State of Missouri , Department of Social
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