Inspiring Conversations with Mercy Tucker of Project I See You

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mercy Tucker

Hi Mercy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

As a way of introduction, I am a woman, I am white, I am privileged, I am a daughter, I am a sister, I am a friend, I am a wife, I am a mom of four, I am an idealist, I am willing, and I will not give up. I am the co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Project I See You. I grew up on a farm in Eden, ID and went to college in Malibu, CA at Pepperdine University. Talk about getting out of my comfort zone. My husband Gregg and I were married in 1998 and came to Colorado so that I could get my M.A. in Counseling. My first job out of grad school led our family and the other co-founder of our organization, Angie Johnston, and her family to the barrio of La Victoria in the Dominican Republic. It was there that we created space to deeply listen to women who knew more than anyone what their community needed. That resulted in immersion trip after immersion trip of teams traveling from Colorado to the DR. Project I See You was formed in 2009 with the mission to let others know about the transformative power of seeing and being seen. Our focus and start was women because it has been proven to us again and again that when a woman’s life changes, it changes everything around her. There is now an Empowerment Center in the DR, Centro Te Veo, run and operated by local leaders and it is its own foundation, the equivalent of a 501(c)3 in the U.S.

We adopted our daughter, Daniela, from the DR, moved back to Denver in 2011, and began exploring how Project I See You could support and empower women in our local community alongside our continued work in the DR. We listened to stories of women on the street and envisioned a house that could be a safe space for them to get out of survival and take their next step. This culminated in a remodel of a house, Te Veo House, on Marion and Colfax by Turner Construction, one of the largest construction firms in the country.

In 2018 our eyes were opened to the historic and systemic reality of racism and the disparities when my husband who was an administrator and teacher at a Christian high school was fired for asking them to look at racial discrimination. Once you see you cannot unsee and our passion was ignited toward shifting systems of power.

All of this was one of many reasons for Project I See You to launch our most recent initiative, Shared Power, giving up to $10,000 grants to first-time female homeowners and women-owned businesses. It is about empowering women who have not had access and have experienced an inequitable system to own property and make decisions to change the trajectory of their lives.

To date we’ve seen almost 100 women receive a grant of up to $10,000 and it is so much more than a grant. It is connection and resources and community and a circle of support.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

There have been challenges, of course, but they have all led us back to staying true to who we are as an organization and have continually drawn us back to our mission and vision. Trusting ourselves and our leadership has always meant knowing more and doing better.

I would say overall the road has been one of growth and potential, and just like anything it’s been beauty out of dust. We have learned what it means to own ourselves as an organization and as individuals. What we do is tangible and intangible, it is holding that tension. Our work was highlighted on the news four times by four news stations last year and we are in a time of opportunity and momentum like never before. That being said, we never want to lose sight of our vision or our people. We are committed to communicating; processing how to move forward, and how to be in alignment. How we ask questions and shift and pivot when needed – this is a constant for us.

We’ve been impressed with Project I See You, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Project I See You is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is to empower women to take ownership of their lives, create lasting positive change in their communities, and develop financially, personally, and relationally through Project I See You’s programs and initiatives.

We’re creating a space for people of all backgrounds, races, genders, socioeconomic statuses to be about change *together*. In everything we do, it goes both ways – we are all giving and receiving, we are all teaching and learning. We are all leveraging what we have to be in community together, and ensure that equity is established for all. We’re interested in everyone who comes to our organization, no matter their vantage point, being transformed by it.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?

In our current climate, there are a lot of unknowns. Owning property means legacy and it means freedom that is not going to be taken away. It IS the pathway to build generational wealth. We have to be the change we are wanting to see. If we have privilege, leverage it in any way we can. If we have much, give much. Equity will only be a reality when those who are experiencing the most gaps and disparities know what it is to get further and ahead. It is up to us.

We see our work as something that needs to be happening not just in Denver, but in other cities in Colorado, in other states, and throughout our country. The number of lenders and realtors and others in the industry coming to us weekly to get clients to the finish line and to give back is communicating that this initiative is ready to spread way beyond just us.

Nonprofits are going to be left behind in the coming years if they are not prioritizing inclusion – everyone having a seat at the table. Cultural competency is needed now more than ever; there is no more room for hierarchies or savior mentality or dualistic thinking. Nonprofits are where communities come together to do the work, and Project I See you is not only here for it, we will do everything we can to lead the way.

Pricing:

• We are welcoming teams and individuals committed to raising up to $10,000 to support women pursuing home ownership! Get involved with us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.projectiseeyou.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectiseeyou/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectiseeyou

Image Credits
Amy Wright Photo (credit for first headshot image)