Founder Bio — Nia Stallworth
Founder & CEO, Founders Threads
Nia Stallworth is a Philadelphia-born entrepreneur, cultural preservationist, and healthcare professional whose life has been shaped by service, family legacy, and an unwavering commitment to voice, truth, and community. With over 16 years of experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Nia has built a career rooted in compassion, discipline, and resilience—qualities that now define her leadership at Founders Threads, a brand dedicated to Black heritage, civic expression, and storytelling.
Early Academic Journey & Setback That Became a Catalyst
Nia attended Temple University and excelled academically through her senior year. But during this pivotal year, two life-altering forces collided: Her best friend and role model—her grandmother—was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and ; Nia experienced racial bias in the classroom, including a senior-year English professor explicitly telling her:
“You’re an A student who does good work, but I don’t agree with your framing or narratives. So I’m giving you a C-.”
That moment of discrimination—paired with her grandmother’s deteriorating health—made continuing at Temple impossible. Nia withdrew from the university to take her grandmother to chemotherapy appointments, provide round-the-clock care, and support her through her final chapter.
What could have been a dead end became a pivot point. With courage, purpose, and urgency, Nia enrolled in nursing school, launching the healthcare career that would sustain her for the next decade and beyond.
Grandmother’s Influence — “Never Lose Your Voice”
On the night of the Bush/Gore election, Nia’s grandmother told her words that would become the heartbeat of her future brand:
“No matter what happens tonight… never lose your voice.”
This message—centered on self-advocacy, civic duty, and speaking truth to power—became the foundational ethos of Founders Threads, a platform where apparel, history, and social commentary merge.
A Legacy of Leadership — Nia’s Grandfather & the Prince Hall Tradition
Nia was also deeply shaped by her grandfather, a 33rd Degree Grand Master of the Prince Hall Lodge of Philadelphia—one of the highest honors in Black Freemasonry.
From early childhood into her teens, Nia’s inquisitive nature earned her a rare closeness with him. While other grandchildren played outside, Nia sat at his feet, listening to stories of:
Black Masonic history
Philadelphia civic leadership
WWI & WWII family experiences
Moral codes, symbolism, and discipline
He allowed her glimpses into rituals, recordings, and private wisdom—access given to her alone because she was the one child brave enough to ask adults difficult questions.
In the early 2000s, as he neared the end of his life, he requested only Nia and her husband at his deathbed at Hahnemann University Hospital, where he formally renounced Freemasonry before passing. His funeral procession—one of Philadelphia’s largest—taught Nia the magnitude of legacy, impact, and community reputation.
This intergenerational mentorship forms the spiritual, philosophical, and organizational backbone of her brand.
Healthcare Career & Professional Excellence
Nia earned her Practical Nursing License in 2008 and went on to work in:
pediatric home care, geriatric rehabilitation, post-operative recovery, ventilator/trach management, wound care, and complex chronic condition support.
She served through multiple agencies, rehabs, and home-health organizations across Philadelphia, consistently recognized by families and clinical directors for skill, compassion, and reliability giving her best.
Nia is completing her B.A. in Healthcare Administration (2026) after earning her A.A. in Healthcare Administration (2025). She also studied fashion merchandising through Parsons School of Fashion, bridging her creative instincts with business acumen.
Founding of Founders Threads
Drawing from family teachings, civic consciousness, and Philadelphia cultural heritage, Nia created Founders Threads, a storytelling apparel company honoring:
Black founders and trailblazers
overlooked Philadelphia histories
political and social commentary through fashion
heritage-inspired walking tours
and community empowerment
Her lived experiences—academic setbacks, racial adversity, caregiving, family legacy, and service—formed the backbone of a brand committed to voice, history, and truth.
Today
Nia leads Founders Threads with the same values her grandparents instilled in her: courage, integrity, intellectual curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to community. Her company stands not only as a fashion brand, but as a cultural archive—and a reminder to never lose your voice.