Nico Ball

Nico Ball grew up in Pennsylvania before discovering her passion for grappling while living in Virginia — a turning point that launched an extraordinary international journey. Her initial motivation was mixed martial arts, but as she worked to sharpen both her striking and grappling foundations, she recognized that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu demanded serious, dedicated study in its own right.

That conviction drove Nico to make a bold decision: relocating to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to train at Nova Uniao under Claudia Gadelha, a world-class competitor and recognized figure in women's grappling. Her entry point into Rio's vibrant BJJ scene was the Connection Rio hostel, a well-established hub for international grapplers seeking immersive, on-the-ground training in Brazil. The hostel served as both a base of operations and a community anchor, connecting visiting practitioners with local training environments and social networks that would prove pivotal in shaping the next chapter of her career.

From Translator to Executive Director

Nico Ball's involvement with the Terere Kids Project (TKP) began modestly — through informal translation work that bridged communication between the project's Brazilian organizers and the international community. That practical contribution quickly expanded as her commitment deepened, drawing her into fundraising efforts and broader organizational responsibilities.

Formalizing the Mission

Her growing role within TKP led to her appointment as Executive Director, placing her at the helm of an organization that uses jiu-jitsu as a vehicle for social development among Brazilian youth. One of her most significant institutional contributions came in 2016, when she spearheaded the formal incorporation of TKP as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in Washington, D.C. — granting the organization official legal standing and tax-exempt status in the United States. This move expanded TKP's capacity to raise funds and operate with greater transparency and credibility on an international scale.

Following her return to the United States to pursue graduate studies, Nico continued to support TKP remotely, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the project's mission that extended well beyond her time on the ground in Rio de Janeiro.

Nico Ball founded Favela Jiu-Jitsu as a media and storytelling initiative built on a clear premise: the stories emerging from grassroots jiu-jitsu communities in Brazil deserve a dedicated platform. The initiative documents and shares the narratives of social projects operating within the BJJ community, shining a light on the athletes whose lives are shaped by those programs.

Favela Jiu-Jitsu functions as a bridge between the international BJJ audience and the ground-level social work taking place in Brazil's favelas and underserved communities. By disseminating these stories, the platform demonstrates how jiu-jitsu serves as a tool for community empowerment and visibility. The initiative also reflects Nico's understanding that media literacy and communication are essential components of sustainable social impact — and that organizations like TKP gain strength when their human stories reach a global audience.

Nico Ball's pursuit of a master's degree in Educational Psychology reflects a deeply held commitment to understanding learning, human development, and behavioral change. She returned to the United States to complete her graduate studies, bringing firsthand experience from years of work within youth-focused social programs in Brazil.

Her academic focus aligns naturally with TKP's mission, where jiu-jitsu functions not merely as a sport but as a structured environment for cognitive, social, and emotional growth. The theoretical frameworks she engaged with in her graduate work informed her practical approach to youth development, creating a productive dialogue between formal scholarship and community-based social work. Throughout her academic and professional pursuits in the United States, Nico maintained her remote support of TKP — illustrating a dual commitment that refuses to separate intellectual inquiry from the lived realities of the communities she serves.