John Piper

I'm currently working as a Program Success Manager & Career Coach at Merit America, a nonprofit organization that offers technical and professional skills training to underserved communities. In my role, I help learners secure living wage careers and create clear paths for upward mobility. The work I do helps learners alleviate the stress of working below a living wage and provides a tangible path towards a brighter future. As a Merit America graduate myself, I know the impact of this work firsthand and am excited to make a difference in people's lives.My journey started as a teenager, when I found a passion for mentorship through a nonprofit organization that taught kids how to ballroom dance. For six years, I volunteered with Paradise Dancers and learned valuable life skills, including mentorship and leadership. Mentoring teens in dance and helping them become healthy, loving adults was deeply meaningful to me.I then worked in healthcare, serving people during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. In that environment, I discovered that genuine connection and empathy can make a huge difference. I also learned that the strength and dignity of the human spirit are immense, even in the face of adversity.Returning to the dance world, I became a professional dancer, instructor, coach, and mentor. I discovered that teaching students from around the world allowed me to create a culture of kindness, learning, and gratitude at a scale that furthered my ability to make a difference. Through this phase of my career, I developed a deep appreciation for education and how it empowers people to become their best selves.Moving forward, I'm driven by the desire to make an impact at scale. I want to do work that helps the most people in the most meaningful way possible.