Conversations with Natasha Peterson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Peterson.

Hi Natasha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
“Renaissance Woman”
A dear friend described me as a “Renaissance Woman,” a title I’ve grown into over time. I’m a mom, advocate, and entrepreneur whose work is rooted in care, service, and lived experience. I founded Aidan’z House in 2014 to support families, promote wellness, and advance disability rights in meaningful and accessible ways. After that, I launched NJP Creative Visions LLC, a website design and branding business that helps organizations and creatives bring their vision to life. My background is in Early Childhood and Special Education, and I plan to extend my education at Loyola Marymount University next year. I’m also drawn to holistic healing, including Reiki and creative outlets to keep me grounded.

My story begins with my two sons, Marcel and Aidan, who remain at the center of my sense of purpose. Marcel, my oldest, is a naturally talented skater and artist whose creativity inspires me daily. I call my youngest, Aidan, my JS Warrior because he navigates challenges the world does not always understand, yet meets each day with courage, joy, and his famous smile. Aidan was diagnosed with Joubert Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the cerebellum of the brain.

My childhood years in Pasadena play a significant role in why I enjoy working with children today. Being a Girl Scout introduced me to leadership, the importance of service, and encouraged me to try new things. I was fortunate to have mentors who paid attention. One of them, Ms. Ann Williams, recognized my interest in cooking and entered me in a cooking contest. It was a simple act, and one that taught me to believe in my abilities early on. Years later, I had the opportunity to share that full-circle moment with her in October, when Aidan’z House participated in the Black Education Expo in Pasadena, led by her daughter, Victoria Williams.

I later moved back to South Los Angeles during a time when the city was responding to decades of systemic racism, police brutality, economic disparity, and deep mistrust in institutions, a response that became known as the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising. Being present during that time expanded my understanding of how social systems affect everyday life and how people respond when long-standing inequities rise to the surface. What stayed with me most was the resilience (post-riot). Neighbors organized, families supported one another in rebuilding, although it wasn’t the easiest task. That experience clarified why social justice matters to me.

My commitment to service is also rooted in legacy. My second great-grandfather, D’autrive Garrigue, intervened to protect a pregnant Black woman who was being assaulted in Louisiana. My great-grandfather, John Garrett, built my great-grandmother, Lela “King” Garrett, who became one of the first Black beauticians in Gary, Indiana. “Yes, I said the word beautician.”

That legacy, combined with being a single mother navigating systems, led me to create Aidan’z House. I saw how many families were facing the same barriers to resources, guidance, and support. Aidan’z House became my response, a place focused on empowerment, access, and ensuring families receive support before they fall through the cracks.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the most personal challenges I am navigating right now is the loss of my Auntie Helen Hamilton, who passed early in 2024, and the sudden loss of my father, Norman Peterson, who passed from complications of Multiple Myeloma that December. My father was a steady presence in my life, a musician, and an overall creative spirit. Those talents I see in my sons. Grief indeed arrives in waves. Learning how to move through those waves while showing up for my those I care about, and myself, has required a new level of grace and patience.

Another challenge I continue to work through is learning when to power down. Between being a mom and caregiver at home, working with young children at school, and website design business, I am often “on” from the moment my day begins. I love the work I do, but that same devotion can make it difficult to pause. Learning to slow down, breathe, and give myself permission to rest with the same care I offer others has become an essential part of my journey.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We believe every family across the socioeconomic spectrum with disabled loved one deserves access to a better quality of life.

Our work began with the Aidan’z House Holiday Giveaway, where we gifted children receiving special education services. The event immediately highlighted the needs of under-resourced families facing rising housing costs, displacement, and financial strain. As these needs grew, the program expanded across Los Angeles County and led to the creation of Aidan’z Wholehearted Closet, which provides school uniforms for students in special education and clothing for families experiencing housing instability.

Over the years, we have partnered with the Inglewood Police Department for “Shop with a Cop,” adopted Special Education classrooms across LAUSD and Inglewood Unified School District, and collaborated with organizations such as HOPICS, Home at Last, and California Jobs First: Economic Development, where we are current partners. We are also former members of the LA South Chamber of Commerce. Through faith-based partnerships, including Faith in Christ Ministries, we revived a community garden in South Los Angeles, which contributed to our recognition as a Los Angeles Certified Green Business.

Our Emotional Wealth Initiative focuses on economic empowerment for African American single heads of household and caregivers. Sponsored by Regatta Capital LLC, EWI offers workshops such as Financial Literacy 101 and Dollar and Sense: Special Needs Trust. The program also conducted surveys for California Jobs First to ensure our community has its economic needs represented in statewide planning.

Aidan’z Brush: Creative Wellness is our arts and healing program, using creativity as a pathway to emotional well-being, cultural affirmation, and community connection. We have offered trauma-informed workshops, including Dance and Movement Workshops in partnership with Heidi Duckler Dance. Our recent Writer’s Workshop, Processing the LA Fires Eco-Poetry, led by Poet and Author Gia Civerolo, supports families in navigating environmental and emotional trauma through creative expression. Participants may have their work selected for a statewide anthology.

In addition to my nonprofit work, I created NJP Creative Visions LLC, my creative outlet for designing digital content, websites, and storytelling for individuals, small businesses, and community organizations. It allows me to merge creativity with purpose and uplift the stories that matter in our community.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is my family, my faith, and my ability to serve and uplift individuals like me. I believe in creating space, whether through Aidan’z House, relationships, or creative work, where people feel seen and supported. My journey is guided by love, purpose, and a deep desire to make a real, lasting impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aidanzhouse.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidanz_house/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aidanzH/
• Other: https://www.njpwebcustom.com/

Image Credits
Aidan’z House
Jalzea Photos
Green Biz
Heidi Duckler Dance