A native of Newark, Nichele has worked on behalf of the city's residents for most of her life. Prior to coming to the Institute, Nichele worked at Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies of Essex as an Outreach Worker and Newark Family Resource Network as a liaison for high-risk parents with DYFS cases. At New Community Corporation, the world's largest community development corporation, she worked in both the Finance and the Community Arts departments. She also helped produce The Priory Jazz Series 1997-1999.