Today we’d like to introduce you to Rikki Fulmer.
Hi Rikki, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Before moving from St. Louis to Kansas City, as an LCSW, I spent years working in a variety of settings—homelessness services, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Each of those experiences gave me a deeper understanding of how dignity, stability, and connection can change a person’s life. It was also a clear picture of how deeply systemic our community’s issues are. When I came to A Turning Point in 2023, it felt like a natural continuation of that work. What started as a way to connect resources with real needs quickly became a calling, leading me to step into the role of Executive Director in 2024. Today, I get to walk alongside people as they rediscover their dignity, worth, and potential, and I know I am exactly where I’m meant to be.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a social worker means carrying the weight of trauma that is not your own and still finding the strength to show up with compassion. It means learning to compartmentalize pain without becoming hardened, and holding on to hope in humanity even when the world feels overwhelmingly unjust. The work demands clear boundaries—loving without rescuing, supporting without enabling, empowering without taking away someone’s ownership of their journey. It is a constant balancing act between heartbreak and resilience, but it is also where the deepest moments of transformation are born.
As you know, we’re big fans of A Turning Point. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
A Turning Point is more than a nonprofit—it’s a community where dignity is honored, worth is restored, and pathways to stability are built. We serve the Northland through a self-choice food pantry and wardrobe, a high school diploma program for adults, community meals, and street outreach for those experiencing homelessness. What sets us apart is how we provide these services: always with choice, respect, and trauma-informed care.
We are most proud that our brand is known for creating spaces where people are not just “served,” but truly seen. Families shop in our pantry and wardrobe with the same dignity they would experience anywhere else. Adults who once believed graduation was out of reach are celebrated as they earn their diplomas. Neighbors on the street find not only a meal, but a team that walks alongside them with hope and persistence.
We want readers to know that A Turning Point is a place where community is built, potential is reimagined, and change is possible. Every program we offer is 100% free to our clients because of the generosity of people who believe in this mission. Another thing I would want to share with people is that our impact is far and wide and growing everyday. We are on a trajectory to serve over 55,000 people this year. This is a huge footprint that takes a lot of logistics to provide services the way that we do. When you support A Turning Point, you’re not just giving food or clothing—you’re helping people reimagine their potential and transform their lives, and most of the time, yours too.
How do you think about luck?
At A Turning Point, luck has shown up in both hard and beautiful ways. Losing our day shelter due to zoning changes felt like bad luck, yet it pushed us to reimagine how we reach people, leading to our Northland Outreach program that now meets people exactly where they are. On the flip side, we’ve had the incredible good luck of having the right people around the table—board members, staff, volunteers, and donors who bring not just resources, but heart, wisdom, and vision. Time and again, the right partner has appeared at just the right moment, making it possible to expand our pantry, wardrobe, and education programs beyond what we thought was possible.
On a personal level, I’ve experienced that same kind of luck—mentors who showed up in seasons when I needed guidance most, friends who reminded me of my worth when leadership felt heavy, and opportunities that aligned with both my passion and purpose. I know that no one builds a mission like this alone, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people who believe in the work and in me. Luck has played its part, but it’s how we’ve responded—with creativity, perseverance, and community—that has turned those moments into something lasting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aturningpointkc.org
- Instagram: aturningpointkc
- Facebook: A Turning Point
