Keep breathing, keep giving

At 45, Nicole Sibiski has worn many crowns — but none have meant as much to her as the invisible ones: mother, teacher, advocate, and, above all, a voice for those who feel unheard.

In Yorktown, where she lives with her husband, John, and their three children, Sibiski’s days are full. She teaches in the Ossining School District and serves her town through countless hours of community service. But her life’s work extends far beyond any classroom or town line.

It’s rooted in a simple, powerful message: keep breathing.

That message became her platform, Keep Breathing Butterflies, a mental health advocacy initiative dedicated to bringing hope, healing, and human connection to people navigating life’s most difficult seasons. Founded in 2022, the name itself carries deep meaning: “keep breathing,” an important reminder for moments of anxiety and despair, paired with “butterflies,” a symbol that has followed Sibiski throughout her life.

Her path to advocacy, however, was anything but linear.

Raised in Puerto Rico, Sibiski first stepped into pageantry as a young girl. Life eventually led her away from the spotlight and toward education, family, and a career in teaching. Years later, it was her daughter’s innocent question, “How do you earn a crown?” that brought her back.

But when she returned, something had shifted. “It was entertaining,” Sibiski recalled, “but it didn’t really serve a purpose.”

That realization became a turning point. Through titles like Mrs. Westchester County America, she discovered a larger stage — not for competition, but for impact. Her advocacy work was born from personal tragedy after losing a cousin to suicide, which led her to create Geoffrey’s Voice, an initiative focused on suicide awareness and prevention. Over time, she moved onto Keep Breathing Butterflies, expanding her reach across communities and state lines.

“Everybody has something they’re going through,” she said. “We have to make sure people realize there are resources out there that can save lives.”

Now, her mission is taking her even farther. Beyond Westchester County, beyond the United States, and into the mountains of Peru.

From March 27 through April 5, Sibiski, through Keep Breathing Butterflies, will travel to Cusco with a group of 13 volunteers for a service mission at ELIM Orphanage, a small, family-run orphanage that currently cares for 19 children ranging in age from 2 to 17.

Sibiski said the trip is more than a volunteer opportunity — it’s a calling. “It’s about full engagement,” she said. “No expectations. Just being able to live in the moment with them.”

During their stay, the group will live alongside the children, while teaching English, playing sports, creating art, and painting a mural together. There will also be music, dance, and even a fashion show, where each child will receive a new outfit. Sibiski is especially looking forward to teaching self-care, braiding hair, and simply listening. The group will celebrate Easter Sunday with the children at ELIM.

This journey is a family affair as well. Her husband, John, and her 13-year-old daughter, Isabella, will join her. Sharing this experience with them carries special meaning. Service, she believes, is something you live and something you pass on.

“I think it’s really embedded in who we are,” Sibiski said. “You realize that when you give back, it fills you.”

The mission has also mobilized her community back home. Through donations and outreach, Sibiski has helped gather supplies for the orphanage, including multivitamins, clothing, secondhand laptops, and personalized care kits. Local supporters, including the Yorktown Lions, have stepped in to help ensure every child is provided for.

“It takes a village,” she said. “You can only do so much by yourself. But together, you can do so much more.”

As she prepares to leave for Peru, she carries with her not just suitcases of supplies, but years of experience, compassion, and purpose. And while she hopes to bring joy and support to the children at ELIM, she knows the experience will leave its mark on her as well.

Because for Sibiski, success isn’t measured in titles or accolades. It’s measured in moments, shared laughter, small breakthroughs, and the quiet reassurance that someone feels seen.

If there is one message she could pass on, it would be the same one that defines her life’s work: Keep breathing, butterflies.