My name is Rebecca Newby. I am an educator beyond buildings, an advocate by calling, and a guide for those navigating transition, healing, and becoming. I believe deeply that nothing in life happens by happenstance. Every season, every shift, and every loss carries meaning when viewed through faith and perspective.

Relocating to Atlanta was not simply a move—it was an act of obedience. It placed me in the same city as my 95 year old great-grandmother, a living witness to God’s faithfulness across generations. Like me, she has nine fingers. That shared detail has become a sacred reminder in my life that gratitude, legacy, and God’s promises are always greater than what is missing.

After losing my pinky, I chose not to center loss, but perspective. I often use my “good hand” to bring joy, invite laughter, and remind others that life is not defined by what is taken, but by what remains. Hands of IX was born from that posture—gratitude for my nine, mindfulness in every season, and faith in a God who keeps His promises.

For over a decade, I served in my hometown of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, walking closely with youth, families, and communities impacted by trauma, inequity, loss, and transition. That service came with tremendous loss and tremendous gain. I experienced grief that reshaped me, and growth that refined me. Pine Bluff did not just teach me how to lead—it taught me how to love people well, even when the cost was high.

My professional and academic background grounds this work in both experience and scholarship. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in English Education, a Master’s degree in Educational Equity, and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership. My work reflects the integration of lived testimony, formal training, and faith-led discernment.

Hands of IX exists at the intersection of healing, advocacy, and responsibility. It is rooted in the belief that systems do not free people—people do. And that freedom begins with perspective, presence, and the willingness to tend what God has already placed in our hands.

This work is for those learning to see life differently. For those who understand that healing is not rushed, purpose is not forced, and gratitude changes everything. I am grateful for my nine—and I invite others to discover the power of perspective, mindfulness, and faith for themselves.