At the all-class gathering in Mississippi, fellows reflect on how their networks have grown through the WKKF Community Leadership Network and the myriad ways that diverse networks positively impact their leadership.

Listen to their reflections and consider ways to grow your own network for support and accountability.

Ashnee Dunning & Darlene Gomez

“Out of the 80 people who are here – all 80 of us are fighting the same fight … We all have the same passion and all want to see a better future for children.” – Darlene Gomez, New Mexico fellow

Ashnee Dunning and Darlene Gomez discuss how their networks have expanded and evolved through

While Mississippi is a complex place where children and families face many challenges, the Mississippi fellows in the WKKF Community Leadership Network are hopeful. The community, food, culture, music, and storytelling all feel like home. “Mississippi is self-determined – ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” shares Liz Broussard Red.

Through the fellowship, the Mississippi fellows are connecting with each other

Leadership can manifest as the combination of power and influence. 

Within the WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership program, power is defined as the capacity to exert influence, while influence is defined as the ability to affect the behavior of others in a particular direction as an expression of that power.

As leaders committed to systemic change, the effective and responsible deployment of power and influence is central to addressing the needs of children and families. Power and influence are often sensitive topics because many communities have been disempowered or influenced in harmful ways. Effective leadership requires an intentional understanding of the power dynamics at play to avoid contributing to historical harms and the ability to influence others to achieve a common goal.

During the class three fellowship gathering in Jackson, Mississippi, fellows were encouraged to explore their relationship with power and influence to effectively inhabit their roles as community leaders.

As part of a facilitated roundtable discussion, we sat down with Alison McCrary of New Orleans, Allytra Perryman of Mississippi, Corrine Sanchez of New Mexico, and Scott Rumpsa of Michigan to hear about their understanding of power and influence and how their learnings will impact their work in communities.

Can you please introduce yourself, your organization and the focus of your work?

Scott: I lead

 

Leading across differences is the capability to create direction, alignment and commitment across five identified differences – vertical, horizontal, stakeholder, geographic & demographic – in communities and organizations, and using strategies for improving relationships across those differences in service of a higher vision or goal. True change for children and families requires this capability because the complex issues facing our communities are multifaceted, impacting multiple stakeholders. The ability to build coalitions, inspire community trust, and mobilize community engagement is fundamental to creating the progress we want to see.

In November, as part of the WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership fellowship program, the fellows gathered for the penultimate time in Jackson, Mississippi, the heart of the civil rights movement. It was a fitting location to dig deep into the skills and capacities needed to effectively lead across differences.

Difference within communities

Difference exists on multiple dimensions. When one thinks of difference, it is often the difference in identity between communities that comes to mind, but diversity and

As leaders work to improve conditions for children and families in communities, the only constant is change.

Change can be scary and complicated, not only for leaders themselves, but also for the communities they serve. The goal of effective leadership is to lead through that change in a collaborative and responsive way.

Parthenia Fields and Jose Orozco

“Conflict causes change and change causes conflict — they work in tandem, yet either way we grow from it.” – Parthenia Fields, Mississippi fellow

Parthenia and

In the realm of human interaction, conflict is unavoidable.

As leaders, however, the ways we elect to manage conflict can be the difference between collaboration or collapse. Within the WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership, conflict is defined as “any situation in which one’s concerns, wishes or values are not in agreement with those of another person.” Unsurprisingly, the complex issues faced by children and families across the country can give rise to situations where there is disagreement.

In August, the class three fellows gathered in New Orleans, otherwise known by its Indigenous name Bulbancha, which means the city of many tongues. This was a perfect location for fellows to explore the realities of managing different perspectives and gain tools and strategies for leading through conflict effectively.

Dr. Karen Garcia of Michigan, Gina Womack of New Orleans, Paheadra Robinson of Mississippi and Darlene Gomez of New Mexico discussed how conflict arises in their work, which values they use to navigate conflict, and how the tools offered in the fellowship program have enhanced their leadership practice.

Many of the issues children, families and communities face do not have one simple solution.

Effective leadership requires understanding the difference between solving a problem and managing a polarity. Within the WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership, a problem is defined as a situation with one answer and a definable end point. A polarity is a situation where two or more right answers are interdependent with no identifiable end point that must be managed over time.

Leveraging polarities is an ongoing practice of holding multiple realities and perspectives at the same time, even when they appear to be in opposition. During the class three gathering in New Orleans, fellows were encouraged to explore the polarities active in their communities and apply new tools and strategies for leading through polarity management.

We facilitated a roundtable conversation with Caitlin Brooking of Jackson, Mississippi; Shay Everitt of New Mexico; Dr. Allisyn Swift of New Orleans; and Kamilah Henderson of Michigan on how polarities are showing up in their work and how their learnings from this fellowship have changed their

The word “feedback” can often provoke negative feelings, like fear or defensiveness. However, feedback is a gift that we can offer to ourselves and to the people in our communities.

As part of the WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership program, fellows are introduced to the situation-behavior-impact (SBI) model for giving and receiving feedback. The SBI model provides a structure for feedback to be focused and relevant, while increasing the likelihood it will be received in a clear, non-defensive manner.

Effective feedback – whether reinforcing positive behavior or identifying a growth area – is a core skill required of any leader

You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Developing an effective, empowering and impactful leadership practice requires prioritizing deep rest and recovery. Before our communities can be well, we, ourselves, must model that wellness.

While gathering on Tamaya land in Bernalillo, New Mexico, the WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership fellows were asked to reflect upon their self-care practices and how they can ensure they are burning brightly, not burning out.

We sat down with Social Impact Champion Sonya Lara of New Mexico, Self-Expression Advocate Ericka Thompson of Michigan, Movement Strategist Alison McCrary of New Orleans, and Mindful Healer Jessica Reed of Mississippi to discuss self-care and its implications on effective leadership.

How do you build energy as a leader?

Sonya: My values energize me. When I see challenges or barriers facing those I