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Leadership Abounds

Most people agree that effective leadership is a necessary component of any community building initiative. But ask 10 people their definition of leadership and you'll most likely get 10 different definitions.

Nexus Community Partners supports leaders and leadership development, but we do so without using a formal definition of either. We do, however, have a certain perspective on leadership grounded in our experiences working with communities of color and immigrant communities on the Eastside of St. Paul, South Minneapolis and North Minneapolis.

Whether we know it or not, we each have an image of leadership that informs our expectations or assumptions about leaders. For many people, the concept of leadership is focused on individuals and individual capacities. At Nexus we believe that leadership is a communal activity that is best developed and best expressed within a community context. Leaders develop in relationship to others and because of relationships to others. This means that within the uniqueness of the communities and cultures we work with, leadership develops and is expressed differently.

For example, in our recent newsletter we've highlighted how two Nexus-supported organizations approach leadership development within their respective communities. The Cultural Wellness Center doesn't use the term "leader" or "leadership development" in their work, and, yet their process of engagement strengthens residents to take active roles in changing their lives and building the capacities of others. The City of Lakes Community Land Trust engages their residents in more formal leadership opportunities, such as becoming board members and/or seeking public office. Both organizations understand that community is the context in which leadership develops.

At Nexus Community Partners, we are committed to building more engaged and powerful communities, and effective leadership is a critical component. We support organizations who identify, nurture and support effective leaders within their community and cultural context. Because these leaders are shaped by the social and cultural context of their communities, they may not look like typical mainstream leaders. You might not see them....but from where we sit, leadership abounds.

Click here to see our most recent newsletter and to learn about how two of our grantees, the City of Lakes Community Land Trust and the Cultural Wellness Center approach leadership development in their own work.

 

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