Since 2013, our Boards & Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI) has graduated 181 fellows across 13 cohorts. Over 50% have been placed on a board or commission, elected into public office, or taken a high-level government or nonprofit position. We were thrilled to graduate our latest cohort on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the International Institute of Minnesota’s Hall of Nations!
Each year, we are honored to hear reflections from two graduates and wisdom from a keynote speaker. Many thanks to Beirut Abafogi and Huda Yusuf for sharing their stories, and to our guest Jay Xiong, a longtime BCLI supporter and Minnesota State Representative (Senate District 67B). As one of our BCLI trainers, Representative Xiong has taught past fellows about how the state legislature works.
Representative Xiong spoke to the power of grassroots organizing and the importance of having a seat at the table to stand up for people who can’t speak for themselves. He reminded us that service on boards and commissions is how we exercise one of the most fundamental power levers of democracy.