On a sunny spring morning, we gathered with Nexus friends old and new to celebrate the power of our Boards & Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI), kicking off the first in a series of online learning events for our 20th anniversary.
When we established the Boards & Commissions Leadership Institute 12 years ago, there was nothing like it in our region. Local transit organizers in the community were tired of just being consulted; they wanted to have a seat at the decision-making tables. BCLI was our answer.
Nexus Founder and CEO Repa Mekha shared, “We understood that who plans, who governs, who owns, and who stewards resources has always been at the crux of sustained inequities in this country. We’ve known that from the beginning. And so we pushed. 10-plus years later and 157 alumni strong, we have the foundation now of a growing movement of equity-minded leaders with a shared analysis and common tools across the state. That’s the power we have in being with each other.”
During the two-hour event, we had the honor of hearing from guest speakers Peggy Flanagan, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota; Victoria McWane-Creek, Founder of Organization 4 Full Participation; and Hodan Hassan, former Minnesota State Representative.
As they shared their reflections, advice, and encouragement, some common themes emerged:
“Our maximum performance calls for maximum care.”
Repa Mekha, Nexus Founder & CEO
“We are stronger together than apart,” Repa said. “We all have something to contribute, a part to play, no matter how large or small. This work is about movement building. And it has to have as many faces, facets, and angles as possible. It takes all of us. The equity work that we do in small places is connected to a cause much larger than the spaces we operate in, much larger than our individual contributions. And as we do the work of champions, we need the tools, knowledge, skills, and wisdom for change. But we also must take care of ourselves.”
“Self-care is a must,” Hodan continued. “This is heavy work and it’s emotional labor. Always root yourself in the why—why are you doing this work? If you center around the why, the work gets more joyous and more beautiful.”
“Whatever space that you envision yourself to be in, that’s where you belong.”
Hodan Hassan, 2016-17 BCLI Alum
Lt. Governor Flanagan emphasized, “We’re supposed to be at these tables. We are meant to be at these tables. We must be at these tables. And having support to do that is incredibly powerful.”
Keep Easing Down the Road
Victoria shared the inspiration she draws from her grandmother and The Whiz song “Ease on Down the Road.”
‘Cause there may be times when you think you lost your mind
(And the steps you’re takin’ leave you three, four steps behind)
But the road you’re walking might be long sometimes
You just keep on steppin’ and you’ll be just fine
Lt. Governor Flanagan said, “If you are feeling down in this time of great uncertainty, where for many of us, simply our existence is being challenged … I also want you to just feel hopeful. Take a step back and look at all of the work that these 157 people have been able to do. We are powerful in this moment. We are powerful at these tables. We are powerful when we take up space and we speak to our own lived experience.”
Hodan advised, “Reach within. Show up for one another. Connect with your community. Continue grounding in the work. Surround yourself with the right people and continue the work. Tomorrow is a different day.”
Repa reminded us: “The most inspiring and landscape-shifting change that we’ve seen for decades and decades has grown out of chaos. We found strength and possibility and we rose every time. And guess what? We will rise again. There is no going back. There is no letting go. There is no stumbling. We can see the future that we want to create.”
