Category: Education

Gracias – Gratitude, Hope, and Forgiveness

Principle #9 For Black, Latino, and Indian leaders, gracias (gratitude), hope, and forgiveness are three attributes that transformed oppression and need into an enduring faith in life’s goodness… Faith and spirituality together have been the collective and unifying force sustaining communities of color during centuries of toil and discrimination and continue to provide the strength … Continue reading Gracias – Gratitude, Hope, and Forgiveness →

All My Relatives – La Familia, the Village, the Tribe

Principle #8 Let us begin the exploration of the family aspect with the following series of (for this post) short quotes: To understand the principle of all my relatives, let us first look at how this manifests in communities of color and then consider the different ways these relationships expand to embrace a much wider … Continue reading All My Relatives – La Familia, the Village, the Tribe →

The Seven-Generation Rule – Intergenerational Leadership

Principle #7 IN 2000, I INVITED a group of established Latina leaders to talk about the need for additional reinforcements— particularly young women— to continue advancing our community. We realized that our hands-on, long-term experience had made us seasoned leaders. We had succeeded through mutual support, networking, working together, and being groomed by more established … Continue reading The Seven-Generation Rule – Intergenerational Leadership →

Creating the Circle of Leadership

The African village, the American Indian tribal council, and the town meeting are examples of cooperative circular structures in which the community considers important decisions. The African saying “One head does not a council make” underlies their old tradition of tapping into the collective wisdom. The Native American “talking stick,” passed around a circle, gives … Continue reading Creating the Circle of Leadership →

Leaders as Community Stewards – Working for the Common Goal

Principle #6 AS WE LOOK AT leaders as community stewards, I want to begin by emphasizing that nurturing community is very different for Blacks, Latinos, and American Indians from the way it is for Anglos. Our communities have very old roots that have sustained us. They have a purpose— to benefit others and to garner … Continue reading Leaders as Community Stewards – Working for the Common Goal →

The Wolf and the Lamb

In The Wolf and the Lamb by the Rev. Eric Law he talks about intercultural communities in the context of the passage Isaiah 11:6-9. This passage is often known as the “Peaceable Kingdom.” But the author prefers it to be known as the “Peaceable Realm” because the word kingdom has “too many connotations of the … Continue reading The Wolf and the Lamb →

Leaders and Guardians of Public Values – A Tradition of Activism

Principle #5 Continuing my quoting and commenting on Salsa, Soul and Spirit, let me start with another quote: The enduring desire to be part of a “tribe” is a timeless phenomenon dating back to early We cultures. Many people today have a heartfelt need for community, to belong and to be valued by others. LaDonna … Continue reading Leaders and Guardians of Public Values – A Tradition of Activism →

A Leader Among Equals – Community-Conferred Leadership

Principle #4 Although I had no experience leading an organization, I had years of community experience— and a passionate commitment to building the first Latina service organization in Colorado. Anna Escobedo Cabral observes that this has been a traditional pathway: “I think a lot of Latino leaders see a problem, and they work hard to … Continue reading A Leader Among Equals – Community-Conferred Leadership →

Leadership Styles in Communities of Color

(Further reflection on Salsa, Soul and Spirit) WHETHER I OR WE is central to a society contours the shape of its leadership. A We identity promotes a collective and people-centered leadership that espouses the well-being of people as a whole, not just individuals. Bordas, Juana (2012-03-26). Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age … Continue reading Leadership Styles in Communities of Color →