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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →