Building Capacity 

Scaffolding new leaders:

Taking a systems change approach means creating spaces and mentoring that will enhance and engage new staff for the long term. Springfield EATS partners take  care to consider how the work impacts young leaders, creating spaces where people can be courageous. The goal is to set up people for success-Hiring young Black and Brown leaders, and especially making sure young Black men are well positioned. 

"We get beaten up and destroyed in this work. We’re trying to be responsive bouncing all around and show up well in a structure or container that isn’t built for that to happen. In our Springfield EATS work, we are creating more inclusive spaces for folks to be themselves. The scaffold is the wire cages around bushes and fruit trees so that they can safely get strong and find their roots, protected from wind and animals." 

"I feel great. I’ve never felt this anywhere else. It’s still new, but to be able to be creative, take new ideas into the kitchen with people who don’t think about these possibilities.. It’s challenging being in the leadership role. How do you tell your auntie what to do? "

As an example: 25 GTC youth join Terrell James, a Black man completing his PhD in Anthropology, for the second summer on a digital story project. Terrell talks to the youth about power, community building, being changemaker versus a change stopper, and connecting this to the hard days farming in the heat, the crops they are growing and nourishing neighbors. Terrell coaches the older youth (who are now in college), to lead the younger youth. The impact: three young confident Black men teach and model leadership for younger Black and Brown men and women.

“It’s so hard for me to articulate what it felt like -  Will I again in my life have a moment where three young Black men were leading teaching modeling for so many other younger Black and Brown men? This summer was incredibly hard. I got to be with you and the kids. All I had to do was order lunch. These young Black men held the space..What does this mean for them: a Black man getting  PhD on his own terms, studying something he wants to study? They are getting it.” 

Scaffolding leaders of color is a two way street. White leaders remark ways they practice giving up power,  intentionally stepping back and making space for BIPOC voices. 

I'm in a department that is majority BIPOC. I’m the white leader. I’ve had opportunities to give away the power. “This is yours, I’ve got your back, let me know what you need” and allow staff to step up. Especially at national meetings, I’m in the background, feeling proud. It’s a practice of mine now, intentional. I can facilitate meetings to invite the voices that are normally marginalized into the room.