Leadership Fellows Spotlight: Margo Josephs

“With only two sessions under my belt, I have already gained valuable perspectives and information about our county that I previously did not know.”

September 19th was not my typical Monday morning. Contrary to my usual solo commute to the office, on this Monday I found myself in a car with four strangers driving up a windy canyon road toward the small town of Jamestown.

Our final destination was Cal-Wood, an educational center that offers a unique outdoor educational experience to youth and adults. Cal-Wood was kind enough to open its doors, and beautiful property, to the 2016-17 Leadership Fellows group for our first meeting.

Throughout the day, we were given the opportunity to get to know our fellow fellows. Out of the group of 35, I had only previously met two or three people. It wasn’t long into our first session that I had a realization…this was probably the most diverse group of people I have been in, maybe since moving to Boulder four years ago. Being a white, English-speaking, middle-upper class millennial woman usually allows me to mesh into the crowd; here, however, for the first time in long time, those things might make me more of the minority! I welcome this diversity with a fully open mind, and am excited to have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside all different people from Boulder County.

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With only two sessions under my belt, I have already gained valuable perspectives and information about our county that I previously did not know. The TRENDS Report reviewed during our first meeting reminded me that Boulder County is in some ways a tale of two cities, and in order to be a successful community leader and changemaker, we have to recognize our shortcomings and work collaboratively toward innovative solutions.

Session 2 covered Boulder County economics, which gave a fascinating framework to better understand the community. When I think about what makes Boulder so special, it’s large and diverse economy is not always top of mind. However, after a robust conversation with economic experts and local entrepreneurs, it became very clear that the local business community is a powerful force with massive regional, national and global impact. The question with me now is how do we harness this group for positive community change?

Being a part of the Community Foundation and Chamber’s Leadership Fellows program is a great honor and opportunity. I wanted to join this program because I love Boulder. The combination of urban vibrancy and activity mixed with the accessibility to parks and open space makes this community dynamic and enriching. I have built a strong professional and personal network and developed an appreciation of the intentionality of the city.

However, it has only been within the last year that I really started to learn about the challenges and complexities that face this beautiful bubble. Through my role with the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department, I am exposed to some issues facing the community, but I still have so much to learn. My hope as a fellow is to gain a better understanding of the hidden challenges in our community so I can personally and professionally work toward innovative solutions. I look forward to building my network and continuing to learn how to be an effective community leader.

By Margo Josephs, Manager of Community Outreach & Partnerships, City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department