“Being a Leadership Fellow is a networking opportunity like none other,” says Meca Delgado. “The diversity of people you meet – current leaders and up-and-coming leaders – not only opens doors, but also builds relationships and develops connections that last for many years.”
For Delgado – a Program Specialist with the Boulder County Community Services Department and Board Chair of the Ed & Ruth Lehman YMCA in Longmont – the Boulder County Leadership Fellows Program was her first formal opportunity to learn about leadership.
“It was the first year of the program, and I was impressed by the diversity of leaders representing businesses, nonprofits, gender diversity, LGBO, socioeconomic status and so on,” she said. “The program also presents a different view of leadership, coming at it from an introspective, multicultural and transformational perspective.
“Working in the human services field and being the person that I am – coming from the Latino community – genuine relationships are my foundation. Now, when I walk into a room full of leaders, I almost always recognize a face – whether it’s a city council meeting or at a table discussing marijuana laws, there’s usually someone there whom I met through the program. There’s a level of comfort in that.”
While Delgado has always been regarded as a natural leader – she’s an extrovert who’s eager to express her point of view – she appreciated the opportunity to look at leadership in a thoughtful, considered way. “The Leadership Fellows program gave me the opportunity to really think about who I wanted to be as a leader, and how I want to carry my voice – not just as a woman, or in the Latino community, but for anyone who needs a voice at the table.”
With new-found confidence in her leadership abilities, Delgado accepted her challenging role with the Longmont YMCA in January, immediately following the CEO’s resignation. “Things were definitely in disarray,” she recalls. “Having a support system in place – The Community Foundation and the Fellows – is so important. Funding support and conversations with thought partners is critical to guiding an organization through a leadership change.”
When Delgado joined the board of the Longmont YMCA, she developed a youth development task force, calling on several community leaders who had shared her Leadership Fellows experience. “Even if they weren’t necessarily able to join the task force, I was still able to check in with them and get their input in terms of planning, implementing and organizing policies, programs and opportunities,” she said. “That’s incredibly valuable.”
Delgado also values ongoing opportunities for Leadership Fellows to stay connected as key to future collaborations.
“The Community Foundation invites all the Fellows back for luncheons, presentations and events,” she said. “It’s a great way to ensure cross-generation collaboration and relationship building through the years. I’m excited about the program and how it keeps getting better – I’m sure it would be worthwhile to do it again!”
