Leading Toward Liberation: Indigenous Lessons on Accountability, Power, and Collective Care
Details
About the event
Nonprofit leaders are navigating increasingly complex challenges, from staff burnout and organizational change to growing community expectations. This session explores how Indigenous values, collective care, and liberatory leadership practices can support more sustainable and values-aligned leadership.
Additional Information
Event details
Nonprofit leaders are navigating increasingly complex challenges: staff burnout, organizational change, community expectations, and the pressure to lead with both courage and compassion.
Drawing from Indigenous values, liberatory leadership practices, and the work of Adrienne Maree Brown, this interactive session explores how accountability, relationships, and collective care can strengthen organizations and deepen impact.
Participants will reflect on how power operates within their organizations, examine common leadership challenges through a relational lens, and leave with practical tools for building trust, navigating conflict, and leading in ways that align with their values and mission.
This session is designed for nonprofit leaders seeking to cultivate healthier organizational cultures while remaining grounded in purpose, community, and long-term sustainability in an affinity group.
This session is presented through the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s Learning Hub and is part of the BIPOC Nonprofit Leader Series program. This event is free; registration is required.
About the Learning Hub
The Santa Fe Community Foundation proudly offers our Learning Hub as an educational space for nonprofit board, executive directors, staff members, and donors. Each year, the Hub offers dozens of events, workshops, and learning circles that promote leadership, skill building, and peer-supported growth.
Meet the people leading the conversation
Angel Charley
Angel Charley
Angel Charley is a New Mexico State Senator, strategist, and facilitator whose work centers on community-centered leadership, systems change, and relationship-building. In addition to her legislative work, she leads Desert Rain Strategies, a consulting practice focused on communications, facilitation, and organizational strategy at the intersection of culture, policy, and community impact.
Angel brings extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, Tribal communities, and public sector partners across New Mexico. Her facilitation style is interactive, grounded, and action-oriented, helping groups move from reflection and relationship-building into practical implementation.
Her fundraising training approach reframes fundraising as trust-building, storytelling, and long-term community engagement rather than transactional “asking.” Participants leave with practical tools, clearer messaging, and actionable strategies they can immediately apply within their organizations.
Meet the people leading the conversation
Meet the people leading the conversation
Angel Charley
Angel Charley
Angel Charley is a New Mexico State Senator, strategist, and facilitator whose work centers on community-centered leadership, systems change, and relationship-building. In addition to her legislative work, she leads Desert Rain Strategies, a consulting practice focused on communications, facilitation, and organizational strategy at the intersection of culture, policy, and community impact.
Angel brings extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, Tribal communities, and public sector partners across New Mexico. Her facilitation style is interactive, grounded, and action-oriented, helping groups move from reflection and relationship-building into practical implementation.
Her fundraising training approach reframes fundraising as trust-building, storytelling, and long-term community engagement rather than transactional “asking.” Participants leave with practical tools, clearer messaging, and actionable strategies they can immediately apply within their organizations.
Funder Panel - Taos
With panelists CJ Grace, Taos Community Foundation; Linda Candelaria-Dodd, Con Alma Health Foundation; Erika Dávila, New Mexico Community Foundation; Mary Nell Wegner, Brindle Foundation; Mona Nozhackum, Taos Ski Valley; moderated by Tanner Martin, Taos Community Foundation
Join representatives from foundations and philanthropic organizations serving northern New Mexico for a conversation about today's funding landscape. Panelists will share their funding priorities, application processes, and perspectives on emerging community needs while offering participants the opportunity to ask questions and build a deeper understanding of how to cultivate strong, lasting funding relationships.
Leading Through Change, Conflict, or Crisis
With Marsie Silvestro & Sarah Silva
Nonprofit executive directors often navigate local politics, shifting organizational cultures, and public scrutiny — sometimes simultaneously. This session offers a supportive space for peer conversation and shared learning around leading through change, conflict, and crisis.
A Community Asset Mapping Workshop: The Wisdom Your Community Holds
With Giovianna Burrell
Nonprofit leaders are often asked to address complex challenges with limited time, funding, and capacity. Yet some of the most powerful resources available to our organizations already exist within our communities. This workshop invites participants to identify and deepen their understanding of these community assets and explore how they can support meaningful partnerships, collaboration, and community-driven solutions.
