The Arc and the Art of Leadership
Written by Tim Buckley, January 2024
Neighborhood Family Councils (NFC) are amplifiers of local voices that often get lost in the noise of city life. As detailed in newspaper articles over the past three years, NFCs have motivated unprecedented volunteerism and civic engagement in Hallman-Northgate, Kennedy, and Highland neighborhoods.
Kennedy Fun Friday 2023
NFCs have become a wellspring for new energy, confidence, and hope. And, because NFC events regularly draw more than 500 people and 150 families, there is a greater sense of cohesion, and higher expectations for a better future for all.
A lesser-told story about the power of NFCs is that they have become a hub for training a new generation of leadership.
“Creating sustainable neighborhoods in Salem and Keizer depends on today’s leaders teaching the next generation leadership skills, and providing opportunities to practice,” said Leslye Garcia Quevado, whose arc to leadership is a perfect example of this model.
Leslye, whose grandfather came to the US as an agricultural worker for the Bracero Program, was born in Mexico and came to Oregon in first grade. Without legal status as a citizen, and without the perks of full citizenship, Leslye has relied on her brains, personality, and drive to establish a career in community engagement and early childhood learning.
“During high school, I joined the Boys & Girls Club T3 (Training Teens for Tomorrow) program. T3 provided me with the opportunity to connect with mentors who were there for me throughout my high school journey. I was accepted into a paid apprenticeship at the Boys & Girls Club. I will forever appreciate Jodi Loper for her support and dedication in helping me, a young undocumented child, access essential dental resources.” she said.
When Leslye graduated from North High School, she had college credits but no money to continue her education. So, she found work in sales and took classes at Chemeketa Community College when she had extra money. “At first, my interest was physical therapy,” she said.
Leslye is married to Gilbert Garcia. “We have twins, Marylin and Liam, now almost seven years old,” she said. “I became a stay-at-home-mom for three years, fully devoted to raising my children.”
During the pandemic, Leslye’s good friend from high school (Whitney Contreres) introduced her to Jackie Franke, a Marion County consultant who was looking for bilingual support for a “Learning Pods” program that helped low-income families access and use online educational resources. Jackie became her mentor as Leslye worked with residents in North Salem’s Cornerstone Apartments. “The program became popular by word of mouth because it was user-friendly and helpful,” she said, “and by the time the program ended, I was working with 15 families.”
Once Jackie understood how caring and effective Leslye is, and how important her deeply-rooted connections to North Salem’s predominant cultures are, she quickly shifted Leslye to a second program - Summer Reading Pods. “I continued working with some of the same families I had met at Cornerstone but began working with three dedicated Hallman teachers. The Summer Reading Pods were held outdoors in three apartment complexes in the Northgate area. The program provided essential literacy skills to kindergarten students, enabling them to develop the ability to read.
“Jackie was the person who introduced me to CBEL, to Jim Seymour and Lisa Harnisch, the director of Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub,” Leslye continued. “Whitney introduced me to Eduardo Angulo, who was the Neighborhood Family Council Initiative organizer, as well as the Chairperson for the Hallman-Northgate Neighborhood Family Council.”
“I joined the Neighborhood Family Council during the first Fun Friday event, and I was so impressed with what was happening in the neighborhood,” she said. “Northgate Park, which had been nearly abandoned because of the dangerous activities, was transformed into a place where neighbors felt safe, could bring their children, and play,” she said.
Shortly thereafter, Eduardo became Leslye’s third mentor. Since then, she has helped to shepherd the growth of three neighborhood family councils (Hallman, Kennedy, and Highland) while organizing dozens of neighborhood events, including the highly successful COVID vaccine drive.
Since the CBEL position was supposed to be part time, Leslye also began simultaneously working part time with the Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub, recruiting families to participate in parent education where Leslye learned to facilitate READY! For Kindergarten workshops. These workshops offer toys and tools for use at home, promoting fun learning. “I was regularly working 50 and 60 hour weeks, and it began to impact my family.” Leslye added.
Leslye tapered down her involvement with CBEL and became full-time with the Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub, where she is coordinating outreach throughout Marion County. “Lisa is a wonderful mentor,” she said.
When asked about her own leadership qualities, Leslye defers. “I don’t consider myself a leader, but rather an advocate for families and children.”
But when asked what are some of the things she suggests are important for leaders, she had this list:
Understanding the power of personal relationships
Being genuine
Being driven by common, or collective, goals
Learning to thrive as part of a team
Being hands-on
Understanding the value of giving over receiving.
As she reflected on her short tenure on CBEL’s staff, Leslye said that the leadership growth she witnessed in the neighborhood family councils has been astonishing, and gratifying. “I love our Council members so much. They have given so much. I’ve seen such a flowering of confidence in them, the way they are able to clearly and effectively use their voices to advocate for change and progress is truly a gift. And in seeing it first hand, I fully appreciate how this peer-to-peer leadership training is the most efficient and economical way of professional development.
“And my daughter, who has asked to attend many of the events I’ve helped to organize the last couple of years, seems like she has inherited my love for connection and community,” Leslye added.
