Now in its tenth year, the Community Arts Education Leadership Institute (CAELI) program, offered by the National Guild for Community Arts Education in collaboration with Partners in Performance, Inc., provides an intensive and transformative experience, designed to hone and advance member leadership skills and effectiveness by engaging seasoned and emerging leaders with top leadership trainers, nationally renowned practitioners and a diverse cohort of peers.
Lifetime Arts’ Deputy Director, Nathan Majoros, participated in this year’s five-day in-person seminar held at Bryn Mawr College (Philadelphia, PA) from July 16-20. Nathan was selected to join the 2019 class along with 26 other individuals representing arts organizations from across the nation. What follows is an account of the experience from Nathan’s perspective.
DAY 1: Getting comfortable with discomfort
One of the first topics that was introduced to the cohort was the importance of self-reflection and how to accept feelings of discomfort when analyzing oneself. The cohort developed a community agreement: To learn to sit with discomfort and challenge oneself.
I have to admit that I had been so nervous and anxious leading up to my first day at CAELI. It’s very much like the first day at a new school and It’s a little uncomfortable to look inside, analyze, and reflect on myself and my role at Lifetime Arts, but that’s only because it’s the first time that I’m doing it in this intentional way. Everyone I’ve met has been wonderful and it’s encouraging to hear others speak about their work and what’s brought them to CAELI, often very similar to what has brought me here; to better ourselves as leaders and have a greater impact in our work.
Some highlights from today have been meeting the people in the cohort, doing a Myers-Briggs personality test, learning about the different personality types, and receiving a feedback report from my colleagues, co-workers, and peers.
DAY 2: Reflection and Expression
It’s only day two, but I feel like I have already been given so much information and feedback and time to reflect.
I am energized about exploring new behaviors and continuing to think about my core values. We did spend some time creating art to reflect on our goals and values of leadership.
DAY 3: Power, Privilege, Race, and Poetry
I started day three with a gift from a colleague and CAELI alum, Eliza Kiser: A book of poems by Mary Oliver. Today was an intense, but also an extremely profound exploration of power, privilege and race. Like the book from Eliza, having this time, this space, the people and this discourse is a gift.
We ended the day with a leadership roundtable featuring CAELI alumni, Kwame Scruggs, Gisha Zabala and Xavier Verna. They spoke about their experiences and expectations of CAELI and how it has impacted their life and practice. I was struck by the way each CAELI class built community, and I too feel very connected to my cohort and those who have come before.
DAY 4: Communicating Effectively
Today is the last full day at CAELI. This week has been full of laughter, connection, reflection, discovery, enlightenment and now a realization that we will soon leave Bryn Mawr and each other.
We spent a lot of time talking about communications: How a leader builds bridges between people and purpose, how to identify others’ temperaments and preferences and meet their needs, and how to actively listen to those around you. We ended the day with an open space to talk about whatever was burning for us. The group collaboratively designed topics and created spaces for us to dive deep into them, everything generated and led by our group. It was incredibly powerful to have ownership over the night and conversations that took place, and I was inspired by the leadership demonstrated by everyone by coming together and raising each other up.
Naturally, after the pizza was gone, the night ended with an impromptu dance party — and a trip to Lucky Strike bowling alley in Center City for a farewell drink.
DAY 5: Transformation
I am spent, and it feels wonderful. While I am ready to go home and see my family, it is difficult to say goodbye and leave this experience and the amazing people I’ve come to know well. I feel transformed. I woke up incredibly and unexpectedly early and took a walk around Bryn Mawr, trying to hold onto the all of the lessons I’ve learned and reflect on the beautiful people I’ve met.
Do I feel like a leader? No, not fully, but more importantly I feel ready to become a leader and I am so very grateful to this group of people, CAELI, and the National Guild for this feeling.
A final reflection
It’s only been a few days since I left CAELI, and I am trying to keep moving forward with the energy I gained. One critical lesson that I learned from CAELI is that we, as arts administrators and as leaders, can have a profound impact on the world. More specifically, the work that we can do to make our communities more just and equitable.
I already see myself applying some of what I’ve learned at CAELI: Listening actively, identifying a shared purpose to move towards, understanding my own temperament and how I can work better with others, and being comfortable with the discomfort of challenging myself and growing.
For me, there is still a lot of work to be done both personally and in my work, but I am ready to put the work in. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this and thank you for the opportunity to better serve.
Photo credits: Majoros headshot: Jeremy Amar; daily images: Nathan Majoros; group portrait: National Guild for Community Arts Education
