Instituto CELEBRATES its First Executive Director

Apr 19

From the desk of our Founder, Luis Ávila:

When we first started our search for someone to lead Instituto, we knew we wanted a person who was committed to building power with communities most impacted by social inequities. We needed an educator, a curious learner and facilitator, someone who would center the brilliance and clairvoyance of communities in Arizona.

After an intentional process that included partners, an external talent firm, and our outstanding Instituto team – we found out that the person who was already leading the majority of Instituto’s work was ready to lead the organization. I’m pleased to announce that our very own 2019 Monzón Fellow, most recent Programs Director, Shelley Jackson, is our first-ever Executive Director!

Video production + editing by Yash Mori + Justine Garcia

When I first founded Instituto in 2019, I dreamt of a team accelerating and incubating the work of organizations in multiple places across Arizona. However, I never imagined that such a creative and committed team or that a Monzón fellow from our first cohort would help build Instituto to its fullest potential.

Monzón Fellowships retreats are always rich in discussion and learning, but it only happens when fellows create a space of trust and vulnerability – Shelley modeled this behavior from the beginning. She was always ready to share the knowledge and what learnings challenged her. One time, she brought up how our organization, and others in the room, could better support and learn from other communities, particularly Black and Indigenous experiences. Her voice shaped the way we all showed up with one another at Monzón, and it brought up a consistent reminder that an umbrella term like POC can erase the voices that need to be centered.

Shelley knows that communities have to be led by the voices and skills of Black, Indigenous, and working-class people in order to build more robust movements that tackle our society’s most dire problems. Her leadership has helped us partner with communities in seven counties across the state, places historically left out of political investment efforts. Thanks to her work in redesigning our focus areas, we have supported more than 30 organizations. Also, we have built the most powerful and diverse cohort of alumni of leaders who are connected to collaboration, learn from each other, and hold each other accountable.

It’s a given that Shelley is an audacious and creative leader. She’s an expert in the intersection of advancing policy issues, connecting communities to the power of electoral organizing, and the importance of art and culture in our work. Her strengths are part of the necessary work of building more just and resilient communities for the upcoming challenges.

Looking back, Shelley’s trajectory through Instituto is a perfect example of our mission of accelerating the talent and passions of Arizona’s progressive leaders. We know our state is full of talented organizers ready to build power with communities, and our organization is here to help them with the process.

Aside from Instituto, Shelley serves as a school board member at the Roosevelt School District, a district near and dear to her heart because she’s a third-generation RSD student. She represents South Phoenix through and through. She knew how important it is to make an impact on her community’s educational system, so she ran as a write-in candidate and won as the top vote-getter!

From her beginnings at AZ Coalition for Change to joining the prestigious Highland fellowship, her passion for working toward meaningful change is one of several reasons why I’m excited about this new phase at Instituto.

Beyond these phenomenal organizing accolades, I want to speak on Shelley’s humanity when leading. She knows it’s essential to lead a dignified and sustainable team. She consistently serves as a model to us and other people in partner organizations who recognize the culture of truth, power, and joy that she has built in the last few years at Instituto.

Shelley will be the first to tell you to rest, that it’s OK if “life be life-ing,” to take care of ourselves. It’s inspiring to see her incorporate a holistic approach to leading. She’s ready to guide this organization that prides itself on building capacity, creating self-determined futures, and working toward a better Arizona for all.

I’ll be forever indebted to Shelley for allowing me to witness her tremendous brilliance and growth. She has pushed us to be better every day “because our community deserves it,” as she says. I’m excited to step aside and walk along with her and the rest of the team to realize Instituto’s future – especially during this critical election year.

Please help us share Shelley’s story with the world, and continue supporting the work of this powerful organization.

Abrazos grandes,

Luis Ávila