Molly R Tayer, MPA

Molly is a big fan of all community enterprise and looks forward to shaping new connections as our community resumes in-person connections in 2021. Molly began her career as a community development manager in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she soaked up the lessons of a diverse community that celebrates a deep history in all aspects of resident engagement. After studying and practicing multiple styles of facilitation, Molly jumped in to the role of Boulder's first Neighborhood Liaison and spent years camping out in dining rooms and yards all over Boulder learning what connects Boulder's thoughtful and caring community leaders. During the past decade, Molly has returned to her community development roots to look at how society supports affordable housing investment and development. Molly believes that meeting housing needs is the leading edge issue of cities getting community right in the coming years and enjoys the opportunity to work with activists and developers also noodling on ways to help residents embrace balanced housing strategies. Additionally - Molly enjoys walking both the streets and alleys of a city and Colorado's awe-insping trails - and would love to share exploratory walk-and-talk time while shaping a mentoring experience and dreaming up creative ways to foster new work in community.

My advice to students...

When I was a young professional, I had a quick quip that made me and others laugh which was "Take my advice . . . I'm not using it!" The joke, borne out of a buzzing brain that loves ideation, came from having multiple colleagues and friends say "That is a great suggestion!" It is the gag line of a dreamer who sees many paths forward.

My advice to everyone who is starting out and starting again (as we all should every day :-), is to treasure your beginner mind: stay curious, listen with an open heart and be fierce in stepping up to support the work of those around you who you also want to see lead in this ever-evolving world. I add to this a reminder to check your filters and look for opportunities each day to connect to those whose experience and vision may be different from yours. Seek out innovative ways to do so. I recently read a selection of Dr. Brene Brown's book, Dare to Lead, which pointed out that the ability to avoid tough conversations is the epitome of privilege. I would like to explore and learn from our emerging leaders how they see inclusion and identify together ways to convene tough conversations and practice problem definition with a diverse cohort of friends and colleagues. This is a community-building construct that makes us all stronger.