Leadership in community with Vivian Huelgo and Margaret Mitchell

At Esperanza United, we know no single organization or person is going to end domestic and sexual violence alone – it takes communities working together. That’s why Latina leadership and community-based solutions are two of our organizational values.

To advance this strengths-based approach, Esperanza United President and CEO Vivian Huelgo, J.D. interviews leaders whose work is creating change, advancing equity, and strengthening communities across the country. Through these conversations, we celebrate the people behind the work, reflect on lessons in leadership, and share our collective vision for a future free from violence.

In this edition, Vivian speaks with Margaret Mitchell, a nonprofit executive and national leader who has spent 15 years with YWCA, including five years as CEO of YWCA USA. Margaret reflects on leadership as stewardship, courage, and humility, the lasting influence of Dr. Dorothy I. Height on her journey, and a recent lesson in the power of letting go. She also shares her vision for a future where violence is rare and brief, and her gratitude for the colleagues, courageous women, and communities who have walked alongside her.

Pues, vamos:

One of our organizational values is Latina leadership. What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is stewardship, courage, problem-solving, and humility. Leadership is the willingness to take on complicated problems. It’s the courage to act without having all the answers, the ability to learn when you get it wrong, and resilience to keep going. Leadership is not about being right; it is about staying rooted in purpose, learning along the way, and helping create the conditions for something better to emerge.

Who inspired your leadership journey, and how did they shape you?

Dr. Dorothy I. Height profoundly shaped my understanding of leadership. She died in 2010 and I joined YWCA Greater Cleveland in 2011. Through her archival roadmap, she demonstrated that lasting change requires patience, courage, coalition-building, and an unwavering commitment to justice. She taught me that leadership is not about occupying a seat at the table, but ensuring others also have a seat and a voice. Her legacy continues to guide me.

How do you keep your team motivated and mission-driven?

I think people stay mission-driven when they can see that what they are doing matters. Leadership is not about keeping everyone motivated every day; that’s not realistic. It’s about staying connected to purpose and to each other, especially when things are hard like they are today. When the work is meaningful, purpose sustains all of us.

What is a lesson you learned recently that surprised you?

The power of letting go. I have been reminded that leadership is also about endings. We can give our hearts to an organization, a mission, and a community, yet we must recognize that seasons change. Letting go does not diminish what we have built. It creates space for new possibilities, for others and for ourselves.

One of our other organizational values is living free from violence. What does a violence-free future look like to you?

A violence-free future is one where violence is rare and brief and not a defining experience in anyone’s life. A world where women, girls, and communities can live without fear, where conflicts are met with compassion and accountability, and where safety, dignity, and peace are everyday realities rather than aspirational fables.

Gratitude is so important. Tell me about something you are grateful for.

I am grateful for the people who have walked alongside me throughout my leadership journey. The colleagues who became friends, the courageous women who challenged me, and the communities that reminded me why the work matters. After 15 years at YWCA, I am especially grateful for the privilege of serving the mission.