Last evening hundreds of us gathered at the Chaparral Suites in Scottsdale, Arizona to celebrate Dr. Art DeCabooter's thirty year tenure as the President of Scottsdale Community College.  As I listened to the testimonials and felt the genuine affection of those gathered to honor this man, it became apparent that what we all came to pay tribute to was not the usual but the extraordinary.  Here's what we were really celebrating: a 30-year covert community development campaign orchestrated from the president's office.  Through relationship after relationship, he "Artfully" crafted a new methodology of community engagement which actually produced long-term community partnerships and significant change in local public policy.  One concrete example is the leadership he provided during the foundation of and the continued support for LINKS, the organizations that I am proud to lead as the current executive director.  Our organization with Art's involvement and leadership created cross-system collaboration where none existed.  That collaborative network continues to work together today to address issues that are greater than any one group or organization can resolve in isolation. So how did this one man make such a huge impact on this community?

Here are ten lessons that I have learned from my interactions with this dynamic community leader:

1.   Recognize everyone's contribution
2.   Remember names
3.   Love what you do
4.   Be unashamedly faithful
5.   Always tell a good story
6.   Give gifts, often
7.   Love your family
8.   Arrive early, leave late
9.   Laugh often
10. Mark a trail for other to follow

 

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