For years, Arica Gonzalez would pass by a vacant lot in her West Baltimore neighborhood, filled with overgrown weeds, vermin, and illegally dumped waste. She took matters into her own hands, convincing the owner of the lot to donate it to the community, after which she and her neighbors cleaned it up and turned it into a gathering space.

Now known as The Urban Oasis, the once vacant lot is now a social and cultural hub, “forged by the strength of community.” By transforming the physical space, Gonzalez and her neighbors also transformed their sense of connection to one another, building deeper bonds of social trust. In addition to her role as Executive Director of the Urban Oasis, Gonzalez also works with Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute, helping inspire others to weave a new, more inclusive social fabric where they live.

In the latest episode of In Session, Gonzalez shares lessons learned on her journey as a leader, focusing on what it means to lead in community and learn from the people you are leading.

This video is a part of our new series In Session, where we ask leaders from across the Aspen Institute network to reflect on their own leadership journeys and offer practical wisdom gained from their experiences. Stay tuned for more episodes, and subscribe to our leadership newsletter to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Explore more leadership content on our In Focus: Igniting Leadership page.