This is the first interview in this month’s series celebrating the leadership of Hispanics in the nonprofit sector. I’m profiling several nonprofit leaders I admire for the impact they make on their communities every day.
First up is Ian Bautista, President of United Neighborhood Centers of America. I met Ian about a year ago at the National Human Services Assembly conference in Washington, DC and I instantly connected to his warm demeanor and interest in nonprofit diversity efforts. We’ve been Facebook and Twitter friends ever since, and I always enjoy reading his thoughts on community, nonprofit work and family. I’m excited to introduce him to all of you dear readers.
A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Ian lives with his wife, Elsa, and his daughter Iana, in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. Since April of 2006, Bautista has served as the President of the United Neighborhood Centers of America (UNCA), the national non-profit membership network of settlement houses and neighborhood centers in the U.S.
Prior to UNCA, Bautista served as the President & CEO of El Centro, Inc, a Management Consultant forNeighborWorks® America, and the State of Kansas at the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission (KHLAAC). Bautista serves on the board of directors of the National Human Services Assembly, the board of trustees of the Sigma Lambda Beta Educational Foundation, and the board of directors of Select Milwaukee. In his spare time, Bautista has volunteered as a youth debate coach, a marriage preparation trainer and 2nd grade catechist for his church. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, working on issues of social justice, the arts (music and visual), following and playing team sports (especially Kansas State University and Kansas City teams), intercultural exploration, leadership development, and cooking. 
Read my full interview with Ian after the jump…
Age (or what generation you belong to)
38 – I think that makes me an “X-er.”
City, State where you live
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (but have to pay homage to Kansas City, Kansas – my birthplace and spiritual ‘home.’)
How did you make your way into the nonprofit sector?
As a sophomore in college, I was given the opportunity to work with a group of high school students from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Project Choice scholarship program in Kansas City who were coming to campus for a month of college experience. My connection with those students – some of whom are still great friends to this day – convinced me of the power of service and giving back to my community. I worked with subsequent groups coming to visit my university as a residence counselor and administrator of the program and all of this led to more opportunities to get to know nonprofit professionals (higher education and philanthropic). Their influence on me was profound and convinced me of the value of nonprofit work. After graduate school and a stint in state government (still working with youth), I went to work for NeighborWorks® America in their Kansas City office and haven’t left the nonprofit sector since.
What is your current position and day-to-day work?
I have the pleasure of serving as the President of United Neighborhood Centers of America, a nearly century old network of nonprofit community based organizations working in the tradition of settlement houses and neighborhood centers. My day-to-day work consists of growing the network (in size and scope – we’ve gone from 123 members when I arrived in 2006 to our current size of 160 members), and increasing the visibility and influence of our movement. Relationship building, recruitment, and resource development are my main activities – these all lead to more members and (on good days) more in-kind and cash resources for our members to do their important work in neighborhoods throughout the US.
What is your educational background and area of expertise?
I possess two bachelor’s degrees (Political Science and Spanish) and two master’s degrees. The graduate level education has helped me tremendously. My master of business administration is vital for my organization as a business: understanding organizational culture, financial management and planning, marketing and positioning, and strategic planning in general all help me to manage and (on good days) lead my organization. On the other hand, my master of regional and community planning background assists me in understanding communities, neighborhoods, data, trends, and the interlocking systems that determine neighborhood success. I would classify myself as a generalist, but I get energized by all matters related to enhancing community-level leadership, youth development, and organizing constituencies for better policy outcomes.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy has reported that 82% of nonprofit CEOs are white. What does that mean for Latino leaders and other people of color who aspire to leadership roles in the future?
It means that we have to look for mentors and examples of how to succeed a little harder. Since there are fewer prospects for 1-to-1 mentors in our sector, we have to find mentors and role models from everywhere. While I greatly admire many Latino and Latina nonprofit executives, I haven’t had the opportunity to mentor under many of them. I have found great inspiration and nurturing mentors in the form of African-American men, Latinas in higher education, and many white leaders from various industries. Some of these leaders have given me valuable opportunities to lead and have taught me life and professional lessons that have served me well. I have made it a point to offer myself as a mentor – both formally and informally – to up-and-coming Latino and Latina nonprofit professionals as I meet them. I’m encouraged by the depth of talent I see coming in the generation Y leaders with whom I work.
What would you like to see changed in the nonprofit sector? How can we take action to implement that change?
We have to break out of the mental and social models of the past. This may sound ironic coming from the leader of a 100-year-old organization, but what has served us as an industry so well for so long is our adaptability. We must employ this strength to the fullest in reinventing our revenue models, our mentality about working capital, our investment in our people (volunteers and staff), and our role in policy work. I think we’ve been on the defensive and just trying to survive for far too long. We have the unique opportunity to be the social glue between all of the other sectors in making our society thrive. Corporate America wants to do good and we can show them how to deploy their resources for maximum public benefit. The Public Sector wants to make a great impact, but they have far too few resources. We can show them how ‘to do more with less.’ There’s an awakening giant in our nation around the concept of civic engagement and service. We’re the best-positioned sector to benefit from this spirit of activism and service. This means we have to embrace our role as change agents much more than we have grown accustomed to in our recent (current?) survival mode.
As a nonprofit CEO with a wife and daughter, it must be difficult to balance all the demands on your time. How do you hold it all? Are there any daily rituals or spiritual practices that help you stay centered?
I am very blessed to have a wife (my FAR better half) who has tolerated me for 15 years of marriage and a few years of courtship before that and a beautiful 10-year-old daughter who thankfully loves me unconditionally. Their patience and love are motivators. We strive to make sure that family time is sacred. I make it a point to turn “off” the professional switch when we are on vacation or celebrating our family time together. I would classify myself as a spiritual person. We, as a family, seek greater connection with God through our attendance at church, our involvement in church ministries, and prayer. In terms of daily rituals, I exercise – even if just a little bit – each day and take alone time to mentally review my priorities at least three times a week. Resetting like this enables me to keep my life and professional priorities in the proper perspective. When all else fails, I turn to my wife, who doubles as my best friend and closest confidant, to advise me back into balance.
You can follow Ian on Twitter @XicanoDeKC
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