Community Leadership
Community leadership is at the heart of everything I do. Through Streetlights Uganda and my work as a Shriver Peaceworker Fellow, I've dedicated my career to building equitable, creative, and economically sustainable communities.
My approach to community leadership is grounded in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), restorative practices, and deep listening. I believe that communities already have the resources, knowledge, and capacity to transform themselves—they just need support, facilitation, and platforms to amplify their voices.
Leadership Philosophy
"I believe ending poverty is not charity. It is justice."
My leadership philosophy centers on the belief that every person has inherent worth and potential. Growing up in poverty, raised by a strong single mother, I learned early that justice and opportunity should belong to every child. This truth shapes every decision I make as a leader.
I take personal responsibility to challenge systems of inequality—not by waiting for change, but by building it with communities, churches, NGOs, governments, and young leaders across the world. I will not stop until every person everywhere has the opportunity to thrive.
Core Leadership Principles
Asset-Based Approach
Instead of focusing on deficits, I identify and amplify existing community strengths, resources, and knowledge. Every community has assets—whether it's traditional skills, cultural heritage, or the resilience of its members.
Participatory Leadership
True transformation happens when community members are co-creators, not just beneficiaries. I facilitate processes where community voices lead decision-making and program design.
Restorative Practices
I create safe and brave spaces where conflict can be addressed, relationships can be repaired, and communities can heal. This approach builds trust and strengthens community bonds.
Systems Thinking
I understand that individual challenges are often symptoms of systemic issues. My leadership addresses root causes while creating immediate impact, working at multiple levels simultaneously.
Impact by the Numbers
Leadership Roles & Impact
Founder & CEO, Streetlights Uganda
Since 2014, I've led Streetlights Uganda to become one of Uganda's leading art-for-social-change organizations. Under my leadership, the organization has:
- Empowered 2,000+ street-connected children
- Trained 90+ women through the Ntunga Fashion Program
- Returned 22 children to school (2023–2025)
- Featured 12 children as Lancet Journal cover artists (2026)
- Created 1,010+ creative tote bags through Bag Yange
Shriver Peaceworker Fellow
As a 2025–2026 Shriver Peaceworker Fellow at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, I'm deepening my expertise in community systems design, nonprofit ethics, and leadership development. This fellowship allows me to:
- Study community leadership at the graduate level
- Develop advanced skills in restorative practices
- Build networks with global change-makers
- Integrate academic learning with field experience
Community Organizer & Advocate
Beyond organizational leadership, I serve as a community organizer, bringing together diverse stakeholders—from government officials to grassroots activists—to address systemic challenges facing marginalized communities.
My Leadership Approach
Deep Listening
I begin every project by listening deeply to community members, understanding their needs, dreams, and concerns before proposing solutions.
Collaborative Design
Programs are co-designed with community members, ensuring they're culturally responsive, contextually appropriate, and sustainable.
Capacity Building
I invest in building the skills and confidence of community members, creating pathways for them to become leaders themselves.
Long-term Commitment
Real change takes time. I'm committed to long-term relationships with communities, not short-term interventions.
Leadership Impact Stories
Community Transformation
Through Streetlights Uganda, I've witnessed firsthand how art can transform communities. From street-connected children finding their voice through creative expression to women building sustainable livelihoods through fashion design, the impact extends far beyond individual programs.
Youth Empowerment
The Future Me program has helped countless young people explore career pathways, build confidence, and develop creative skills. Seeing 22 children return to school and 12 featured as Lancet Journal cover artists demonstrates the power of investing in youth potential.
Leadership in Action