Catching Up With Our Next S.L.O.W. Speaker
Monday, April 23, 2018 - Nathan Walasek
Hello Servant Leaders!
We’d like to invite you to join us on Thursday, May 17th at 3 p.m. for our FREE Servant Leaders of Wisconsin (S.L.O.W.) event. You’ll see Alexia Wood, Executive Director of St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter and The Micah Center discuss, “The Significance of the Insignificant”.
I had a conversation with Alexia to learn more about her history with Servant Leadership and what you can expect at this S.L.O.W. event.
Q: How did you first hear of Servant Leadership? Is there anything about the movement that really resonates with you? 
A: I first heard about Servant Leadership while on a mission trip to Haiti in 2013. While on this trip, we focused on supporting the local indigenous population by running soccer leagues and helping entrepreneurial businesses.
Time was set aside for us to grow as well in a way that would maximize our time in Haiti but would also extend back into our workplaces. Specifically, the focus was on elevating the lives of others first—not looking to lead, but looking to empower.
We were reminded that those who lived in Haiti were there long before we arrived and they would be there long after we left. They had the wisdom, skills, and ethic to build these businesses and mentor their children.
Our role was not to show up as the “American hero” with answers and lead.
Instead, our role was simply to empower them to recognize they possessed every skill and attribute necessary to be leaders themselves. By serving, we helped cultivate leaders. By leading, we would have only created dependence.
Q: Can you tell me a little about your presentation?
A: I like to say it’s about… A homeless man. A notebook. The Green Bay Packers. How a collision of seemingly unrelated and insignificant events freed a young professional from the pursuit of perfection and changed the trajectory of a life, an organization, and a marginalized population.
Q: Can you tell me a little about your current role at SJEHS and The Micah Center?
A: As the Executive Director for St. John’s and Micah Center, I am responsible for the vision and mission of our organizations and their programs. I work to bring awareness to the guests served at St. John’s and other various homeless shelters in the community while addressing the systemic issues that create and sustain homelessness.
St. John’s serves homeless individuals who are not eligible for mainstream shelter services. These guests are often marginalized, stigmatized, and silent. My role is to bring them a voice and a seat at the table.
From marketing and awareness, to fundraising and strategic leadership, my role is focused on ensuring our sustainability and growing our 5-year vision.
Q: What take-aways do you hope attendees will leave with after your presentation?
A: I hope that attendees walk away with a different scale for measuring success. I’d also hope they recognize the impact of seemingly independent and insignificant decisions in changing the world around them.
Join us at Alexia’s presentation and you’ll walk away with a newfound perspective on our local community and a fresh perspective to motivate you to lead and think in new ways.