# S8E24: Catalyzing Community-Led Leadership with Alysia Lee

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/black-woman-leading-3688363/s8e24-catalyzing-community-led-leadership-with-alysia-lee
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/black-woman-leading-3688363/s8e24-catalyzing-community-led-leadership-with-alysia-lee.md
Podcast: [Black Woman Leading](https://stenobird.com/podcast/black-woman-leading-3688363)
Published: 2026-04-09T09:44:00+00:00
Episode link: https://blackwomanleading.com/podcast/
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/blackwomanleading/Alysia_Lee.mp3?dest-id=2742914
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/black-woman-leading-3688363/episodes/s8e24-catalyzing-community-led-leadership-with-alysia-lee
Duration seconds: 4350

## Resource

In this episode, Laura sits down with Alysia Lee, President & CEO of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, to explore what it means to lead through community, creativity, and shared power. Alysia brings a unique leadership lens shaped by her background as a musician and composer, offering insight into how artistic practice (listening, collaboration, and responsiveness) translates into her approach as a first-time CEO. At the heart of the conversation is Alysia's approach to Ubuntu community-led leadership—a model that challenges traditional, expert-driven systems and instead centers collective wisdom, shared ownership, and trust. She shares how community voice is not just consulted, but embedded in decision-making at the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, including real examples of how community input has shaped funding strategies and organizational direction. Alysia also offers a candid look at the inner work required to lead differently. Moving from having the answers to facilitating collective insight requires unlearning, humility, and a willingness to sit in uncertainty. She speaks openly about what it takes to quiet the instinct to control and instead cultivate environments where others can contribute meaningfully. The conversation also explores the realities of leading within complex stakeholder ecosystems, including youth, community members, funders, and policymakers, and how to navigate differing expectations while maintaining alignment and trust. About Alysia Alysia Lee is the President & CEO of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, where she leads one of the nation's most innovative public philanthropic organizations dedicated to advancing racial equity and youth leadership. Under her leadership, BCYF has transformed traditional grantmaking by centering community…

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## Transcript

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