Kim Dabbs

Michigan Nightlight: What does being a leader mean to you?
West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology Executive Director Kim Dabbs: Being a leader is about building a stronger community through the continuous engagement of everyone. At WMCAT we talk a lot about the student voice. This is very important to uncovering the leadership potential in our students. This spring we created a Teen Advisory Council to ensure the student voice is prevalent in our programming. By engaging teens throughout WMCAT and further connecting them to their community, we are leading the way for a more vibrant, inclusive Grand Rapids. Personally, I lead by sharing the WMCAT story, working hard to make valuable connections for our students, and sharing our best practices with the field.

My dream is for all kids to have choices in their lives. Having equity in access to those choices is critical.

 
What is your dream for kids? My dream is for all kids to have choices in their lives. Having equity in access to those choices is critical. At WMCAT we remove barriers to opportunity and provide a culture that creates an environment for all kids to realize their potential.
 
What is one concrete thing that could be done to improve the environment for social sector work in Michigan?
A unified voice is key to driving change in the sector. Through collaborative efforts and sharing a common voice across sectors, we can affect positive social change.
 
How do you know you’re making progress?
When we can see our mission in action impacting the lives of constituents we serve. Our mission is to create a culture of opportunity for people to make social and economic progress in their lives and community. We know we are achieving that mission when an adult finds a new career pathway that moves their entire family toward opportunity; we know we are achieving our mission when an urban teen finds their voice and confidence at WMCAT, leading them to seek and pursue new educational pathways after high school.
 
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the world that we are building and a legacy of opportunity for future generations. At WMCAT we are

...the impact we are having on students will go far beyond our walls, moving whole families to greater financial stability and young people to promising futures as creative leaders.

creating pathways to opportunity so that adults and teens can make positive, fulfilling decisions for their own lives and careers. We create an environment that is supportive, while challenging our students to reach and set goals. I am proud that the impact we are having on students will go far beyond our walls, moving whole families to greater financial stability and young people to promising futures as creative leaders.
 
Reflecting on your career, what would you say was your greatest professional learning experience? 
Together, change is possible. When I was executive director of Michigan Youth Arts, we were able to pull together 16 arts education organizations and government agencies for a unified voice in advocacy at the state level. I believe strongly in collaboration and collective change. At WMCAT we are involving our adult and teen students, parents, educators, and employers in a common mission of providing pathways to opportunity. This is collaborative work of which I am extremely proud.