Phoenix, AZ (STN) â Angela Hughey co-founded ONE Community in 2008 with a small but dedicated team committed to making Arizona more inclusive for the community. Today, ONE Community stands as a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ legislation and initiatives in the state. The organization played a pivotal role in opposing Arizonaâs controversial Senate Bill 1062 (SB 1062), which would have allowed businesses to refuse service to individuals based on religious beliefs. The bill was eventually vetoed by former Governor Jan Brewer.
Hughey recently joined Arizona Achievers and discussed her journey of leadership with the organization. She shared how she prepared her team to deal with her absence from the organization during her recent health scare. Hughey also offered her advice on the importance of taking breaks from work, allowing leaders to be the best version of themselves for their team.
.STN:
People around the community are familiar with your recent health scare and the battles you have had to overcome. What has the past year been like for you while you have been working to get healthy and strong while still leading ONE Community and doing the important work you all do in Arizona?
Angela Hughey:
I want to start by saying I feel fantastic. I have awesome numbers and I’m officially in remission. The last year has been really remarkable and it is interesting how during difficult times you can find beautiful pieces in life. It was a very emotional journey for Sherry, me, and our team. In so many ways it was a wonderful journey as well. I am super fortunate how it all worked out. I think the universe was watching out for me throughout the journey and I am glad to be here back with some curlier hair, but hey, we are digging it.
STN:
How did the health challenges you were dealing with impact the work you were doing leading ONE Community?
AH:
I believed in over-communicating. As we were learning more and more about my health journey and what may be ahead of us, we would have individual calls with our team. We had a plan A and a plan B, we knew I would be stepping back for a time but the awesome thing about surrounding yourself with remarkably talented people is their ability to lead. I stepped back and stayed a part of ONE Community, took the time I needed to make sure I had the best health journey I could have, and I don’t think anyone missed me. It is a testament to our team because they lifted ONE Community up and our important work continued. We purred along like a kitten.
STN:
You started ONE Community in 2008. What have you learned during your leadership journey, and what are some skills you have now that you did not have back when you first started the organization?
AH:
We were young and scrappy and tiny back then, and again, I am lucky to have a remarkably skilled team. I don’t have to touch everything and I don’t want to touch everything. It is about stepping back, doing the things that I am good at, and also really being our team’s project manager. My job is to make sure that every single one of our team members has gas and directions. They are in charge, they know where they’re going, and I am there to support them in their journey to get important work done. It is great to not touch everything. People have said I lead from behind and that’s something I take great pride in.
STN:
ONE Community has been around since 2008 and you all have become a sustainable force in the community. What have been some of your keys to sustainability when it comes to getting outside funding and support for ONE Community?
AH:
We are never in a hurry. We want to build trust. We want to walk alongside businesses, community leaders, and organizations we are hoping to partner with. It is also important not to take things personally. My job is to bring what I call opportunities to our business partners and our community partners. Their job is to tell me which opportunity is right for their organizations. One opportunity might be speaking at a press conference, another might be signing onto a letter, or it might be the opportunity to sponsor an event. There are many opportunities for ONE community to help Arizona become a state that truly celebrates, respects, and protects everyone equally. It can be hot, particularly on the advocacy side and it is important that we don’t take things personally. I put it all out there. I am a big believer that no means not now. It does not mean never. We are patient and we are persistent and we walk alongside our partners.
STN:
You talked earlier about empowering your team and the community, how do you empower the group you work with at ONE Community and how do you all work to empower the community?
AH:
We have created a safe space for people to have conversations around equality. We may walk alongside a business or community leader for a couple of years before they are at a place where they feel like they want to sit on a panel and talk about accessibility and equality. Or, they may want to be at a press conference talking about the subject, or are we ready organizationally to sign on to this. Often we work with groups on how to make sure they have created a truly authentic workplace that is inclusive for everyone and makes every team member feel like they belong.
There is no right way to do this. The biggest thing is doing what you say you are going to do by walking alongside the folks you are working to help. When we do that, we give people the space and the grace to evolve and talk about a subject that may have made them uncomfortable in the past.
STN:
You like to preach making an impact without yelling at anyone, explain what you mean.
AH:
I always say I didn’t like being yelled at as a kid. I certainly don’t like being yelled at as an adult. At ONE Community we lean into positive messages. Looking back to 2014 and SB 1062, our mission was to create a positive message so that all Arizonanâs voices can be heard. The message we wanted to convey was open for business to everyone. We (ONE Community) lean into and lift up businesses and organizations that are doing it right, that are inclusive, and support inclusive policy. We thank people who are working to make Arizona a better place for everyone. Whether it is signing a pledge, coming out and speaking at an event, testifying for a municipal ordinance, or signing a letter supporting equality and fairness for all Arizonans. We thank folks for standing up and being courageous.
STN:
Our dear friend Robin Reed taught us an important lesson. He said donât be anti-anything, be pro-something. Being anti is easy because it does not require action. Being pro-something means you are actively working towards a goal and are encouraging others to join. It seems like your team has found the right formula.
AH:
It is about being actionable. This is our state, the question is, how do you want to impact the future of our state? Be an actionable ally. You may not be a member of the LBGTQ+ community, but treating all people fairly in our great state is an issue that impacts every one of us. We want to be a state that celebrates, respects, and protects everyone equally. It requires all of us to participate.
STN:
You have seen a lot of change and progress in the state, but what is the tone when you talk to community leaders around Arizona? Are we getting enough leaders creating the actionable opportunities you talk about?
AH:
I think we are doing an awesome job. This is a difficult time in our state and our nation. Being on the sidewalk is probably the least safe space because not saying something, is truly saying something. Without a doubt, business leaders from different organizations and community leaders understand that we are better together. It is something ONE Community has said for a long time, we are all allies. If there are mean-spirited bills meant to harm members of the Hispanic community, our job is to stand beside our dear friends in the Hispanic community. When there are things meant to target LGBTQ+ Arizonans, our friends in other communities are our actionable allies. We are all Arizonans and it is important to have a voice and work collectively in a collaborative way to move our great state forward.
STN:
What is it like for you when you meet leaders who are creating actionable opportunities? Do you know right away that they are on to something good?
AH:
When you walk into a meeting with someone and donât have a predetermined outcome in mind, It’s amazing what can happen if you allow the moment to be whatever it is going to be and to go on whatever journey you can go on. It is amazing how much change you can create.
STN:
What are some things you do to reset and recharge your batteries?
AH:
I’m not afraid to go on a walkabout. I believe in a flexible schedule for our team. Checking in with yourself throughout the day is a great thing. Sometimes it has been a rough day. It is okay to say, all right, we’re going to get back to this tomorrow. It can be a good thing. I give myself permission to be the imperfect human being that I am. Go on a walkabout. There is nothing like a good hike. Get up early in the morning, get started early, get it done, and take good care of yourself.
STN:
Do the walkabouts allow you to be more prepared and present in whatever meetings you have for the day?
AH:
If you are tired, overstressed, and you are trying to put the square peg in the round hole, I don’t think you’re bringing your best self into any meeting. There is a kinder, gentler way that we are treating ourselves, and me in particular, I’m very aware of when I need to take a timeout. A health journey will do that to you. I think I am showing up even better than I was before, and that’s fantastic because I want to bring my best self into any meeting our team members, a partner, or a potential partner. I also want to ensure that our team members are getting the best version of me.
For more information on ONE Community visit their website.
