The Power of Community: Stories of Impact [Podcast]

Strong communities thrive when leaders listen, collaborate, and center humanity in their work.

The Community Leadership Graduate Program at UMBC helps professionals gain skills to lead nonprofit and community projects well. In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. ’23 speaks with Ana Zandarin, M.P.S. ’23, Community Leadership. They discuss Ana’s experience in the graduate program and how it affects the real world.

Watch the full episode on YouTube!

Deepening Purpose Through the Community Leadership Graduate Program

Dennise:
You recently graduated from the Community Leadership Graduate Program. How has the experience been for you so far?

Ana:
The experience has been incredibly positive and deeply transformative. The program strengthened my understanding of the nonprofit sector while connecting me with local organizations and advocates. Those relationships helped me see how theory becomes action through real community partnerships.

Finding Community Connection in Baltimore’s Neighborhoods

Dennise:
You’ve lived in Argentina, Spain, and now Baltimore. How has Baltimore’s community shaped your leadership journey?

Ana:
Baltimore helped me reconnect with a local sense of belonging that I missed after leaving my hometown in Argentina. The city feels deeply interconnected, where relationships matter and communities feel personal. Baltimore’s strong social justice history also aligns closely with my values and interests.

Choosing a Community-Centered Graduate Program Over Policy

Dennise:
What drew you specifically to UMBC’s Community Leadership Graduate Program?

Ana:
I initially explored public policy but realized change happens most powerfully from the ground up. The Community Leadership Graduate Program offered hands-on learning, interdisciplinary perspectives, and real partnerships. That applied approach ultimately convinced me this program aligned with my values.

Servant Leadership and Diverse Learning Cohorts at UMBC

Dennise:
What stood out most during your time in the program?

Ana:
The diverse cohort experience shaped my learning in powerful ways. Students came from different backgrounds, yet shared a commitment to service and community understanding. The program reinforced servant leadership and helped contextualize systemic issues like redlining and inequity within Baltimore.

Essential Skills for Success in a Community Leadership Program

Dennise:
Many people hesitate about graduate school. What skills help students succeed in this program?

Ana:
The program builds critical nonprofit leadership skills, including governance, fundraising, and partnership development. Equally important, it demands self-reflection. Growth happens when students challenge biases, sit with discomfort, and commit to continuous personal development.

Building Trust Through Transparency in Community Partnerships

Dennise:
Those skills sound essential beyond graduate school.

Ana:
Absolutely. Community work depends on honest, transparent partnerships. Leaders must clearly communicate needs, challenges, and strengths. This program consistently reinforced that trust grows through vulnerability and authentic collaboration.

Applying Community Leadership Skills in Nonprofit Education Work

Dennise:
What are you doing now, and how are you using your degree?

Ana:
I currently serve as Director of the Summer Academy at Arts for Learning Maryland. We support over 2,000 students annually through arts-based education. The program shaped how I lead teams, build partnerships, and center community voices rather than assumptions.

Capstone Projects as Real-World Community Leadership Practice

Dennise:
Tell us about your capstone experience.

Ana:
I partnered with colleagues at Arts for Learning Maryland on a qualitative research project. We evaluated the long-term impact of the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program. The capstone emphasized responding to partner needs rather than imposing predetermined academic goals.

Leadership Lessons From a Community Leadership Graduate Program Capstone

Dennise:
What lessons stayed with you from that experience?

Ana:
Time management and choosing the right partners proved critical. Using project management tools helped balance work, school, and family life. Selecting a responsive, aligned partner made the project both effective and deeply meaningful.

Human-Centered Leadership at Scale in Community Programs

Dennise:

That balance can be challenging in large programs.

Ana:
It can, but focusing on humanity makes the work worthwhile. Even while serving thousands of students, we prioritize individual relationships, local staff, and neighborhood-based experiences. The project reinforced that thoughtful design creates lasting impact.

Leadership at Scale in Community Leadership Programs

Dennise:
What excites you most about your next chapter?

Ana:
Graduation marks a beginning, not an end. I remain committed to partnerships, mentorship, and lifting others as I grow. Community leadership requires constant learning, humility, and a dedication to centering people in every decision.

Lifelong Growth After Completing a Community Leadership Graduate Program

Ana’s journey shows how the Community Leadership Graduate Program at UMBC helps leaders make real change. They do this through service, reflection, and teamwork. Her story reminds us that leadership thrives when rooted in humanity, partnership, and lifelong learning.

Watch the full recorded podcast on YouTube to hear Ana’s insights in her own words.