From City Council to Educating and Uplifting the Next Generation in Politics: Meet Robin Kniech
This Women's History Month we are honored to feature Robin Kniech, Program Director at the University of Colorado Denver's Center for New Directions in Politics & Policy.
Tell us about your journey.
I was raised the daughter of working class parents, a construction worker and a factory worker. I didn't fully understand until college that, though money was always tight and things weren't easy, the stability and health insurance my family did have came from the fact my parents were union members and my dad could rely on the public safety net of unemployment insurance when the ground froze and he was out of work laying sewer pipe each winter. I was the first person among my parents and grandparents to earn a college degree, and my education helped me understand how my upbringing had shaped my values in terms of the dignity of hard work, workplace protections, and the importance of safety nets and systems to support families struggling to make ends meet. My career began in the women's movement, but quickly pivoted after law school to focus more on the broader topic of economic justice. Women can only be free to make choices for themselves, whether about their health care or to escape an abusive home, if they have the economic means to do so.
I first worked from the outside to shape Denver into a more equitable city, working in coalition with low-income housing residents, conservation partners, and labor unions to advocate for affordability, wage and environmental standards on publicly subsidized development in the city. Then I was elected to Denver City Council as the first out member of the LGBTQ+ community and began working to advance economic and social justice from within government through projects and policies. I served for 12 years until I was termed out, always striving to model cogovernance with communities who might be impacted as I transformed Denver's approach to housing and workplace standards.
Today I'm helping to educate and develop the skills of the next generation of local leaders through a graduate program at CU Denver's New Directions in Politics and Public Policy. Our students represent a diverse group including many first generation students, immigrants and BIPOC students and all gender identities and sexual orientations. They are representative of Colorado and its communities and therefore are well-poised to bring their life experience together with a formal education to make change that uplifts communities.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
In the early 2000s my coalition was advocating for equity standards in the development that was to surround Union Station. At that time there was only a dream to build the transit hub that exists today, it was just a beautiful building and old freight rail lines. The city, state, region and RTD came together to plan for and finance the new transit hub, and the Mayor of Denver appointed me to the board, believing it was important to bring the community perspective into the project. I had never sat at a governing table before, and doing so was both enlightening and rewarding. I learned about why and how some things that were important to our community were harder to achieve than I realized, and the importance of finding common ground to advance common interests where they could be found. Serving on the Union Station Project Authority ultimately helped convince me I would like to run for public office.
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned about yourself through your life and career?
Our strengths are often also our greatest challenges, and we must strive to be accountable for our shortcomings while loving our whole imperfect selves. For example, I am known for having a strong voice and passion for values I hold and for policies that will help advance equity and justice. That strength has helped me persevere through hurdles and barriers and stay the course until progress can be made. My enthusiasm can also sometimes come on too strong and sometimes I have to practice pausing to ensure others can also step up and lead. Authentic accountability and repair when we fail are really critical leadership qualities and they help to maintain strong relationships in heated environments, such as politics.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
As described above, my values were shaped by my childhood. Seeing how hard people work and yet still fall behind/just barely get by, and believing that we can do better as the wealthiest nation in the world. That our whole community is better off when families have the resources they need and a safety net during tough times.
If you could go back and advise your younger self, what would it be?
Pay attention to your health and breathe more! Adrenaline and the energy to work long, intense hours are a gift that can help you succeed in the moment. But staying in a chronic state of activation (answering emails and doing or thinking about work at all hours!) takes a toll on a body in ways you may not realize or pay attention to until you've done some damage. Pause, breath, take more breaks to ensure you "reset" regularly.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
Evidence is clear that the success of individuals from different backgrounds doesn't just benefit them/their families, but the companies, organizations or government agencies where they land. GlobalMindED can Help us advance the dialogue about how outcomes are improved when we support the education and advancement of leaders, why we all have a stake and that it is about us.
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