Building Local Community from the Block to City Hall

Cynthia Huie, a 2024 graduate of the Master of Arts in Transformative Leadership, has dedicated her prolific career to supporting small businesses and growing community in San Francisco. She has achieved this through her work as commissioner and now president of the City of San Francisco’s Small Business Commission, and through her project On Waverly — an organization dedicated to Chinatown's future while preserving its cultural roots. At CIIS, she found a perfect match for her interest in leadership for positive change through the education offered by the Department of Transformative Inquiry.

“The program provided the space and support to explore my 'why,' she explained, “giving me the clarity to better understand how I wanted to affect those around me. Much of my work already focused on community building — the Transformative Leadership program allowed me to explore my professional interest through academic inquiry.”

In December 2023, Huie opened On Waverly as an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-centered shop and community space in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Since its opening, the space has hosted numerous events, including author readings, panel discussions, and performances by musicians and artists, fostering dialogue and connection while highlighting the diverse voices within the community. To further cultivate neighborhood community, Huie created the Waverly Block Party series. This initiative complements the nearby Chinatown Night Market, and provides a platform for young AAPI musicians, makers, and artists to showcase their talents. The block parties have become vibrant celebrations of creativity and culture, drawing diverse audiences from the greater Bay Area to experience live performances, local crafts, and meaningful community connections.

The program provided the space and support to explore my "why," giving me the clarity to better understand how I wanted to affect those around me. Much of my work already focused on community building — the Transformative Leadership program allowed me to explore my professional interest through academic inquiry.
- Cynthia Huie, M.A. '24, Transformative Leadership

While she approached her degree at CIIS from the perspective of leadership as a city official, small-business owner, and community organizer, she found extra resonances through the department’s transdisciplinary approach to integral education. “I was surprised to find myself drawn to multiple elective courses on Eastern philosophies,” she noted. “Exploring a secondary interest gave me a deeper perspective. This intersection has profoundly shaped how I experience the world and understand my role in it. In the past, I would consider myself a goal-driven person, but after the program, I am more invested in being a conduit for change rather than trying to force it.”

“Goal-driven” is, perhaps, an understatement: At the same time that she was studying and fostering community in Chinatown, Huie also served as commissioner and now president of the San Francisco Small Business Commission, advocating for small-business owners across the city. In this role, she provides oversight to the mayor and board of supervisors during the legislative process, ensuring that the needs and perspectives of the small-business community are prioritized, so that local businesses and communities can thrive.

Through her work with the Small Business Commission and On Waverly, Huie remains committed to advancing community, cultivating joy, and empowering the next generation of leaders and creators. Her experiences continue to deepen her commitment to transformative leadership, and her belief in the power of human connection and creative spaces to drive positive change. “I carry the entirety of this experience with me every day,” she said of her time at CIIS. “It has truly transformed how I see my work as an activist, creator, and entrepreneur. Being part of cohorts filled with thoughtful changemakers, engaging with texts that encourage mindfulness of the small details, and learning to critically examine myself have all deeply shaped my perspective as a leader in my community.”