Beyond the Title: 12 Questions with Christopher Peguero

Christopher Peguero

Executive Director, The Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability

Christopher Peguero is a community engagement and nonprofit leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing social justice, environmental sustainability, organizational development, and strategic partnerships. A proud member of the Menominee Nation through his mother and of Mexican American heritage through his father, Christopher's commitment to equity and community is rooted in his lived experiences and lifelong dedication to service. He has held leadership roles with Type One Energy, Promega, Seattle City Light, and the City of Madison. Currently serving on the Verona Area School District Board, Christopher is Executive Director of The Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability.

01Built to Last starts with a strong foundation. What is the foundation your leadership is built on, and how do you return to it when things get shaky?

My leadership is grounded in my lived experiences, my Indigenous and Mexican heritage, my family, and my commitment to equity and justice. I know what it feels like to be marginalized, to find my voice, and to face resistance for using it.

I've spent more than 25 years working to change systems, build community, and create opportunities for people who have historically been excluded from decision-making.

When things get difficult, I return to my values, my family, and my community. I remind myself who I'm accountable to and why this work matters. I've learned that leadership isn't about having all the answers or doing everything yourself. It's about building relationships, sharing power, and having the courage to keep showing up, especially when things get uncomfortable.

02Where do you come from, and how do your roots keep you steady when leadership gets hard?

I come from Indigenous and Mexican roots, with family ties to the Menominee Nation and central Mexico. I grew up in Wisconsin, and my experiences as a queer person of color have shaped how I see the world and how I lead.

My family history includes generations of resilience, displacement, and injustice, including the lasting impact of Indian boarding schools on my family. Those experiences remind me that the work we're doing today is connected to the struggles and sacrifices of those who came before us.

When leadership gets hard, I think about my ancestors, my family, and the responsibility I have to future generations. My roots remind me that I'm part of something much bigger than myself, and that the work of creating change is never just about one person.

03What's a piece of advice that has stood the test of time for you, the kind you still come back to years later?

Never forget where you came from or the people who helped you get where you are. Leadership isn't about titles, recognition, or individual success. It's about relationships, accountability, and what you do with the opportunities you've been given.

04What's a book, quote, lyric, or scripture that has stayed with you and shaped how you lead or live?

A quote by Audre Lorde that has stayed with me is, “The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house.”

It reminds me that we can't expect systems built on exclusion and inequity to change simply by continuing to operate the same way. We have to challenge how decisions are made, who holds power, and whose voices are missing.

That has shaped my approach to leadership throughout my career. I believe in working within systems to create change, but also recognizing when those systems themselves need to be fundamentally transformed.

05What's something you've had to rebuild after it broke or fell apart, and what did that teach you about building things that last?

After being publicly targeted for my equity and inclusion work, I had to rebuild my career, my sense of security, and my trust in institutions. It also deeply impacted my family.

What carried me through were the relationships I'd built over the years and the community that stood beside me. It taught me that titles and institutions are temporary, but strong relationships, shared values, and community are what truly last.

06What's one question every leader should ask if they want to build something that outlasts them, and why?

Leadership isn't about titles, recognition, or having your name attached to something. It's about creating lasting impact, building sustainable systems, sharing power, and investing in others to carry the work forward.

Ultimately, the goal of equity and justice work should be to create a world where that work is no longer necessary. Where we've built sustainable, just, liberated, and decolonized systems that serve everyone without requiring constant advocacy or intervention. To me, successful leadership means building something that no longer needs you, because the community has the power, resources, and opportunities to sustain itself.

07Who are you actively preparing to carry this work forward, and what are you doing to set them up to succeed without you?

I'm investing in the next generation of leaders, especially young people and those from communities that have historically been excluded from positions of power. That includes my own children, the young people I work with, and emerging leaders in the organizations and communities I serve.

I'm intentional about sharing knowledge, opening doors, building relationships, and creating opportunities for others to lead and make decisions. I want to help build systems where leadership is shared, resources are accessible, and people have the support and confidence to succeed without me. Ultimately, my success is measured by what others are able to accomplish long after I've stepped away.

08When leadership feels heavy, what do you turn to (music, travel, culture, faith) that restores you and keeps you feeling like yourself?

I turn to my family, my culture, music, travel, and the outdoors. Being in nature helps me reconnect with the land, my Indigenous roots, and myself. I've also learned that joy and rest are acts of resistance and liberation, especially for those of us whose communities have spent generations fighting for equity and justice. We can't allow the work to consume us or define our entire existence. Making time for love, laughter, connection, and simply enjoying life is part of what we're fighting for in the first place.

09When you think about the legacy you want to leave, what do you hope still stands long after you've moved on?

I don't spend much time thinking about my legacy. I'm more concerned about the impact of the work and what continues after I've moved on. I hope I've helped build stronger communities, opened doors for others, and contributed to systems that are more equitable, just, and sustainable.

I want to see people I've worked alongside continue to grow, lead, and create change on their own terms. Ultimately, I hope the work becomes less necessary because we've created communities where equity, justice, and liberation are built into how we live and operate. I don't need my name attached to any of it. I just want the work to matter.

10What's a small daily habit or discipline that has compounded into something meaningful over time?

Making time to connect with people, listen, and build relationships has been one of my most meaningful practices. Those small interactions build trust and often lead to opportunities years later.

I also make a conscious effort to keep learning and challenge what has become comfortable. Music has always been important to me, and learning classical guitar is one way I practice patience, discipline, and being a beginner again. I believe growth requires curiosity, humility, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. Those small, consistent efforts have shaped how I approach both life and leadership.

11What's a moment in your life where the music playing in the background ended up meaning more than you expected, a song that showed up right when you needed it, or made an ordinary moment stick with you?

Music has always been connected to important moments in my life, especially love, loss, and finding myself. There are songs that can instantly take me back to my younger years, coming out, losing my first partner to HIV, and eventually finding my voice and community.

What strikes me is how a song can bring back a person, a place, or a feeling decades later. Music reminds me how much I've experienced, how much I've grown, and how the people we've loved continue to be part of who we are.

12What's a tradition in your life or family that you hope lasts for generations?

I hope my children carry forward our connection to our Indigenous and Mexican roots, our family stories, and traditions, including good food, music, laughter, and gathering with people we love. Our family history includes cultural displacement and traditions that were interrupted or lost, so reconnecting with those roots is important to me.

I also want to pass down a connection to the land, a curiosity about the world, and an understanding that we're part of a much larger global community. More than anything, I hope future generations carry forward a sense of belonging, pride in who they are, and a responsibility to care for one another and the world around them.