JoBeth defined autonomy as having the choices, access and ability to move through the world without being hindered by the structures and systems that are put in place. This definition informed the whole of the conversation, which centered around the agency found in community, themes of nature, and what Hamon calls the “squishy middle.”

Creating space for more people like Nikki Nice in leadership is empowering because it offers a new template for what autonomy and empowerment can look like. Breaking the mold of historically oppressive structures and turning to fresh, new ideas, can teach us how to create space for and serve more people.