Steve Glaude

Jim was on the board of CNHED years before I replaced its founder, Bob Pohlman, in 2014. He was co-chair of the housing committee and guided a lot of CNHED’s pursuits, positions, and programs. 

I was not a housing subject matter expert. I was an experienced nonprofit leader and political insider who worked for the previous mayor. I was less confrontational than CNHED was used to. 

I was like, “You win through ideas and relationships. City leaders care, they just may not understand.” Jim was very much, “You win through advocacy and confrontation. You push city leaders to do what’s right.” So Jim and I struggled for a couple of years to find rhythm. 

One time there was an issue — something to do with housing first — and it was clear that we were not going to get what we needed. Everybody else thought it was over. Jim would not let it go.  

We had this terse, really personal exchange and I asked: “Jim, why can’t you see this is the best we can get?”

I remember him looking at me with tears in his eyes and saying, “The reason I can’t is because I do not want to give up.” 

It set me back in my heels. It made me reexamine my own posture. We shouldn’t give up. We should either fight or find another way. That moment informed me of Jim’s authenticity. It led me to embrace the notion that the people we’re trying to help can’t afford us to be marginal — not in our design work, not in our political fortitude, and not in our efforts. 

Jim is a constant steward of rejecting marginality. That conversation with him changed me. It guided me and I’ve used it to frame the core value of CNHED. I have to give Jim credit for that.