Paul Meunier

About Paul Meunier

I believe relationships allow us to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.That belief is not anecdotal. It is historical. Human beings have survived and evolved because we learned to rely on one another. There is no reason this truth should stop at our personal lives. It\'s equally necessary in the way we lead people and the way we build organizations.My work is grounded in what I refer to as a people-centered approach to leadership. It is a way of leading that places people at the center of decision-making and focuses on creating environments where people feel trusted and able to do meaningful work. In practice, this means leading in ways that prioritize dignity, growth, and belonging alongside outcomes.The philosophy beneath that practice is what I call relational stewardship. Leadership is not about having power over people or solely controlling outcomes. It is the responsibility to care for relationships and to use influence in service of others. Stewardship means holding power with humility and understanding that how you lead people matters as much as what you accomplish.I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I found my purpose, and I am living in the self-actualization phase of it. My purpose is to be useful to others, especially those who need it most. I am dedicating my work to strengthening leadership in the field of youth work, a critical and often neglected part of systems meant to support young people.If we want to change lives at scale, leadership is the lever. I believe the field of youth work deserves the same discipline entrepreneurs use to scale a product for greater impact. Strengthening leadership is how we fundamentally address what is not working in the field of youth work. That is the work I am committed to now.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Youth Intervention Programs Association Yipa

   Jun 2014 — Present · MN, US

   As Executive Director of the Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA), I lead with a team-centered philosophy grounded in partnership. I do not view employees as staff to manage, but as partners in a shared mission. I invest deeply in coaching through weekly one-on-one sessions that focus on leadership growth, clarity, and long-term development.That approach has driven measurable, field-level impact.Since my involvement with YIPA, we have achieved the following:Increased annual training registrations from 795 to more than representing growth of over 5,100 percentExpanded learning offerings from 12 annual trainings to 78 total learning opportunitiesGrown from one learning format to nine distinct types of learning experiencesExpanded advocacy capacity from one registered lobbyist to a four-person advocacy team at the Minnesota State CapitolGrown the organization from two staff and one contracted partner to six staff and four contracted partnersExpanded YIPA’s reach from a single state to 37 states, with international engagement including CanadaIn addition to organizational leadership, I design curriculum and lead training efforts that have reached more than youth workers and thousands of youth work leaders. I also hosted a podcast for four seasons, producing 102 episodes focused on helping youth workers understand how their own life stories shape their work and relationships with young people.This work reflects my belief that when youth work leaders treat their people as partners, not only their agencies but the field of youth work itself can fundamentally improve, impacting many more young people.

Education

• St. Mary's University

  Masters, Psychology

  1992 — 1994

• University of Minnesota

  Bachelor's, Psychology

  1990

Skills

• Public Relations
• Public Policy
• Grant Writing
• Non-Profits
• Program Evaluation
• Volunteer Management
• Public Speaking
• Community Organizing
• Program Development
• Policy Analysis
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Event Planning
• Policy
• Strategic Planning
• Fundraising
• Grants
• Leadership Development
• Youth Development
• Government
• Nonprofits