Courage and creativity can transform ordinary individuals into visionary leaders by inspiring decisive and innovative action. Through my work with the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing, I recently discovered the story of African American potter Theaster Gates, which showcases the catalytic power of courageously embracing creativity in the face of fear and risk. His story serves as a reminder that creativity can transform courageous leaders into innovators by opening up new perspectives and unexplored approaches. His bold creativity fueled his ability to transcend his profession as a potter, embrace social activism, and become a respected community developer and urban planner.

The key to Gates’s success is simple: he has the courage to creatively use his skills to better his community. Gates was a world-renowned artist when he decided to address blight in Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods through strategic investments in the community. With two of his five university degrees being in urban planning, he inventively and resourcefully approached community revitalization as he would clay.

Leaders often wear many hats, but the leaders who have the most impact are those able to embrace their strengths and focus their efforts accordingly. Instead of working independently, Gates strategically partnered with other creative professionals—architects, engineers, educators, social activists, and real estate financiers—to cultivate a solution for blight in his community. Leaders who assume too many roles reduce their effectiveness and expose themselves to increased risk. Embracing other professionals and community leaders as specialized artists has allowed Gates to use his strongest traits and acquire diverse perspectives. Leaders must value their own experience and talents while recognizing the benefit of incorporating strategic partners in their work.

Gates’s first project was a risky investment in a divested community, but it evolved into a globally recognized model for community development.

Gates invested $18,000 in the abandoned Dorchester House on Chicago’s South Side, placing himself at a considerable risk, even when his education and access to experts and community stakeholders is taken into account. He exhausted all his available assets on the purchase and site beautification. In fact, Gates initially attracted visitors by simply sweeping the floor at the site as a piece of performance art. Through his efforts, Dorchester House, now known as the Archive House, evolved into a community center that hosts artist exhibitions, small dinners, and lectures, and that has enriched the community.

The fear of loss or failure can rob leaders of their courage and devalue creative thought and action. Conversely, Gates’s boldness and creativity not only shaped his vision, but also ensured the execution and success of that vision. He remained committed to his community, the city of Chicago, and his vision of turning around perceptions of the neighborhood. The small, high-risk Dorchester House project activated the community’s transformation by increasing resident involvement and engagement, attracting resources and people from around the world to an all-but-discarded community. Patronage of the space grew much faster than expected and provided Gates with a platform to leverage resources to expand his efforts and his ability to improve the community.

Archive House launched the growth of his Rebuild Foundation and artistic practice. To date, he has redeveloped six properties and through his foundation has secured over 60 properties throughout Chicago. He also has announced plans to rehab and connect these “hubs” with green space. Most notably, he acquired the 20,000-square-foot Stony Islands Trust & Savings Bank building for $1 from the city of Chicago and executed a $4.5 million renovation, largely financed through the sale of marble tiles from the deteriorating structure. Dubbed the Stony Island Arts Bank, the building had been vacant for nearly three decades. It now functions as an international platform for contemporary art and a cultural space for the community.

By approaching community development through cultural and arts centers and working with the raw materials available to him, Gates has been instrumental in bettering his community, the city of Chicago, and, through the adoption and adaptation of his model, other communities around the world. Though fear of risk could have derailed his plans and bridled his ability to influence communities globally, he instead focused on his long-term vision for his community and persevered.

Leaders often maintain a long-term perspective but find themselves adjusting their vision to mitigate risk. Risk is a pervasive force, but leaders must challenge themselves to develop and embrace fresh approaches and perspectives. All leaders have the ability to become innovators by addressing their fears creatively and remaining boldly dedicated to creating a brighter future.

To learn more about Theaster Gates’s work, read “Revitalizing the Soul and the Neighborhood through Art” at Urban Land online: http://urbanland.uli.org/economy-markets-trends/revitalizing-the-soul-and-the-neighborhood-through-art/.