The End of an Era, and an Exciting New Beginning
A Fond Farewell from HPA Executive Director Matt Maggiacomo
Dear HPA Community,
I write you all today with some very big news: after 13 years of service to the Harry Potter Alliance, I will be stepping down as Executive Director and departing the organization at the end of June. I will have the distinct honor and privilege to pass the reins to Katie Bowers, who’ll serve as Managing Director of the HPA while the Board of Directors begins an official Executive Search in coming weeks. Katie has worked as our Campaigns Director for the past four years, and has presided over some of our most successful efforts: A World Without Hermione, Protego, Dumbledore’s Army Fights Back, and more. Her compassionate and inclusive leadership will set the tone as the HPA enters a time of pivotal (and exciting!) transition.
The Harry Potter Alliance is so much more than a nonprofit organization with impactful campaigns and programs. For many of us, it’s an essential part of our identity, a network of friends and colleagues, and a moral compass for navigating a complex and sometimes scary world. When I joined the HPA’s founding board in 2007, I became part of a group of people who envisioned a Harry Potter-themed chapters program with global reach, and a worldwide community of fans working for equality and human rights. This vision was absolutely wild at the time; nothing quite like the HPA had ever existed before. Over a decade later, fan activist methodology has spread well beyond the boundaries of the HPA, and popular culture is a recognized and respected catalyst for social change. Furthermore, from the establishment of the first HPA chapter in 2006 (by Anna Dardick, who now serves on our Board of Directors!), our Chapters Program has expanded across the United States and into 38 countries worldwide. At any given moment, as many as 50 HPA chapters are organizing fan activism campaigns to positively transform their local communities. I’d say that the original vision of this organization’s founders has been achieved and then some!
Oddly enough, I am the last of our founding board members to depart. My original role in this organization’s development was mostly as a steward and liaison to the wizard rock community. From the moment I realized I had a public platform that could be leveraged, I decided to use it to promote the HPA. In fact, our Creator and Co-Founder was able to begin working full-time for the HPA because of the $2,500 I raised through my first charitable wizard rock compilation, Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice. Little did I know that I would eventually become the organization’s third executive director and lead fundraiser, frequently responsible for efforts 40 times the size of that original fundraising effort.
These past 4.5 years as executive director have been infinitely challenging and rewarding. I’ve been supported by the best team on the planet: Amber, Acacia, Katie, and Janae are four of the most talented and passionate people you’ll ever meet. Together, we’ve worked through some significant challenges to keep the HPA ahead of the curve on organizing methodology. We’ve also vastly expanded the trainings and resources available to our members, including Granger Leadership Academy, Wizard Activist School, and our Fandom Forward activism toolkits. We’ve never been content with simply organizing an online petition and telling our members where to click. We want HPA members to emerge from our campaigns and programs with the knowledge, confidence, and resiliency necessary to engage in a lifetime of activism. More than anything else, this is the legacy and crowning achievement of our current crew, and the results of our work will be felt for decades to come.
All of that said, there’s no doubt that the political and social landscape has changed. Our brand of joyful activism really stands out as peculiar at a time when the challenges we face are so dire. I’m certain we’ll maintain that positive tone forever, but I’ve also recognized the need for fresh perspective as we retool
the HPA for maximum impact in our current global context. My willingness to step down in this moment is an act of recognition that my founder’s perspective may represent a strategic limitation for the HPA. My intent is to make room for someone who can bring new energy and vision to our organization’s leadership, and I honestly can’t wait to find out who that new leader is! My #1 recommendation is Hermione Granger, but I think she’s a little busy with her political career at the moment.
Even as I depart from the employ of the HPA, I will remain available as a resource and advisor to Katie and the whole team. And of course, I’ll always be a part of the wider HPA community. Still, I’m very excited to channel my skill set into some new projects, and maybe even have time to write music again. Whatever my path, you can bet that I’ll be putting energy into making the world a better place, lifting up and supporting others, and making sure my three-year old son grows up knowing that the only weapon he needs is love.
The future of the HPA is bright. With great gratitude, and for the last time in this role, I invite you to invest in the next chapter of the HPA and our commitment to make real, lasting change in the world with a donation of $13 (for 13 years!) today:
Support the HPA’s Bright Future!
Stay magical,
Matt Maggiacomo
