Transforming Paths to Belonging
At The Slate Studio, Jonathan Pitts-Wiley's lens reveals the depth behind Kevin Matta's gentle demeanor. As the Senior Director of People & Culture at United Way of Rhode Island, Kevin's journey from the son of Guatemalan immigrants to a champion of workplace inclusivity reveals the transformative power of personal experience and humble leadership.
"I'm a very complex individual who's had to learn a lot about myself over the years of my life," Kevin reflects. His story is one of internal growth as much as professional development. "I think many other people, I've had struggles, I've had ups and downs, I've had moments of celebration, and a lot of it I've dealt with inside of myself."
Kevin's early life was shaped by his unique position within his family. As the only one born in the United States to Guatemalan parents, he grew up with a constant awareness of his family's precarious situation. "I grew up with a very scarcity-set mindset," Kevin recalls, "because we were worried at any given time immigration was going to come and deport my family."
This reality created complex questions for young Kevin. "That's really hard as a young man trying to rationalize. Well, I was born here, so why do I have to leave if my whole family does? not understanding the government." He witnessed his parents' struggle firsthand: "Seeing my parents work around the clock to make ends meet, to pay legal bills, to try to get their citizenship and finally become an American citizen, felt very hard to watch."
The contrast between his birthright citizenship and his parents' journey was stark. "I had it for free just by chance of me being born here," he reflects, "and yet they were paying thousands and thousands of dollars and sweat labor and equity and unfair treatment." He witnessed his family face numerous challenges, from being treated poorly in public places because they didn't know English to being denied fair wages due to their legal status.
At 18, Kevin's life took an unexpected turn. With his family needing financial support, he entered the workforce at a large bank. This was a significant shift for someone who had been groomed for a different path entirely - that of a pastor. "I played the piano, I led worship, I did music, I did everything," he recalls.
However, his experience in the church proved complicated. "Church didn't end up being the most inclusive place for me," Kevin shares. "It actually hardened me in a lot of ways." The church had taught him to view the outside world with suspicion, but his experience in the workplace challenged this perspective. "When I finally went into the real world of working, I was wowed - people are really nice, and some people really care about one another. And some people genuinely have good hearts and good intentions."
Leaving the church marked a pivotal moment in Kevin's journey. Rather than seeing it as an end to his calling, he found a way to redefine his purpose. "Even though there were all these ill wishes upon me because I left the church," he explains, "I realized I get to still do this work in my own way. What a pastor is someone who guides and leads and cares for others, right? When you think about pastoral care, what a shepherd does to care for his sheep. And I was like, ‘You know what? They don't get to take this away from me.’"
This realization helped shape Kevin's approach to leadership, which centers on humility. He recalls a formative lesson: "If God were to hold you in the palm of his hands, you'd be the size of a grain of sand. You're not the whole beach." He continues, "At first I remember being 15 and questioning this statement, 'What do they mean I'm not the whole beach? , obviously, I'm just as important.' It took me years to realize what that meant and it was that you have to be humble enough to realize that you add to the equation to the beauty of the beach. You don't have to always try to be everything to everyone."
Kevin applies this humble approach daily in his current role leading human resources and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at United Way Rhode Island. "That responsibility weighs big on me," he acknowledges. "I remember that the policies, the benefits, the workplace, the environment, the way people experience work every day inside and out, I have the power and privilege to make a lot of those decisions. So I have to be humble enough to know that I don't know everything about what everyone wants."
His approach to overcoming challenges was deeply influenced by his experience training for a marathon. "Now I don't look at setbacks as setbacks," he explains. "It's just a hill on the road that I'm on, and guess what? You can either go around it, and it'll take you twice as long, or you can go through it, and it'll make you stronger."
At United Way Rhode Island, Kevin's commitment to community-centered decision-making is unwavering. "Community work really happens when you center the community itself and their needs," he explains, "Step away from feeling you have the solution for it. Rather, inquire them to help problem solve and give them the tools to actually lead that change in their own way." He takes pride in the fact that "we don't make any community decisions without the community being centered themselves. That might mean that yes, it takes a little longer, but it's going to be the right solution at the end of it."
Each New Year, Kevin maintains a personal tradition that reflects his commitment to humble leadership. "I always ask God continuously to keep me humble enough to recognize that the work I do is not about me or for me and to keep me intelligent enough to be able to lead people to where they need to get to," he shares. "That's just something I renew like a lease every year in my life - and the day I'm not doing that anymore it probably means I am no longer in the seat."
As Jonathan captures these final moments, a quiet certainty in Kevin's presence speaks volumes. His journey demonstrates how personal experiences can shape leadership philosophy and drive positive change. His approach to leadership- centered on humility, community involvement, and genuine care for others- offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to make a difference in their community or organization. Through his work at United Way Rhode Island, he continues to embody the principle that true leadership isn't about being in the spotlight, but about helping others shine.
"My purpose is to give the spotlight away," Kevin states simply. "While I'm under that spotlight, I'm gonna do the best thing that I can to role model it and to pull other people into it because it's not meant to just be on one person. It can shine a whole stage."
Portraits by Jonathan Pitts-Wiley
