Maximus Nobes

From West African Fields to Bay Area Politics

My work is guided by a simple belief I learned the hard way: understanding must always precede action. You can have the best plan in the world, but if it doesn’t connect with people, it’s just noise.

I learned this lesson not in a classroom, but in a small village in Guinea as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I arrived with theories and workshops, ready to teach. I was met with polite indifference. My breakthrough came only when I stopped talking and started listening, when I focused on showing, not just telling. Success wasn't about broadcasting a message; it was about building a shared purpose, one conversation at a time.

It turns out that this challenge is the same everywhere, whether you're working with farmers in a village or navigating public policy in California. My work in public affairs and community engagement is built on that same foundation: moving people from being passive recipients of a message to being active co-creators of a movement. My goal is to craft messages that don’t just land, but connect, to start a conversation that leads to real, lasting impact.