In my community organizing life, I am leading a professional learning community (PLC) for leaders to practice and develop coaching skills. Strong coaching is essential for challenging our assumptions about both what we are capable of and what is possible. The PLC is for leaders with all levels of coaching skills to engage in four weeks of people-centered coaching: practicing observation, diagnosis, and intervention to support one another’s leadership challenges.

In my academic life, I am ramping up to my dissertation by reading every article and book I can find about how families and schools use protest as a means to shape children’s experiences in public schools. From integration to equitable resources to banning books, Americans try to shape their schools to align with their values. In a heterogenous society, whose values should schools reflect? And how can democratic processes - including community organizing, protest, and coalitions - support communities’ visions for schools?

For my own professional growth, I am enrolling in Leading Change Network’s Leadership Coaching: Narrative Track to strengthen my skills for coaching change makers’ personal stories and calls to action.