January 17, 2023
Courage Beyond Bravery
Watch this 2 minute video to learn how to be courageous in civic situations.
There’s a particular type of courage that’s absolutely essential for anyone in a position of community leadership or who is responsible for gathering consensus among a diverse group of people. It's the courage to be open-minded - the willingness to say "Tell Me More" and be genuinely interested in what follows, even if you disagree with it.
In my
FROM CONFLICT TO CONVERSATION
presentation, I challenge community leaders to bring that specific type of courage to their community interactions.
Maureen Coffey, Vice Chair of the Arlington County (VA) Board is the youngest person ever elected to that role. Arlington sits immediately next to Washington, DC, which means local leadership there often feels national decisions quickly and personally. The pressures are real, and the expectations are high.
Minneapolis is facing a period of intense civic tension as federal immigration enforcement unfolds in real time, sparking sustained local protests, legal challenges, and deep fear in immigrant communities.
Effective leadership often turns on asking the right question at the right moment. If something has been sitting with you, I invite you to share it. We actively take on these questions—on the podcast, on Substack, and in this newsletter—because chances are others are carrying something similar into their work as well.