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.
It’s no secret that public meetings have changed. What once came through face-to-face dialogue now too often shows up as sharp online opposition—frequently anonymous, often personal, and increasingly disconnected from the full context of the work.
What does leadership look like when simply serving your community carries real risk? How do local leaders stay focused, stay visible, and stay true to their purpose when threats—both direct and ambient—keep rising?
In the worlds of local government and community service, we’re constantly trying to do good. We serve missions, constituents, and causes that matter. But here’s the harder question: What happens when doing good comes into conflict with doing right?