Issue 60: Local

Adjective. Relating or restricted to a particular area or one's neighbourhood.

Photo Description: Texas is written in neon red capital letters on top of a building or restaurant. A blue ski is visible in the background, alongside a tall, sparsely leafed tree. Photo by Enrique Macias on Unsplash

Check-In:

Eight years ago, I packed up my family and moved to Texas. Like many transitions, it was filled with excitement, curiosity, and a healthy dose of uncertainty. At the time, I didn’t know what this new place would mean for me. Would I find community? Would it ever feel like home?

I quickly settled into a rhythm of work, family, and daily routines. But as a remote worker, something quietly and persistently lingered: a sense of disconnection. I was part of a network of colleagues and friends across the country, but here, in the physical space I inhabited, relationships were sporadic and inconsistent. My work was meaningful, but my local ties felt like threads that never fully wove into fabric.

For years, that inconsistency was something I had just accepted. Texas was where I lived, but not necessarily where I belonged.

In recent months, I have had the opportunity to connect with a range of people connected to the education community in and around Austin. These aren’t just passing interactions. They’re connections remind me: I am here. I am part of making education better in my community.

What’s grounding me now is not just where I live, but how I live in relationship to the people around me. It’s a shift from surviving to belonging.

Texas still feels big- wildly vast, layered, and sometimes hard to pin down. But it also feels alive with possibility. I’ve come to realize that the beauty of community isn’t about instant belonging; it’s about the ongoing, intentional practice of showing up, being curious, and staying open.

As I continue to learn more about this state and the people who make it what it is, I feel energized to keep cultivating my local roots. To find joy in small moments, to deepen my understanding of my community, and to keep building bridges, one conversation at a time.

This is the chapter I’m in. One where connection is no longer a background hope, but a daily practice.

How are you connecting to your local community?

#mondaymotivation:

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” -Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

Interview with a Leader of the Global Majority:

Madalyn* is the superintendent of a district in New York. The comments below are Madalyn’s and do not reflect the opinions of her district.

Mary: Madalyn, in your leadership role, how do you approach understanding and engaging with your community?

Madalyn: “Fit is important. You have to know who you are... really lean into that and let that guide you in terms of deciding whether or not this school district, this community is a place where you belong and where you can be in community”.

Mary: How does that awareness affect your actions as a superintendent?

Madalyn: “Our mere presence lets them know that you are important to us. It's okay for us to be in a place where we are not in control... that’s a very political act. It gives voice and validity to an underrepresented group”.

Mary: Can you share an example where knowing your community guided your decisions?

Monique: “We have a small Haitian community... that always feels underseen and underheard... So one small thing that I do with my board is we go to a Haitian mass... we sit there... because they've invited us”.

Mary: What advice would you give other superintendents about building these kinds of connections?

Madalyn: “Listen. Consider something that’s other than a voice in your head... when I understand the why, it allows me to sometimes move in my position... really trying to understand causation as to why people are in that position”.

*Name changed

Please let me know if you would like to be interviewed and/or if you would recommend someone to be profiled in this section. I need new interviews!

What I’m Reading, Watching, and Listening To:

• READING: I’m in the final stages of several big writing projects, so Letters to a Writer of Color was the inspiration I needed to get to the finish line. You can find a full list of my book recommendations here. Please note that I am an affiliate with Bookshop.org and receive a small compensation for your purchase when you use the book links provided.

• WATCHING: Forever is SOOO good! I never read the book by Judy Blume, but I love everything about this remake. The Martha’s Vineyard episode is a perfect celebration of the little island that brings me joy.

How to Continue to Support Leading-Within:

• Go to Amazon and rate or review the book there! Reviews are a great way for others to see that this book is worth the time to read.

• Post about the book on social media using the hashtag #leadingwithin. Even better if it includes a picture of you WITH the book!

• Host a book club with your affinity/ERG group. Two study guides are also available on the ASCD website - one for leaders of color and one for white co-conspirators that are perfect for starting a group conversation. For book clubs with participants who have purchased and committed to reading the book, please reach out to me so I can support your journey!

• Connect with me to speak to your organization or group about topics covered in the book, like ‘practicing love and rage’, ‘building a coalition’, and ‘taking a stand’.

If this is your first time reading, please go back and read my Introductions post.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think. If you like it, please share it with your network!