Issue 73: Convergence
Noun. The act or state of multiple paths, ideas, or things coming together to form a common point, limit, or similar outcome.
Check-In:
My high school graduation was on June 17, 1994. The Knicks were in the NBA finals against Houston. It’s considered one of the most memorable days in sports history.
My first date with my husband was watching a Knicks vs. Bulls game. It was 1996. I was a Knicks fan. He was a Bulls fan.
I was in Wisconsin to celebrate my oldest niece’s wedding when the Knicks won their first championship in my lifetime.
There are more. Special moments in my life where the Knicks seem to be hanging out in the background. They have always brought excitement, but finally that excitement led to victory, and seeing that celebratory parade made me miss NYC more than ever.
I could go on talking about my Knicks, but the point I’m trying to make is about the convergence of events. It’s never about one day. One experience. One event. There’s always something more happening in the background, and it’s the recognition of all those things that make the moment amplify.
As leaders, we can easily become consumed by the headline moment. The test scores are released. The board votes. A new policy is announced. Graduation day arrives. A school earns recognition. A crisis unfolds.
But none of those moments exist on their own.
Every visible outcome is the product of hundreds of conversations, relationships, decisions, setbacks, adjustments, and moments of courage that happened long before anyone noticed. The celebration, or the disappointment, is simply the point where all of those threads become visible.
Maybe that’s why the Knicks’ championship felt bigger than a playoff run. It wasn’t just about finally winning. It was about how that victory became intertwined with decades of memories, relationships, and milestones in my own life. The championship amplified all the moments that came before it.
Leadership works the same way. The moments people remember are rarely created in a single day. They are built over time, one intentional decision at a time, until one day everyone else notices what has been quietly taking shape all along.
As you think about the moments unfolding in your school or district today, what stories, relationships, and conditions are quietly converging beneath the surface, and how might recognizing that broader context change the way you lead?
#mondaymotivation: "The future depends on what you do today." — Mahatma Gandhi
Interview with a Leader of the Global Majority:
Kelvin* is a teacher in the Northeast. These comments are the personal reflections of Kelvin as a teacher; they do not reflect the opinions of his employer.
Mary: Can you tell me about a time when you had to manage conflict within your school?
Kelvin: I was a teacher at a public high school in 2022 where there was a political divide within both the school and the community. The issue revolved around race. Students were making racial slurs toward Black students, and what really boiled the situation over was that it had gone unaddressed. One student had followed all the avenues; she reported it to the administration, but when nothing changed, she physically assaulted the other student because she had had enough.
Mary: How did you respond in that situation?
Kelvin: I allowed some time to go by to see how it was going to play out, but it continued. I finally addressed it before the school board. I said that the racism was embedded within the walls. It broke my heart because once one student spoke up, other students and families began sharing their experiences. Some students talked about considering suicide and harming themselves. I kept thinking, I can’t educate them if they’re not comfortable because somebody’s making fun of them about something they can’t control.
Mary: What did that experience teach you about managing conflict?
Kelvin: We have to look at how the decisions we make affect everyone. For me, it came down to my values. I have to stand before God and answer to Him, not my supervisor. When you’re managing conflict, you have to know your yeses and your nos. Be willing to know what you’re not willing to compromise. There are going to be moments when you’re asked to compromise yourself, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your morals and your ethics.
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!
*name changed
What I’m Reading, Watching, and Listening To:
READING: I’m back on historical fiction- With Love from Harlem by ReShonda Tate has all the drama, love, and history to satisfy my sadness for not being in the city right now.
LISTENING TO: Brene Brown was on What Now with Trevor Noah. They explore the universal desire to belong, the death of nuance in public discourse, and how avoiding conflict actually robs us of deepening trust. Quinta Brunson’s conversation on IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson touches on similar topics of in-person vs. virtual community.
WATCHING: Toy Story is back, and this time it is taking on technology—a good message about the importance of play, embracing your creative imagination, and friendship.
Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility is HERE:
Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility: A Guide for Leading Schools Through Uncertain Times is out! If you got a copy of the book, I would appreciate an Amazon book review. It helps others find out about it.
I’m working on a digital train-the-trainer workbook for facilitators who want to integrate the book into their professional learning and course syllabi. That will be available soon!
Other Ways to Partner With Leading-Within:
Grounded in Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility: A Guide for Leading Schools Through Uncertain Times, these individual and small group coaching sessions equip system- and school-level leaders to effectively navigate the formal and informal political landscapes that shape their work. Leaders build the awareness, strategy, and confidence needed to exercise influence, make principled decisions, and lead through uncertainty with intention.
Our keynote speaking services engage school leaders in critical conversations that shape their work and influence. Focus areas include supporting leaders of color, navigating today’s political landscape, and leading systems-level transformation, offering participants practical tools and perspectives to lead with clarity and purpose.
Research and writing services support schools and organizations in assessing and documenting their learning across programs and initiatives. This work includes partnering to evaluate impact to produce clear, compelling reports, as well as writing and editing journal articles that highlight best practices across the diaspora.
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 and don’t forget to hit the “heart” button and leave a comment.
Thank you for beautifully describing what this moment needs for New Yorkers and drawing parralels with our own journies.
Love this one, Mary! (And congratulations on your oldest's wedding!) Especially loved this part: "The moments people remember are rarely created in a single day. They are built over time, one intentional decision at a time, until one day everyone else notices what has been quietly taking shape all along." So, so true...