Leadership Tomorrow – Geoff's Reflections on Challenge Day 5: Education

Schemata Workshop is excited to announce that Principal Geoff Anderson has been selected as a participant in the Leadership Tomorrow (LT) class of 2021.

LT is an intensive civic leadership program focused on interconnections between elements of Seattle Foundation’s “Healthy Community” framework. The program helps participants further develop their leadership skills and practices, focusing on the goal of creating a healthy, just, and inclusive Puget Sound region. In particular, the program has been actively evolving its approach to racial equity, supporting participants’ development as antiracist civic leaders.

---

Geoff’s Reflection on Challenge Day 4: Arts + Culture

One of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of this Leadership Tomorrow (LT) year was to become more mindful of the privileges I am afforded as a white male that others, especially in the BIPOC community are not privy to.

March’s Leadership Tomorrow sessions presented  poignant and personally-challenging experiences at a level that I had not experienced yet in this program The first of these  came on Education Challenge Day.

Education Challenge Day

As a jumping-off point, we began our work on this topic by viewing “I Sued the School System”, a viral video in which the artist criticizes the traditional school system for “killing creativity, individuality, and being intellectually abusive” (more here) ”

This Leadership Tomorrow Challenge Day was eye-opening and challenging. For our prework, we delved into the history of Indian Boarding Schools and other racist education policies. Although heartbreaking, this is a part of our country’s violent history and something everyone should all have a better understanding of. We also studied current racial biases in education, and more about the School to Prison Pipeline (See Challenge Day 3)

Beginning the process of understanding the full extent of the privileges I had growing up in a wealthy, predominantly white suburb was challenging. I understood that my family chose where we lived growing up because of the “good schools” but I was ignorant to what this meant for many of our cohorts who were not afforded this privilege. I appreciated the benefits I had due to this privilege, but it was jarring to realize how utterly rare it is to have the resources and teachers I did. I cannot believe how much I took for granted. I wish that everyone could have the same access to great schools with long-term, dedicated teachers, extra-curricular activities, and even the unique programs that are provided by well-intentioned PTSA Boards at schools in wealthy districts.

LT program participants are given the opportunity to meet and interview area leaders in small team groups. My small team met with Michelle Merriweather, President & CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, to learn about her background and the journey that she took to arrive at this point in her career. Our conversation centered on leadership styles and the work that the Urban League does in the Seattle area. The most impactful moment of the interview, for me at least, occurred as we were winding down our talk, and Michelle was asked how she handles being a black woman in leadership, and the challenges inherent in that specific experience.

Michelle described how she uses ‘code-switching’ in professional situations such as conversations with funders or doing advocacy work. She continued by saying that about eight months ago, amidst BLM protests, she made a deliberate decision to no longer code-switch but has a fear of paying for this decision later – “on the other side,” as she put it. As a white man, I never have had to even consider code-switching, or the repercussions thereof, and this was something that I had never realized was a privilege.

A Wish for Leaders

I participated in Leadership Tomorrow (LT) this year and at the opening retreat last September a quote was read (see below) that has stuck with me.  As we draw near to the end of our program, I reflect on the 9 months of day long workshops, suggested readings, team projects, and discussions with fellow classmates and find myself re-reading it in a slightly different light. I recall the first time hearing it that I felt that these were things I wished for my daughter (who is 3 1/2 at this time). I read it again with the same hope for her, but also for those in my office, for myself, and for those in the Capitol Hill community who are doing bold and brave things. I also wish them for the leaders of our region, nation, and planet. A year ago, I wondered if LT would be worth it (both from the time and financial committment required), but looking back on what I've learned about myself and the region around me, the friendships I've made, and the hard lessons I've learned...it's definitely been a worthwhile investment.

If you have not heard about Leadership Tomorrow, visit this link to learn more. https://www.leadershiptomorrowseattle.org/theprogram.html If you're still unclear about it, don't hesitate to ask. I'm glad to share my experiences with you. And now for the quote:

A WISH FOR LEADERS

I sincerely wish you will have the experience of thinking up a new idea, planning it, organizing it, and following it to completion and have it be magnificently successful.

I also hope you’ll go through the same process and have it “bomb out!”

I wish you could know how it feels to “run” with all your heart, and lose horribly!

I wish you could find something so worthwhile that you deem it worth investing your life within it.

I wish you could achieve some “great” good for humankind, but have nobody know about it except you.

I hope you become frustrated and challenged enough to begin to push back the barriers of your own personal limitations.

I hope you make a stupid mistake and get caught red-handed and are big enough to say those magic words, “I was wrong!”

I hope you give so much of yourself that some days you wonder if it is worth all the effort.

I wish for you a magnificent obsession that will give you reason for living and purpose and direction for life.

I wish for you the worst kind of criticism for everything you do, because that makes you fight to achieve beyond what you normally would.

I wish for you the experience of leadership! --- Dr. Earl Reum

Networking - Womens Business Exchange

WBE Featured Member - Grace Kim

Almost 2 years ago, I attended a networking breakfast.  I didn't think it would be for me, but to humor a professional contact I'd made at a party, I went.  And I was blown away by the speaker.   And I've been back ever since.   Past speakers have been Jensine Larsen of World Pulse, Jennifer Jefferies - author of 7 Steps to Sanity, Jan Levy of Leadership Tomorrow, and Sally Jewell - CEO of REI.

Women's Business Exchange is a great organization that supports women in business.  True to their website:

"Life is not just about work, or running a business. You also have to find a way to balance spending time with your family and making time for yourself.

That’s why WBE is much more than just a business networking organization—though plenty of that goes on here too. It’s about making connections, creating a sense of community, supporting each other, and learning to be the best you can be."

I am proud to be their featured Member of the Month.  Check it out!  http://wbex.org/www.wbex.org/wbex/featured .  And if you want to come to a breakfast (1st Thursday of each month), I'll see you there!