Vulnerability in Leadership

Vulnerability is a crucial element to my leadership style. I actively demonstrate my values in my daily life, which includes being authentic and kind. This authenticity can mean that I can be susceptible to undue criticism. Being authentic and having a growth mind-set means acknowledging that we can and WILL make mistakes. Rather than ignore that truth, I chose to lead with integrity by taking ownership of my actions and their consequences. Additionally, I do what is possible to move toward harm reduction and share my learning experiences with peers and mentees. How might this be beneficial if I am elected to the District 1 City Council role?

The cultivated skill of being vulnerable in leadership allows me to build authentic, trusting relationships. By showing up consistently with kindness, empathy, and as my authentic self, I have been honored to have opportunities to meet people where they are, many times in their darkest moments. I believe in investing in pro-active, upstream solutions which will save resources and more thoroughly met the needs our community. These types of community safety nets will be over all more stabilizing and enriching in the lives of our community members. Through my experience in the non-profit field and by bearing witness to the stories of our neighbors who need the most support, I have developed a deeply rooted belief that community building is best focused on creating connections between resources, agencies, and community members. This not only decreases duplication efforts but also increases the efficiency of services, including those provided by the municipalities and by non-profits. More than anything, this community building perspective allows for greater collaboration, which is absolutely crucial to strengthening and increasing the health of our entire community.

Hands open, offering a paper rainbow heart.