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A few years ago, I sat in a grant information meeting with a new funding source that was focused on reducing poverty. The presenter kept going on and on about how they really want to see applicants partner together. Collaborate. In a rare moment of losing control and poise, I raised my hand to speak and kissed that funding goodbye. “You keep telling us that we should collaborate to apply for this funding, but you aren’t telling us what that looks like. Instead, you’re telling

Have you ever sat in a room and felt the kind of tension you could cut with a knife? There’s a kind of energy that almost seems to crackle, and no one knows what will light the whole room up in flames. It doesn’t matter if it’s 50,000 people watching a football game or 5 people in a really tense team meeting - the feeling is the same. I felt that tension a few years ago, as I listened to a health department lay out its strategic plan to prevent violence - without having tal

I set a deadline for publishing this website. My birthday. I needed to set a due date so that I would stick with this idea and see it through. My birthday felt like a good opportunity to not only have a firm date set, but to also reflect on the courage it would take to put these ideas out in the world. I don’t know where they will land. I’m trusting that there are others who will read these words and have something that resonates. These questions and thoughts have been sitt

I was interviewing a student for an internship, when she asked me a question: “What’s the most rewarding part of your job?” I thought for a moment, then responded: People. And not just my coworkers - they’re awesome. But also amazing community partners and colleagues I collaborate with. Her next question was, “What’s most challenging about your job?” I thought again. And was surprised by my answer. With a little laugh, I responded: People. There are probably jobs that exist

A wise person once told me that if we took all the resources, organizations, and funding in Indianapolis and lined them up like a boardwalk, we could walk across the Atlantic Ocean without ever getting wet. And yet – people are still getting wet. Not just wet. Slipping through the cracks. Missing what they need. Navigating networks that were never designed to work together. We are, in many ways, resource rich. And at the same time – deeply systems poor. This idea has stayed

When is the last time you connected with someone about your work? I mean really connected. Not a transactional exchange in the name of partnership-building. Not a quick update or calendar-driven conversation. But an honest conversation about how the work actually feels. How hard it is. How tired you are. How alone it can feel. I was reminded of this recently. I had one of those back-to-back meeting days, and this was an in-person coffee in the middle of it. I really didn’t