The workshops were great, the speakers were great. But the people were the highlight. Sometimes we get all caught up in the business of the work and we don’t take time to notice the folks doing it. Our sector is filled with some amazing individuals! All you have to do is sit quietly at a lunch table and listen to the stories, or see the furious scribbling when a presenter suggests a new approach that might help more people…

My daughter reminds me of the people I work with. There are two sides to every story, and you get to choose the one you hone in on. Instead of blocking out and running away from a world of poverty, inequality, violence, hunger and stuff-ism, I am surrounded with people who choose to jump in and make good of it. Lemons and lemonade, to be sure.

In our very first Emerging Leaders class, one of our participants made a bold announcement. Towards the end of the session, she proclaimed “These are my people.” We laughed a bit, but all took the sentiment to heart. (Somehow I still envision Maria in a Moses robe, raising her hands to the masses in a grand pronouncement of unity. If I remember correctly, she was actually in khakis and a sweater.)

I am happy to say, after 10 years with MNA and several conferences under our collective belts, I still feel like this sector is where I belong and I am ever grateful to have found my people.

You guys ROCK.