How have you been described by others? (Lake)

10 years ago, when I worked in Poland, as part of a leadership course, I asked colleagues from across the years to anonymously assess me and my leadership. The most consistent descriptor that came back was calm or a calming presence. They, and colleagues and friends in professional and volunteer settings since then have described me as someone they want around when there is a significant problem or during a stressful time. They say I am able to keep focused on what is needed and help people feel less stressed. I have also been described as caring and inclusive, helping those who may be hesitant to engage for whatever reason feel comfortable in engaging in initiatives or projects I’m working on. 

How you would describe your sphere of influence? (Volleyball)

Currently, I have an actual sphere of influence and an aspirational sphere of influence. I’ll explain. First, actually, I hold a formal leadership role within the congregation I worship in. In my role I coordinate the Sunday School, which oversees the teaching for different classes across age groups. I also am responsible for working with the youth, some of whom are pictured here, particularly those between 11-14 years old, both in terms of Sunday teaching but also weekly service and learning activities. Aspirationally, I have become more interested in engaging in the interfaith community in Spokane, to engage in community issues and needs through the lens of faith. I’ve started to make connections with interfaith leaders in our city, which is how I got introduced to Global Immersion and Journey of Hope. I hope to use what we learn together as part of this journey to step forward as a leader in the interfaith community in Spokane.

What fuels your leadership? (Son)

This is a picture of my four-month old son, Amos. Amos is a reminder of what drives or fuels my leadership. Underscoring my leadership is my belief that each person is a son or daughter of God, and is an expression of the divine, with gifts and agency to shape their. My leadership is fueled by helping others tap into, and act from, that divine identity. A few years ago a senior leader in my church talked about how the purpose of leadership is to prepare those you are leading to lead themselves. He said “If you make yourself indispensable, you are doing it wrong.” I’ve tried to lead that way. Whether working with my children, as a manager in a professional setting, or in my congregation or other volunteer opportunities, I’m driven by helping people find the power within themselves, or working to remove barriers to the power they want to exercise, in leading in whatever is important in their life or sphere. 

What is the pressing question that you’re asking? (Wall)

The pressing question I am asking as I come to Journey of Hope, is how can I be a catalyst to help people see and value the lived experience of others? The seed of this question really took root about 5 years ago when my family and I lived in Jerusalem where I worked on people to people work with Palestinians and Israelis. These experiences opened my eyes to the danger of willfully – sometimes physically building walls like this separation barrier that separates Israelis and Palestinians – or ignorantly denying the reality of others. I see this dehumanization in my own congregation and civic community as we face divides over COVID-19, homelessness, race, the role of women in faith, and how we engage with people who have left our faith. How can I learn to be, and encourage others to be, truly compassionate, to hear and understand the experience of the “other”?

Why Journey of Hope? And why now? (Statue on Bench)

This statue, in a garden near the archaeological remains of a village where Jesus spent much of his time, illustrates why I wanted to join Journey of Hope. Most people hurry past the garden – and miss this statue – to see the ancient sites. To me, it became a symbol of missing the opportunities to act on – and in – faith. I’ve become more and more convinced that in addressing division and conflict in our communities, how we live is infinitely more important than what we do. And because of that, I want to center my faith as I work in reconciliation, leading from a place of inner peace and commitment to the principles my faith teaches me. I hope Journey of Hope can help at least set me on the path to show up that way. Now is the time, for a number of reasons – as my children become teenagers I want to model a better way to live; my formal leadership role in my congregation gives me an opportunity to influence our community, and I’m at a bit of a crossroads in my professional life and trying to determine if and how I can make reconciliation my life’s work.