WELCOME TO THE LAB!

He was fifteen when he went to prison. His name was T.J and I remember his face as he shared his story—his bright blue eyes, brimming with emotion, a reflection of the journey he'd been on. T.J. was more than a colleague; he was my partner in good trouble, a powerful voice in the fight to abolish the box and support individuals who were formerly incarcerated secure meaningful work, find community, and break the cycle of recidivism.

We were a ragtag coalition—recidivism workers, small business owners, families, former "felons," priests, and neighbors—pushing for life-changing policy. And we did it. Slowly, with setbacks, but hey, what's a hero’s journey without a few dragons?

This wasn’t my first or last dive into grassroots advocacy. For over two decades, I’ve watched ordinary people spark extraordinary change. From urban centers to rural towns, each community has its own alchemy—impacted individuals, shared concerns, and a healthy dose of ingenuity.

So why this blog? Because the world is full of big dreams waiting to be realized. Affordable housing, environmental justice, education equity, accessible child care—these challenges can feel insurmountable. But time and again, I’ve seen grassroots power make the impossible happen. I’ve also seen movements stall at the grasstops, driven more by grant cycles than real progress. I’ve seen well-meaning efforts veer into trend-chasing, even white saviorism. And, honestly? I’ve heard some truly terrible advice being doled out to advocates and community members.

This blog is my way of sharing stories, lessons, and battle scars. Because advocacy isn’t just about planting seeds of change—it’s about cultivating the soil so those seeds can grow, ferment, and bloom. Fair warning: if you’re not ready for some real talk with a side of sass, this might not be your space. And that’s okay.

If you’re still here, think of advocacy like a concoction: data for understanding, empathy for connection, and creativity for impact. But the secret ingredient? Collaboration. Real relationships.

Listening to stories, recognizing a community’s unique strengths, fostering genuine partnerships—these are the foundations of grassroots success. Our assets multiply when we work together, like a perfect chemical reaction creating something new and powerful. But it doesn’t stop there. We need to turn those stories into action, strategy, and real change.

This blog will dig into the “chemistry” of community engagement—how to build coalitions, navigate differences, and sustain momentum. We’ll talk about roadblocks like compassion fatigue, bureaucratic headaches, and the need to pause and ensure we’re honoring everyone in the space. There will be victories, sure, but also struggles—because change is never a straight, easy path.

Yet, amidst the challenges, there’s undeniable magic. It’s in the moment a stranger shares their story, a young person steps up as a leader, or a long-fought policy victory is won. These sparks keep hope alive and prove that the impossible is indeed possible.

So, let’s do this. This is the longest blog you’ll get from me—promise! Let’s create a space to learn, support, and brew some potent change together. Because the biggest dreams often start small, and with a little grassroots magic, anything is possible.