What’s your cause?
A friend asked me this recently and was really challenging me to dig into my whys- Why do you stand, fight, love? Why do you do the things you do in the ways you do them? What do you value and why, and what moves you consciously and subconsciously? I think it’s important that we all check in on that from time to time.
After some reflection, I came up with these things (and ended up with a cool alliteration at that!):
Inclusion
As far back into my childhood as I can remember, I was always the person who was a “floater”- I got along with different groups, I actively fought getting stuck in the gravitational pull of cliques because I “wanted to be friends with everyone”, and I couldn’t help but notice and welcome and be a safe presence for the person I saw who was alone or left out. You were just as likely to see me hanging around the “popular” kids as you were the kids with purple hair and MCR shirts. Today, you’ll often see me mention how I love to “bridge worlds”, and how I try to bring people to conversations and spaces that they may have ordinarily been left out of- bringing all kinds of people together- and I believe that stems from a deep place.
Intersections
I LOVE a good crossover- crossovers of people (cross-gen, cross-geo, cross-sector…), resources, and concepts. Most- dare I say all- of my work and interests are found at the intersection of things- such as real estate/land use and art, theology and entrepreneurialism, tech and philosophy, economics and creative expression, local and global mindset. These intersections reveal more than anything the beautiful, complex nature of all things- that these should not be viewed in silos, separately in and of themselves, because it’s simply impossible to.
... and the third one, I left for now because it’s one of the most buzziest buzz words with some of the greatest misunderstandings and limited interpretations
Innovation
It does not just mean “high tech”. Innovation lies in the how and the why, beyond just the what. I think about exploring and integrating different mindsets and approaches into existing processes or ways, or as someone said that really stuck with me, it can look like the recombination of parts- even that can create something new or more fresh. As someone bringing an artistic mindset to the business world and to the way I operate in my community, people can have a difficult time defining me or pegging me down. Even ways I have described myself and what I do, like the fun “street-level economic developer” tag I have in my headline, sound familiar in part but also alien. It’s because, like in this case, I loved the function of economic development, but I saw a chance to do it in a different way. I don’t call it wrong or see myself as lost. I see innovation.
Okay, now the last one (I promise), is about a place and a people- my home:
Hampton Roads (the 757)
Affectionately and geographically known by other names such as Tidewater/CoVA/SEVA depending on the person (which is the beauty- a diversity of names representing a diversity of people!). Just for a little context for my non-local connections, I’d describe this area as the more southeastern part of Virginia and a bit of North Carolina. It’s home to the world’s largest naval station, the world’s largest living history museum (and the most pancakes/waffle spots per capita in the world, fyi), several international company North American HQs, a national laboratory with a sick particle accelerator, one of the largest ports on the East Coast, beautiful beaches, world-class fine and contemporary art forms & art museums (also a growing capital for glass art!) with a burgeoning brewing scene (coffee & alcohol). It’s a hub for maritime, arts & culture (including FOOD), higher ed, history, healthcare, the sciences… and that’s just to name few things- and that’s only what I said [feel free to chime in, HR folks!] Even more, I’d say this is home to some of the world’s greatest people (from all over the world at that) and some of the greatest talents and gifts.
Yes, there is all of this, and there are still challenges. We are a region of great potential, but that can’t be all we ever are. Years ago, I came to a fork- do I go where perceived opportunity already is, or do I stay here and help build it, cultivating the culture and amplifying the people and efforts that lead to it? I decided that contributing to making this region of potential also one of great reality was worth fighting for. I happily engage people and ideas from all over, but it’s clear my heart has a special place for this place.
Those causes I mentioned above tie into what I do and why… and where, including the 757.
I see community, notably this community, as a canvas. Uniting and inviting different people, ideas, and resources to collaborate and create is what will shift its entire trajectory and inspire stories and vision for the future. As I create on that canvas, what looks like mess is methodical yielding. What looks random is purposed. It’s art. And that’s what I’m committed to being an active part of.