Reflections on hope, agency, and this moment we’re in.

With one week to go until my book is out in the world, I’ve been sitting with a strange mix of emotions.

I wrote the lion’s share of the first draft in January 2025, amid major political shifts, sweeping funding changes, and direct attacks on values and communities I care deeply about. 

It felt like everything was unraveling. And yet, day after day, I sat down to write – and made a case for hope. I argued that all is not lost. That change is still possible. That we still have agency in moments that feel overwhelming. That we can create incredible, life-changing impact. And something unexpected happened in that process: the more I wrote that message for others, the more I started to believe it again myself.

Fast forward one year, and the world feels even more fragile. The headlines are heavier. The attacks on communities are more direct and more weaponized. The temptation to disengage feels more understandable than ever. I hear that weariness in so many of the changemakers I work with. And yet, I believe the core message of this book is even more true now than when I wrote it. 

Not because the circumstances have improved.
But because the need for grounded, values-aligned, visionary leadership has only grown.

What sustained me while writing was not abstract optimism. It was through the interviews I conducted with changemakers just like you.  

Witnessing everyday changemakers show up, again and again, in difficult conditions. 

People building coalitions that never make the news. 

People pushing small but meaningful changes that ripple outward. 

People doing the unglamorous work of care, coordination, and support.

Those stories rarely break through the dominant narrative that “everything is terrible.” But they make a huge impact. And they are happening every day.

My hope is that reading this book does for you even a fraction of what writing it did for me. Not to deny how hard this moment is, but to remind you that your work still matters, your agency still exists, and meaningful change is still possible.

If this message resonates and you’d like to support the book as it launches next week, here are three simple ways to help:

1. Join us at the launch event.
If you’re in Phoenix, I’d love to see you there.
→ RSVP here

2. Help open doors for conversations.
If you (or someone in your network) hosts a podcast, newsletter, or conference and is looking for speakers or guests, I am seeking opportunities to talk about the book and how it can help changemakers.
→ Reply to this email with any ideas or connections.

3. Share this with someone who might need it.
If you know a changemaker who’s feeling discouraged or worn down by the state of the world, consider forwarding this newsletter their way. Sometimes being reminded you’re not alone is its own form of support.

The kindness and support this community has shown me as I’ve written this book and prepared to get it out into the world has been endless, and I’m forever grateful. Thank you for being one of those people. 💚🧡