My involvement with Brazos Writers, a community-based writing group, offered a unique opportunity to integrate my professional skills with my creative passions. I initially joined simply to write and connect with other authors. But as I became more engaged, I noticed structural weaknesses within the organization—most notably, that its nonprofit status had quietly lapsed during the pandemic.

Instead of seeing that as someone else’s responsibility, I stepped forward to help restore stability. I began the process of reinstating nonprofit status, rebuilt administrative systems, and strengthened partnerships with institutions such as the local library. Alongside these operational efforts, I promoted the work of fellow writers, celebrated milestones, and encouraged new voices to share their stories.

This experience brought together multiple strands of my life:

• the strategic and administrative skills I built through nonprofit work

• the creativity and empathy nurtured through writing

• and the leadership principles reinforced at the Bush School

It showed me that learning is never siloed. Skills, values, and experiences carry across spaces and reinforce one another. In this setting, leadership wasn’t loud. It lived in persistence, attention to detail, and creating space for others to shine.

The integration of service, creativity, and professional knowledge is what ultimately strengthened the organization—and what continues to shape my approach to public service.

“We can no longer let people in power decide what hope is. Hope is not passive. Hope is telling the truth. Hope is taking action. And hope always comes from the people.” — Greta Thunberg