On June 17, 2017, I took a Homebuyer’s course through a non-profit called “Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency with the idea that I could use the certificate I earned to apply for some mortgage programs implemented by the state of Michigan. My intention was to jump through the hoops, secure a mortgage, find a house and make it a home for my sons, my boyfriend, and myself. Almost a year later, I did precisely this. It felt amazing being a homeowner again. Shortly after, I poured myself into finishing my masters project and focused on my career. After a few disappointing efforts in the traditional classroom, I applied to a “teaching” position with a large non-profit. I interviewed for it, and obtained an offer a days later. It was shortly after this when I realized that I now work for the same nonprofit I had taken the Homebuyer’s Course with a few years earlier. I began working with an independent, strong, compassionate woman of Faith. She set me up with as much relevant and quality professional development she could find, and encouraged me to utilize every resource at my disposal. I followed her advice, and began absorbing as much information as I could. It was a wonderful awakening. I have earned my own teaching credentials but the afterschool community is something different. We are the entire administration in one program management team. The leader of my team’s name is Michelle.
Michelle and I were chatting one afternoon regarding the Homebuyer’s course offered through the agency. After sharing some details, we realized that we were both in the same Homebuyer’s course on June 17, 2017. It also happens to be my birthday, and it was the best birthday gift I have ever given myself because making my home has been a pleasure and a privilege. Michelle and I got to know one another more, and we discovered that we had a lot in common. We are both daughters of military men. We both grew up in Detroit. We both are minorities. We are both educated women. We hit it off, and right from the start I knew I was going to learn much from her. I truly had no idea how much. Everything she does, every ounce of her all is poured into whatever she is crafting at the time. From the smallest details, like decorating the cardboard box housing anime stickers we use for incentive awards to major ones, like creating innovatively designed t-shirts for Nick and I to wear at work. I watch her wake up ridiculously early for work and start her day hours before I even start my morning hot water. I know she is usually working past her time in the evening, and/or devotes an entire Saturday or Sunday to work on her weekend, but this is how champions are made. I can count on one hand the amount of times I wanted to be a champion. I’m good with who I am, because I know I am a champion for our youth. Michelle has helped me cultivate leadership in myself by observing championship leadership in her. She has helped me raise the bar, setting my sights on goals I did not consider prior to working for her. She is a very considerate leader. She encourages us regularly to improve our craft. She always remembers us on birthdays and holidays, and she has built an award-winning team in the nonprofit sector of education.
I am forever grateful to the experience I have obtained working under Michelle. She encourages us to step outside of our comfort zone. I am a different professional today, due to her ability to recognize skills, how to combine those skills and set up balanced collaboration. Her leadership style allows us to set high but reasonable standards for ourselves too. It has been a pleasure to work with a woman of quality, compassion, and fidelity. I hope I am as stellar of a leader and equally as impactful to someone else in the way Michelle has been for me. She sent me off with a parting gift. Another one of her thoughtful ways of making her team feel appreciated. I would work for her again in a heart beat, if the opportunity presented itself. Thank you Michelle, for helping me realize the “good trouble” the incomparable John Lewis so eloquently encouraged us to find.
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