This spring and summer, I had the opportunity to attend a wide range of national gatherings—each one distinct, yet all deeply resonant in what they offered. From the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit in Philadelphia, to the American Press Institute (API) local news and storytelling training in Nashville, to our own National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) Community Media Conference & 50th Anniversary Celebration in Salt Lake City, the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) Conference in Kansas City, MO and the Public Media Development and Marketing Conference (PMDMC) in Philadelphia—each gathering reinforced the urgency, complexity, and importance of the work we do.
One of NFCB’s core responsibilities is to show up in these national spaces—to listen, to learn, and to speak up. We attend conferences not only to keep abreast of trends and challenges that affect our member stations, but also to ensure that community media is represented in conversations about journalism, philanthropy, democracy, and public safety. Especially in this volatile political climate, it’s critical that we make the case again and again: community media is not an afterthought—it is an essential tool for civic connection, cultural expression, and public safety.
Across these five conferences, here are the top three lessons that stayed with me:
1. We Need Our Friends at Work. Full Stop.
There is something uniquely grounding about hallway conversations, shared meals, and spontaneous reunions with colleagues who just get it. In every city I visited this season, those moments reminded me that professional friendships aren’t just helpful—they’re a lifeline.
And the data backs that up. A 2022 Gallup study found that people who have strong friendships at work are more likely to be engaged, productive, and fulfilled. Gallup writes: “Employees who have a best friend at work are significantly more likely to engage customers, get more done in less time, support a safe workplace, and innovate and share ideas” (Gallup, 2022).
In an ecosystem as complex as public media and nonprofit leadership, those relationships are essential. They’re what allow us to keep showing up when the work gets hard. From a surprise meet up with a climate science friend at the Lenfest summit, to a good friend ripping off the price tag of my dress in the elevator in SLC to geeking out over data at PMDMC, it is great when friends can support you at work.
2. Your Leadership Style Matters—Even If It’s Weird, Different, or Lonely
Not every leader looks or sounds the same. And that’s not just okay—it’s powerful.
In Nashville and Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and D.C., I met people whose leadership styles were quiet, creative, questioning, defiant—and often wildly effective. Some shared that they didn’t look like the stereotypical “leader.” Some shared that they felt out of place in a room full of suits or spreadsheets or the reverse—their love language was data in a room full of creatives. But their presence mattered. Their work mattered. And their stories moved people.
In times of change and uncertainty, we need a diversity of leadership styles. Maybe yours doesn’t match what others expect. Maybe you lead with empathy, or intuition, or a deep commitment to process over flash. That matters. March to the beat of your drum and you’ll find that others will follow.
Someone in the room is waiting to see leadership that looks like you. Don’t underestimate the ripple effects of showing up authentically. I was really touched by a few folks that reached out after hearing me speak at the NFCB conference and shared that what resonated most with them was seeing different authentic people stand up to present, lead and share their stories. I also received a thank you note from an attendee lamenting that leadership can be lonely, especially when you are the only paid employee and this person was grateful to be able to attend a conference, where they didn’t feel so alone anymore in tackling leadership issues.
3. Surround Yourself with Smart, Brave People—And Don’t Forget to Rest
In all the convenings I attended, one truth kept echoing: we cannot do this work alone. Whether you’re navigating shrinking budgets, disinformation threats, burnout, or organizational change, you need people around you who will:
- Ask hard questions.
- Offer constructive disagreement.
- Call you on your blind spots.
- Help you find clarity when the fog sets in.
We grow when we are challenged by people who care about us and care about the work. Don’t settle for yes-people. Seek out the folks who will speak the truth—even when it’s uncomfortable—and trust that the tension can lead to insight.
And in the midst of all this: rest.
Rest is not a reward for hard work. It is part of the work. It is a strategy for staying in the work longer, with integrity and clarity. More than one speaker this season reminded me that if we are serious about change, we must also be serious about recovery.
In Closing
This season of learning was rich, sobering, and affirming. The rooms I sat in—from API’s deep dives on trust and audience, to Lenfest’s bold conversations about philanthropy and democracy—reminded me that our sector is shifting. And community media must be part of shaping what comes next.
At NFCB, we will keep showing up—in D.C., in foundation boardrooms, at strategy tables, and in spaces where policy and funding decisions are made—to ensure that rural, tribal, and underrepresented communities have a voice. We will keep making the case for community radio’s vital role in local journalism, arts, public safety, and connection.
And I hope you’ll keep showing up too. Weird, imperfect, hopeful, and ready. We need you.
