Natalie Samarjian’s Post

The Importance of Virtuous Leadership in the Home and Community In our home, I strive to be the model of virtue, balancing calm with strength. For me, this means leading conversations with composure, even when I need to raise my voice to emphasize a point. I have found that true leadership involves standing your ground with confidence—listening carefully, responding thoughtfully, and addressing conflict directly. When someone else becomes angry or frustrated, I stay firm and courageous, questioning reactions and asserting my perspective, but always with an emphasis on respect and authority. This commitment is especially important in my role as a parent. In many ways, my son’s understanding of good behavior and strong character comes from what he observes in our household. As his mother, I want him to see the power of leadership based on virtue, not just authority for its own sake. Though I cannot control others’ actions, I can remind myself daily to model the values I hope he’ll carry forward: integrity, patience, and respect. Unfortunately, we’re seeing a decline in this kind of leadership in many communities. I believe much of this stems from a loss of core values like faith, hope, and charity—principles that once grounded our families and neighborhoods. Without these, it’s easy for people to lose sight of what binds us together and gives us strength as a community. True leadership, whether at home or in public life, is about embodying these values and inspiring others to do the same. If we want our communities to flourish, we must nurture this approach to leadership, rooted in virtue and respect. When we do, we create environments where people can reconnect with faith and hope, find common ground, and foster a spirit of charity that benefits everyone. Go vote for the virtuous leader in Colorado state house district 3 — Write In @MarlaFernandez the leader you deserve. #writeincandidate #marlafernandez #LeadershipMatters #CommunityFirst #GoVote

🌟 Shining a Light on the American South’s Untapped Change-Makers 🌟 Marc Carr MBA reflects on a recent tour of the American South, it’s clear that we’re only scratching the surface of the immense change-making talent that exists within these communities. From Clarksdale, Mississippi—known as the home of the blues but rich with community redevelopment efforts—to bustling Charlotte, I witnessed powerful initiatives led by local leaders deeply rooted in the challenges their communities face. These “proximate leaders” are the very people driving innovative solutions, reclaiming their communities, and demonstrating a unique, authentic approach to impact that only those close to the issues can bring. This journey reinforced the importance of being on the ground, not just looking at data from afar. Foundations have a crucial role in supporting these local changemakers by truly understanding community needs, which often means taking the time to tour, listen, and learn firsthand. Supporting these leaders—who are overlooked far too often—can help catalyze sustainable, locally driven change. If foundations, investors, and advocates continue to focus on proximate leadership, we can uplift these communities and the often-overlooked positive stories that exist alongside the challenges. Let’s recognize and champion the impactful work happening in the South and beyond. #CommunityCapital #ProximateLeadership #SouthernChangeMakers #ImpactInvestment #CommunityDevelopment #UntappedTalent #FoundationsForChange #InvestInTheSouth #ClarksdaleMississippi #Charlotte

IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF A PERMANENT AND LASTING SOLUTION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND HOMELESSNESS, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS BROKEN AND NOT WORKING FOR AMERICAN TAXPAYERS Veteran Housing Corp would ask every TAXPAYER to demand and get answers from their elected and appointed government officials the below questions as they relate to any affordable, workforce, or supportive housing project in your community! 1. How much local, state, and federal funding, tax credits, or other government benefits or incentives did the project receive? 2. What is the affordability period for each project? Is the affordability period permanent and in perpetuity? 3. What guarantees exist have your local, state, and federal government officials obtained in writing that rents will not go up or that tenants will not be displaced or evicted after the "affordability period expires? Every local, state, and federal housing authority and affordable or workforce housing stakeholder should adopt the State of Vermont's "permanent affordability" policy as a model for all future government funded or subsidized housing projects or developments, no exceptions! https://lnkd.in/eFEUC8c8 Additionally, local, state and federal housing agencies should look to the Helsinki, FINLAND MODEL of ending homelessness by providing affordable housing for all 'It’s a miracle': Helsinki's radical solution to homelessness https://lnkd.in/er9HZSQU Even the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AGREES THAT adopting FINLAND'S MODEL OF ERADICATING HOMELESSNESS may be of great value to resolving the affordable housing and homelessness crises in America https://lnkd.in/gkSZWYRU

What drives someone to enter the political arena? For Harrison Roday, it’s rooted in the belief that politics should be about public service His journey was heavily influenced by mentors like Senator Tim Kaine, whose commitment to serving people left a lasting impression on him. Here are a few key takeaways that has inspired Harrison's vision for leadership: 1️⃣ Service Over Self: Politics isn't a platform for personal gain; it’s an opportunity to uplift our communities. 2️⃣ Community Focus: It’s essential to address the needs of EVERY resident, regardless of their background. 3️⃣ Building Opportunities: We have a unique moment to create a city that works for everyone and fosters success. As Harrison runs for mayor, his goal is to ensure that Richmond evolves into a city where opportunity is abundant for all. #PublicService #Leadership #Community #RVASmallBusinessShow #RVASmallBusinessNetwork #MeetTheCandidate #RichmondElection2024

To serve is a crucial part of our mission at Citywide, and this spotlight on our leadership is reflective of that approach. https://lnkd.in/g3FTFJ_n

https://lnkd.in/eh365kr3 Watch this clip from our 2021 honoree, Rosie Lee Bryant, as she shares wisdom on the lessons she has learned from the great example of her parents and the importance of good leadership!

How does Chicago political scenario look like? Gregory Royal Pratt wrote an interesting look at Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration. I am not going to lie, it is a political book, but it is also an indirect leadership book. Politicians need support from other public officials to carry out policy. In our workplace, we need allies to better serve our customers and stakeholders. As leaders we have to evaluate ourselves and make sure we don’t lose our North. #leadership #chicago #politics

We're here to change this! Learn more about GALS Denver at galsdenver.org. #GALSLeadership #WholeChildEducation #SocialEmotionalLearning #IdentityDevelopment #RelationalExcellence #EducationForGirls #EmpowerGirls #GirlsInLeadership #EducateToEmpower #GALSMode

Let's change this together! Learn more about GALS Denver at galsdenver.org. #GALSLeadership #WholeChildEducation #SocialEmotionalLearning #IdentityDevelopment #RelationalExcellence #EducationForGirls #EmpowerGirls #GirlsInLeadership #EducateToEmpower #GALSMode

We are up to 540 students and still going. Higher Education Leaders, if you want to improve the success of your students the answer is here. https://lnkd.in/ettiyZSd #Above the Line Performance #students #success #leadership #education #highered #communitycollege #win