Why I do not want to be referred to as a "Proximate Leader"

Hear me out.

This term made popular in recent times as part of the "Localization" movement in development has puzzled, confused and eventually frustrated me as it is increasingly applied in everyday development speak. 

My professional path has led me into interesting and often what feel like privileged spaces of conversations and actions-at least to me. I consider myself very open minded and I listen a lot before I make a conclusion, and right now, I am concluding that I choose not to be considered by this term, whether or not folks consider me to be one. Here are some illustrative recent conversations that have led to this conclusion:

1. "…what do you mean, we will work with a Kenyan consultant-what can she tell a US board about how they conduct business…"-it makes me wonder… no, I will leave that to your imagination!
2. "… proximate leaders operate with the lens of the communities they reside in and have lived in…" now, I UNDERSTAND what you are trying to say, however, my education system, my socialization and my path in adulthood that has led me to you, has been very broad… broader than where I live-and perhaps that may form another series of musings.

This one is even more puzzling because I grew up being told "think global, and act local…"-(this reveals my age); and also, last term, my 8 year old son's school has hammered down the concepts of  "Being a Global citizen" and infact a "Netizen"… does this mean by that simple term, he is not considered a potential proximate leader?"

1. "… you are not really proximate, you may have started your early years in a rural town, and infact worked in grassroot communities, but right now, you are an "urbanite" ergo, not a proximate leader…" now you see my confusion.
2. "…we consider you a proximate leader, and so we will have you speak on issues around your Kenyan context…" and so I wondered, what about the insights and feedback that I had received from my other continental friends on this same issue… can I speak on it? Will it enrich the conversation if I brought in those perspectives, or am I not "authorized" to include that very lived experience that I also bring to the table… so confusing!

I could go on and on, but I am writing this a little late in the night and I need to sleep.

So folks, who understand this term very well… my fellow colleagues. I have cringed, frowned, and even outrightly frozen many times when you have used these terms in my presence. I now want to ask, what do you mean? And can I opt out of being termed as this? 

Perhaps it is my education, or my historical relationships with those who have had power over me in the past. I just want to put it out there, that this, is a term I would rather not hear, in the way it is currently being used to refer to those I consider exemplary leaders in community development at least for those I have experienced in the "proximate space" of my country-Kenya. 

Note: I do not mind being described as being "Proximate" to an issue, community, situation etc… but I feel boxed in when referred to as a "Proximate leader" if this makes sense-and yes, perhaps it is petty, but it is also my truth.

Question: Isn't there a less antagonizing term we can use?

P.s. I speak for myself. #shiftthepower  #foodforthought