Official First Day

Yesterday was officially my first day. I arrived and right away my boss had things for me to work on. After a quick overview of the office and reading through some memos and briefings to catch up to speed, I dove into my first research project. I have to learn about the candidates running for California Superintendent of Public Instruction and what the powers of this position includes.

At mid-morning, Alysha, my boss’s assistant and fellow policy analyst, asked me if I wanted to attend a conference she was going to later that day. I said yes. I was unsure what the conference was going to address, but I was eager to learn more. I made a promise to myself that I would try to learn and see as much as a could while I am here. If an opportunity to experience something new presents itself I will most likely say yes.

When we arrived everyone was already seated into small groups and the facilitator was explaining the next activity. Each team needed to discuss and chart the leadership challenges that inhibit collaboration in their work. Alysha and I sat with two other ladies and attempted to join the conversation.

As we were debriefing the small group work, the facilitator referenced material they had covered earlier in the day. She began using terms that I was familiar with like “adaptive leadership.” Once she drew concentric circles and described the difference between “self,” “role,” and “system” I knew exactly what she was walking about. Ronald Heifetz!

What a treat again. I was witnessing the Heifetz model at work. For the Kennedy School folks out there and other people who have been exposed to his work, I hope you can especially appreciate the affirmation encompassed in this moment. I took the infamous Heifetz course my last semester at the Kennedy School. I did not take the class with Ronald Heifetz. I took it with Dean Williams and had the perspective-shifting experience that its intended to have on its students. It has greatly informed how I think about collaborative work, coalition-building, and certainly leadership.

Later I found out that the gathering was sponsored by the Anne E. Casey foundation and that they’ve done similar trainings for government agencies that serve children and families. I thought it was fascinating work and got really excited that the work may come to Los Angeles. I want to learn more.

Alysha and I returned to the office in time for the new intern orientation. I found a fellow Kennedy School intern at the orientation and met a few more people who will be working there for the summer. The Mayor spoke, we got to ask questions, and take a picture.

We also heard from some deputies and representatives from different offices. One of the speakers was particularly interesting. He is one of the deputies and was once an intern as well. He described his work history and gave us some tips, such as writing as much as we can this summer and asking a lot of questions. As he was speaking my public narrative sensitivities started to kick in and I began to wonder, "Yes, but why were you called to public service in the first place?" Despite his impressive resume, what I wanted to know was what moved him to do this work--specifically. I asked him. He said he wanted to make a difference and do it at the local level because when you work locally you can actually see that impact right away. National policy-making is encumbered by a lot of beauracracy. Local policy-making, on the other hand, does not have as many barriers. I agree, but I still don't understand why he was moved to make a different at all. To his credit, it's a tough question to answer especially in two minutes. However, here was another instance where I felt like my last two years in school made a difference. Working with Marshall Ganz and his team of public narrative trainers has developed sensitivities in me that I think will help me better understand my context.

After my first day at the Mayor's office was over, I went to Parents Union’s office. Parents Union is where I will be working full-time starting at the end of August. We'll be launching our first Parent Trigger Campaign this upcoming school year. Our executive director asked me to come in to meet the board and attend their meeting. When I walked in everyone was chatting, catching up. It was like walking into a family reunion. Once the meeting got started and I introduced myself, they were all so excited to meet me and my fellow new organizer. All I can say is that it was so nice to know they were happy to have me. It was a wonderful welcoming.

It was already turning into a twelve-hour day and I was ready to go home, but our executive director explained that Parents Union had gotten free tickets to watch a screening of Waiting for Superman, a film by the same director who directed An Inconvenient Truth. It highlights the disparities in our educational system and the challenges to reform. I had heard about the movie before so I signed up to go to the screening that night. I HIGHLY recommend the movie. It describes the crisis quite well. I remember sitting in my seat, in the dark theater, feeling so alone and so outnumbered, like when I was a teacher. The problems that we have in education can be so overwhelming. Although the solutions that the film offers can be a bit simplistic, it inspires urgency, which is what the educational reform movement really needs right now. GO WATCH IT and check out the trailer for the film below!



I could not have engineered a better first day--relevant and important research to do, Heifetz's work applied in the real world, public narrative stimulated, a warm welcome at Parents Union, and art pushing us to take action on education reform.

At the end of the day, I remember thinking, “I just want to do what I do really, really well.” I want the work I do at the Mayor’s Office to be done well. I want the work I will be embarking upon with Parents Union to be done well. It’s important. It matters a tremendous amount to me and I need to do my part.