The Leadership Power of Building Community and Support Networks

Leadership is not meant to be done alone. True leadership is sustained by strong communities, people who advocate, amplify, and challenge systems alongside you. This month, as we focus on Building Networks That Matter, I’m reminded that we all need people who will not just cheer us on but clear a path ahead.

From Glass Ceilings, Fragile Ground, Chapter 6:

“These are powerful examples of what happens when leaders choose to dismantle inequity rather than make space for it to persist.”

This chapter features the story of Terry, a Latinx, gender-fluid employee, whose manager ensured that their promotion came with pay equity and a roadmap for sustained growth. It also highlights Rachel Maddow’s unwavering public and private support for Joy Reid as she made history and later faced institutional pushback. Both are examples of how meaningful networks can create lasting change.

But how do you build that kind of network? Chapter 6 breaks it down:

Building Your Support System

Start by reflecting on where you feel isolated and what support you truly need. Seek out people who have the knowledge, access, and investment in your growth.

Go beyond traditional spaces: Join identity-aligned organizations, connect across industries, and form informal groups with peers navigating similar challenges.

Be intentional about relationships: Find sponsors who can advocate for you, mentors who understand your journey, and peers who offer mutual support.

Create what’s missing: If the support you need doesn’t exist, build it. Affinity groups thrive when they foster trust, share resources, and focus on collective growth.

Pay it forward: Move from ally to co-conspirator. Use your access to open doors, speak up in real time, and take tangible action to challenge inequity and lift others.

Support isn’t one-size-fits-all. The best networks are reciprocal, intentional, and rooted in shared success.

Honoring National Minority Disability Appreciation Month

May is National Minority Disability Appreciation Month, a time to uplift the contributions of disabled leaders of color whose work continues to shape how we lead and live.

One such leader is Andraea LaVant , founder of LaVant Consulting and impact producer for the Oscar nominated documentary Crip Camp. She is a force for inclusion in media and beyond.

“Access isn’t a favor. It’s a right. Inclusion shouldn’t be extraordinary. It should be the norm.” — Andraea LaVant

LaVant’s work embodies this month’s theme. She doesn’t just talk about inclusion. She builds infrastructures for it. Her efforts remind us that real networks include everyone, and no one rises without access and equity.

Leadership Spotlight: Annette Gantt Palmer and the Right to Be Seen

In a powerful recent story from Black Enterprise Magazine , we meet Annette Gantt Palmer, a 78-year-old South Carolina woman who has been denied a Real ID. Born during the Jim Crow era, Palmer was never issued a birth certificate, a bureaucratic oversight that has become a lifelong barrier.

Her story reveals how historical exclusion continues to impact everyday lives. Without ID, Palmer struggles to access basic services and freedoms, despite a lifetime of contributing to her community.

This is why we build networks. To prevent anyone from being erased or overlooked. To ensure that the systems we create remember everyone they were once designed to forget.

Juneteenth Spotlight: Uplifting Through Action

As we approach Juneteenth, we honor not only the delayed liberation of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, but also the ongoing journey toward equity, justice, and remembrance.

This year, I’m spotlighting SOUL FIRE FARM INSTITUTE INC , a Black- and Brown-led collective that uses ancestral practices to fight racism and food insecurity. They offer education, community building, and mutual aid rooted in the spirit of liberation.

If you're looking to give back this month, consider supporting Soul Fire Farm, or a local Black-led organization dedicated to healing and justice.

Call to Action: Who’s in Your Circle

As you move through this month, I invite you to ask: Who is in your network, and how are you showing up for each other? Are you simply connected, or are you committed? Support looks like an intentional community. It’s brave spaces, reciprocal action, and shared power. Let’s build networks that matter.

If someone has played a role in your growth, send them a note today. Say thank you. Or better yet, ask how you can support their journey in return.

Featured Read: Glass Ceilings, Fragile Ground

Thank you kindly for the continued support of the book. It is still available on Amazon. It’s a great read and an even better gift for the leaders, visionaries, and co-conspirators in your life.

[Book Link Here]

News + Upcoming Events

Sip & Shatter: An Afternoon to Remember, Glass Ceilings, Fragile Ground book signing

Sip & Shatter was a sold-out celebration filled with powerful readings, deep conversation, delicious bites, and beautiful connections. We wrapped up the day with meaningful one-on-one moments, book purchases, and lots of love.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up and showed out, and to Occasio Winery for graciously hosting us. If you haven’t already, take a moment to check out the photos. We captured some incredible memories.

ChiefX Boston On June 5, 2025, I had the honor of attending ChiefX in Boston, and wow, what a powerful room to be in.

From bold ideas to brilliant women, it was a day of dialogue, elevation, and deep reflection. I left energized by the courage and clarity in every room and grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many changemakers. More on that soon.