Dear Student Leader, Prioritize learning. It’s a simple recommendation, but a complex component of sustaining growth and development. Reading books and taking courses that deepen knowledge and strengthen skills are crucial to achieving success in business, social movements, and education. Implementing the structure and maintaining the discipline to make time for learning are challenges. Set aside time and identify a quiet location to improve your ability to comprehend, evalua

Dear Student Leader, Say it ain’t so. As the administration engages in wars against diversity, we need Black and Brown unity. Yet, I can’t ignore the allegations against Cesar Chávez. His work to improve farmers’ wages, living conditions, and healthcare does not excuse sexual abuse. New York Times reporters  revealed ample evidence that supports Chávez molested girls and had extramarital affairs with women throughout his leadership of the United Farm Workers. Chávez, like oth

Dear Student Leader, “You’ve got to see this.” That’s what she said. One week before the Modesto Marathon, my wife told me about the “Inside The Manosphere” documentary on Netflix. Louis Theroux and his crew created the film in response to an increase in online content reflecting the nuances of masculinity. A friend of mine had recently introduced me to the term manosphere and its characters’ patriarchal preachings of hypermasculinity. But, before my wife said anything to me,

Dear Student Leader, Is it Spring Break for you? Did you travel? I wrote this while on a turbulent flight from the National Council of Black Studies (NCBS) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. If you’re reading this, either my computer or I survived the moments when my stomach plummeted, and the plane fell into air pockets. Before arriving at the airport, I heard about the travel delays across the country. I left the hotel early to avoid the stress of long lines. Thankfully, th

Dear Student Leader, I write these weekly letters/ blog posts to share ideas with you. Self-discipline and creativity enable me to teach you through this medium. But listen, you don’t need to rely on me for lessons. Pain, challenges, and suffering are various names for teachers in your daily life. I’m not advocating for masochism. Please don’t interpret this week’s teaching as “seek pain and receive pleasure.” And don’t conflate it with Republican claims of “short-term pain”

Dear Student Leader, March is here, and madness is imminent. From understanding war to acknowledging gender pay gaps, the fight for your sanity is real. How will you respond? Distraction is an option. You could avoid difficulties and instead manage NCAA tournament brackets. But you’re a leader and unafraid of responsibilities. Leaders reflect and apply previously learned lessons to current circumstances. Acquiring the mental health skills to conquer challenges is not simple.

Dear Student Leader,   Did you know that Black history includes fabulous Pharaohs and the disgusting Diddy? Our life’s story did not begin on slave ships and plantations, nor does it end with the fall of one or more entertainers. African people share a global history replete with successes and failures. Our ancestors lived and experimented with math, science, literature, and technology before landing in America. Origins within the African continent and throughout the diaspora

Dear Malcolm, Where do I begin this? My son picked you as the “Person of the Century” for a class assignment. His report reminded me that you died on February 21, 1965. If you hadn't died, you might have reached 100 today. Most of us don’t live past 100, but anything is possible in the pockets of my imagination. They killed you because you threatened their egos and systems. Your words had teeth to bite injustices and cripple racism. The courage you embodied in your speeches a

Dear Student Leader, Did you watch the Super Bowl? During the first half, I played basketball with my son, but I managed to catch Bad Bunny’s performance and the last quarters. I loved the overt display of Latinx culture in Bad Bunny’s show, and I expected the Seahawks to win. I couldn’t tell you the name of Bad Bunny’s songs before the Super Bowl. Now, I know “Tití Me Pregunto,” “NuevaYoL,” and “Café con Ron” are the titles of some of his popular tracks. The Spanish language

1 of 3 fog captures from my running adventures Dear Student Leader,   How is the weather? In Sacramento, we’ve had a series of foggy days. When driving and out running, the low visibility reminds me of snow flurries during Chicago’s winters. It’s difficult to see the path ahead. Oftentimes, leadership is like being surrounded by dense fog. You have the vision of where you want to go, but it’s challenging to discern the best route forward. Do you stop? No. You consider past ex

Dear Student Leader, Don’t worry, there will be no name-calling in this week’s letter. If you remember, I posted a letter warning you not to act like a cow or a bear. I will not do that again. During this week’s outdoor running adventure, I took a new route and crossed flocks of turkeys and ducks. The random path put me on a street where I stumbled into a coworker. Both were chance encounters, but they prompted this week’s message. Read on to see what ducks, turkeys, and ass

Dear Student Leader, What’s the difference between education and school? Are they one and the same? If you’ve never thought about it, continue reading this letter. You attend school to receive an education. The school is the structure. You know the desks, the building, textbooks, and material components. School also includes teachers, administrators, your peers, and the staff. An education is how you apply what you learn from the things and people in school. Dr. Martin Luther

Dear Student Leader, The time to act is now! You can wait until you finish this blog post, but… Clarify priorities, organize yourself, find accountability, develop discipline, and get to work. Embrace your humanity and don’t be a cow or a bear! A sense of urgency emerged this week through multiple indicators about the inevitability of change. John Forte passed away, I learned of a friend’s terminal cancer diagnosis, and I read a book by someone who suffered a debilitating str

Dear Student Leader, How are things? Did you use last week’s lesson on consistency and accountability? We are less than two weeks into 2026. Like any day, now is a great time to build new habits. Take the “New Year Resolution train” and start your journey to making changes. Failures will happen, but don’t let them stop you. Courage isn’t authorizing bombings, shooting observers, or removing politicians. Loud power plays often feed weak egos and starving ethnocentric beliefs.

Dear Student Leader, Enjoy the final days of your holiday break. The time to connect with friends and family can serve as a refreshment between semesters. I thought about you as I ran through downtown Sacramento and across the Golden Bridge. Did you make New Year’s resolutions? Want better grades this term? Maybe, for you, building muscle or losing weight is the goal this January. This letter is part of my commitment to growth through writing: in 2026, I will write more than

Have you ever thought about your last message? By this, I mean the last words you will leave behind for your family, friends, and community. It’s morbid to discuss death, but it’s also foolish to ignore the reality of our limited time on Earth.   Thinking about legacy can clarify priorities, reduce stress, and clear barriers to significant success.   One day, hopefully not any time soon, people will reference us as Ancestors. What will people say? Does it matter?   On this fi

I don’t know how many more days, months, or years I have left to live. The doctor says, I’m in excellent shape, but life is unpredictable. I am writing this letter to you for your 15th birthday, in case death comes sooner than expected. Sure, I could have shared these words with you in a private setting. However, much of your time is spent online and on screens these days. I want to see more of you around the house, but you can read this letter in your favorite place at home-

Imagine a stampede. Footsteps pound around you. The breath of other mammals touches your neck. Dust speckles make it hard to see. Do you panic and stop or keep up? I tried to keep up, but after the first five miles of California’s International Marathon, I regretted the decision. The telling pants and painful foot strikes forewarned me of the pending failure. Despite this awareness and thanks to my music turned to max, I ignored the signs. Until mile 14, I maintained the grue

Creativity is not limited by time and space; it lives in us and thrives throughout our natural environment. Kuumba is Kiswahili for creativity. It is the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, necessary for innovative solutions to problems regardless of the season. In recognition of Kuumba, I give this offering. Leaves on the ground   We arrived at 6:45 PM. My family parked across the street from my coworker’s home. We crossed the street, found the address, and climbed the stairs to the

Can you imagine not eating on Thanksgiving Day? What if your decision to remain hungry could build a school for your community? A cause just might be worth avoiding the macaroni and cheese, turkey, dressing, peach cobbler, and greens smothered in meat fats. Twenty-four years ago, a hunger strike led by a concerned Chicago coalition forced politicians to listen and build a new high school. It wasn’t November when the students, parents, activists, and grandparents decided to st