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, 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 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

Hip-hop lives. During car rides and school days, the music and culture of hip-hop can encourage awareness and prevent suicide.. Nino Paid’s song Joey Story  offers us an example. I can’t front. Nino Paid’s music is not on my playlist. Here’s a brief story about how I learned of this artist. The drive for awareness. My teenage son opened the passenger’s door and sat in the front seat. He fastened his seat belt, and we pulled away from the curb. Within seconds, he connected his

“Slow down so your soul can catch up.” I read the advertisement for a “Wine and Spirits” store as I jogged towards Bahamas Street. The phrase made me smile as I shifted paces and contemplated the message We often rush through life without savoring the small, meaningful moments. Meditation and reflection are critical tools for sustainable leadership success. Hours before my run along Bakersfield, California’s blocks and parkways, I stood in a classroom with student leaders at