A Love Poem for Leaders of Youth-Focused Work

If anyone makes you feel replaceable

spit fire.

The fact is—no one

No

One

Will do the job the way you do.

Your heart, your commitment is yours,

Unique.

You are there for everyone else.

When they need you,

You are there.

You carry, you speak, you stand up

You mend, you cry, you listen…

Your fire keeps this work 

going.

And we see you. We see you reflected in every fiber, smile, notepad.

It’s your love woven throughout, shining 

Throughout.

You have worked so hard to build this path

Stone by stone

Through your tenacity, self-taught savvy, sweat,

Tears.

Thanks to you, we now have this—this life changing, world changing, 

Universe changing garden of experiences

That center young people

Nurture young people and

Create conditions for young people to flourish.

You—co-architect, collaborator, co-operator, co-navigator—

You have also constructed a field, 

a profession, 

a home

For all of us seeking it.

But the truth is, friend,

We are worried about you. Not the work-you, the you-you, the

Whole you.

We know why you are holding on so tightly—you’ve had to.

Your grip has shielded us from the battles.

We are grateful. We have needed you. We

Need you still.

But

Your life’s work 

kind of 

Loses meaning if you 

Have

No

Life.

Instead of being everywhere, instead of continuing to build—

Would it be 

possible to take a moment, 

Shift gears and share 

a little of your self

With us?

Teach us how to find and use our own tools 

Like you have done? Teach us

How to funnel that love energy through ourselves to bring

More power to

Young people,

Families,

Friends?

You have fueled this work. And you’ve 

filled us up 

So we can be a driving 

Force. We’re ready to 

Use your

Stone path as

A launchpad.