5 Things / Visibility
I’ve been thinking about something Jenny Chen said on this week’s 5 Things in 15 Minutes show. She said we need more than allies; we need warriors. “Warriors who lead with love, kindness, respect and compassion, who challenge systems, who believe we can evolve and be better for those around us.”
That’s been on my mind all week. This Sunday, Heather and I are going to a Rally for Trans Visibility. Monday is Transgender Day of Visibility, and I’m showing up as a warrior. One who stands beside my trans community with love and conviction.
Here’s what I know: it’s easier to hate people we don’t see. People whose stories we haven’t heard. Whose humanity we haven’t felt.
And when they hate us, they dehumanize us. That’s exactly what’s happening to trans folks right now.
Visibility matters because silence perpetuates violence. Visibility is about reminding the world: we’re here. We matter. We belong.
I’m here to be a friendly warrior…and not just on the pickleball court.
How about you?
This Week’s Good Vibes:
Giving the Land Back
In a victory for Indigenous sovereignty, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has reclaimed 1,500 acres of ancestral land in Illinois—land guaranteed to Chief Shab-eh-nay in an 1829 treaty but wrongfully sold during his absence. After 175 years, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s signing of the land transfer marks one of the most significant “Land Back” moments in U.S. history. The park will remain open to the public and maintained by the state. This challenges systemic erasure and centers Indigenous stewardship in land use conversations. ♐(Still) advocate for policy that reckons with historical harm.
Shattering Stereotypes, Steering a Nation
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah just made history as Namibia’s first female president—and only the second woman ever directly elected to lead an African nation. Elected with 58% of the vote, this lifelong Swapo activist now leads one of the world’s most unequal countries, where 70% of farmland is owned by just 1.8% of the population, most of them white. ♐Her task is heavy: to dismantle these deep scars of apartheid-era inequality and carry the burden of being a symbolic “test case” for women in leadership. (h/t to Jane Lee for this one)
Scrambled Eggs & Sisterhood
UConn basketball player Jana El Alfy is fasting for Ramadan during the NCAA tournament, but her teammates are modeling interfaith allyship. Muslims observe a fast from sunrise to sundown during Ramadan. Paige Bueckers has been waking up before dawn to bring groceries and cook Suhoor meals for Jana. Other players are joining the breakfast. I admire a team culture that honors both Jana’s Muslim identity and humanity. ♐Inclusion can be joyful and fun (and practical!), but it starts with asking what people need.
Delta’s Secret Sauce
In an industry plagued by burnout and strikes, Delta, America’s most profitable airline, shared $1.4B in 2024 alone with its employees. In addition to the profit-sharing program, there’s a companywide, cross-functional Board Council, direct leadership access, and perks like boarding pay and spa-like lounges for employees. Only pilots are unionized, yet flight attendants and ground staff remain fiercely loyal because of Delta’s first-class employee experience. ♐When you design for dignity, you unlock performance, loyalty, and resilience.
Driving While Understood
New Jersey is now offering voluntary disability notations on driver's licenses to reduce miscommunication between law enforcement and individuals with autism, hearing loss, or communication impairments. The new "Code 5" designation alerts officers that a different approach may be needed—especially during stressful moments like traffic stops. A handful of other states offer similar identifiers, while Arkansas and New York have launched “Blue Envelope” programs designed to cue officers nonverbally during traffic stops. ♐This is accessibility in action, embedding empathy into everyday systems.