I got elected to be on the School Board because I canvased my community, went to community events and listened. Now that I am elected I often ask myself about how I can become a good leader, which then leads to the question of where to look for good leadership. Here are my thoughts.

In today’s culture, leadership is often mistaken for visibility. We confuse it with titles, credentials, or media presence. We’re told to look up—to politicians, influencers, or public figures—for direction. But the leaders who shape our communities in the most meaningful ways aren’t always at the top. They’re walking beside us.

They are our neighbors. They are small business owners, teachers, nurses, farmers and religious community members. They don’t carry titles, they carry something far more powerful: a consistent concern for the well-being of others.

I’ve attended events lately—mostly unadvertised —yet each filled with people, brought together by word of mouth. The connective tissue? A friend who cared enough to say, “Come with me.” A neighbor who noticed someone struggling and extended an invitation. A leader—unofficial, uncelebrated—who took the time to walk beside someone else.

In a world increasingly fragmented by ideology, race, class, and education, people are not just looking for spaces—they’re looking for belonging. They want to be seen as individuals, not avatars of a group. They want leaders who say, “You’re more than your past. Let’s move forward—together.”

Real leadership doesn’t always arrive with a spotlight or a strategic plan. Sometimes, it looks like a thoughtful question, a timely text, or an act of kindness no one else noticed. To lend a hand without asking what box someone checks on a form.

The institutions that once filled this role—are often caught up in bureaucracy or public relations battles. But the need hasn’t gone away. If anything, it’s grown louder. And into that gap, a new kind of leader is emerging—not defined by position, but by presence.

When enough of these everyday leaders take root in a school, a business, religious community or a neighborhood, things begin to shift. People feel safer. They feel seen. They participate more—not because someone told them to, but because they want to be part of something real.

The leaders we need are already here. They may not have the loudest voice, but they have the deepest impact. If you look for them they can be found.

On this good Friday, I would like to thank all the servant leaders I have grown to know. You are the glue that holds our community together.

Much Love and Thanks,

ElizaBeth Hanke