When I moved to Seattle, from Brooklyn, NY, I knew that I would face some significant differences, but I thought I was ready for it. I was hired as the Executive Director of a beloved arts education organization, serving mostly low income, BIPOC youth in south Seattle and on the southern border of Seattle. Leaving NYC, under the leadership of multiple individuals that didn’t connect with their staff, I vowed to do the exact opposite of them. I wanted to make communal decisions, understand differing perspectives, bring joy into the workday, and, most importantly, trust the staff. This worked well…until it didn’t.