The Hamilton County Leadership Academy (HCLA) Class of 2026 (#bestclassever) began our journey together in a setting that matched the spirit of the day: West Park in Carmel, home to an accessible playground surrounded by nature and designed for inclusion. It was the perfect backdrop for our first class theme—Diversity & Belonging. Having the opportunity to experience a different Hamilton County location for each meeting is one of my favorite things about the program.
From the start, our class expectations — Be Curious. Be Present. Be Positive. — set the tone. With those words as our compass, we were able to have a day full of vulnerability, learning more about each other and ourselves. We shared a meal outdoors, heard from inspiring speakers, and reflected together in ways that reminded me that belonging isn’t abstract — it’s something we can practice in the everyday moments of how we show up for one another.
Andrew Adeniyi of AAA Solutions opened the day with a line so simple, but so important: “If you have a shield in one hand and a sword in the other — lay both down.” We explored our own values and biases, closing with the perspective, “bias is inevitable, but so is commonality”, and the goal to first seek out what we share before what divides us.
Having worked on event teams myself, I know how much vendor selection says about values. HCLA’s commitment to using a range of local providers for each class day not only supports small businesses but also gives us the chance to experience food and people we may not have otherwise encountered. Thank you to Quality Ingredients Cooking for feeding and fueling us so well!
In the afternoon, Jeff Worrell, Carmel City Council member and Founder & CEO of Project Civility, gave us a phrase I’ll carry with me: “Projecting civility isn’t a weakness; it’s the strongest stance you can take.” As we read the Project Civility statement aloud as a class, the silence in the room spoke louder than any debate. We were connected and open.
We ended the day with a panel of HCLA alumni voices who are putting this work into action across Hamilton County. Their stories reminded us that belonging doesn’t happen by chance — It’s something built with intention. Whether it’s honoring Indiana’s Black history or creating coalitions where every voice matters, their leadership gave us both perspective and inspiration.
Looking ahead to this year together, I feel both the hope of what’s possible and the responsibility of what’s required. So, I’ll leave you with the same words that were shared by Jeff that afternoon — an invitation that feels like the right place to begin:
“Will you be brave with me?”