Centering Community, Leading with Purpose

A Conversation Between Keshi Satterwhite and JSpeaks

At Planning Ahead, we know that real progress doesn’t begin with policy alone; it starts with people, honest dialogue, and leadership rooted in lived experience.

That’s why we’re proud to share a recent conversation between Keshi Satterwhite, Executive Director of Planning Ahead, and JSpeaks. The newly released trailer offers a powerful preview of a dialogue that explores leadership, environmental education, and what it truly takes to build climate-ready communities rooted in equity.

This isn’t just a conversation; it’s an invitation to reflect, engage, and lead differently. Watch the trailer: https://lnkd.in/ecXxfmnA

Why This Conversation Matters Right Now

Communities across the country are navigating increasing climate pressures, including extreme heat and flooding, as well as housing instability and economic stress. In these moments, leadership must move beyond top-down approaches and toward community-centered action.

In this conversation, Keshi and JSpeaks explore:

• What leadership looks like when it is grounded in lived experience

• Why community voice is essential—not optional—in environmental and climate work

• How environmental education and preparedness can empower rather than overwhelm

• The responsibility leaders have to listen deeply, adapt continuously, and act with integrity

These themes are not theoretical. They are central to the work Planning Ahead designs and delivers alongside communities every day.

Leadership That Starts With Listening

At Planning Ahead, we believe communities already hold the knowledge, resilience, and solutions needed to thrive. Our role is not to dictate answers, but to create space for learning, dialogue, and collective action.

This conversation reflects the same principles that guide our programs:

• Meeting people where they are

• Honoring community expertise and lived realities

• Translating complex climate challenges into accessible, practical learning

• Co-creating solutions with communities, not for them

When leadership starts with listening, it builds trust. When it centers the community, it builds resilience.

Watch the Trailer. Join the Conversation.

The trailer is just the beginning. We invite you to watch and reflect:

What does community-centered leadership mean to you in this moment? What message from the trailer stayed with you?

Engaging with and sharing these conversations helps ensure they reach others who are asking similar questions and working toward meaningful change.

Support the Work Behind the Conversation

We encourage you to support JSpeaks and the platform they’ve built—one that makes space for thoughtful, courageous conversations that move communities forward. These platforms are critical for shaping how we talk about leadership, equity, and collective responsibility.

If you’re new to Planning Ahead, we invite you to learn more about our work in environmental education, climate preparedness, and equitable community engagement:

Together, through conversation, learning, and action, we can design futures that are more resilient, more just, and deeply rooted in community.