Final Reflection

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My experience in Toronto this summer taught me a lot. As I worked this summer with Rainbow Faith and Freedom, I found myself not only uniquely focused on how to address issues at the intersection of queerness and religion but many other intersecting identities. This work at RFF is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and we were often challenged by how to best push for inclusivity in religious spaces, without pushing a Western agenda and being cognizant of cultural differences. As we began to reach out to different religious organizations and venues, we were forced to continuously reimagine our outreach and the program we were originally offering. This continuous pivot taught me an invaluable tenet of leadership, the willingness and ability to listen. My understanding of ethical leadership shifted from taking up space to learning when to take a step back. Being flexible and adaptable is a great leadership trait, but like anything, it works best in moderation. I found myself battling for the summer of learning when to step back, but also learning when to step up. Because most of the work at Rainbow Faith and Freedom is grant-funded, many of these projects end in stalemates as the grants run out of money. As most of the employees at this organization were stretched thin, I found my own niche in the organization by revitalizing projects that had been dormant for a year or more and exploring ways to integrate them into ongoing work projects. By bridging older and current projects at the organization, I was able to work alongside the Executive Director and my supervisor to create a coherent vision for RFF's present and future. 

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