Leadership Lessons from a CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) Bus

Dear Reader,

First—thank you. Truly.

Many of you started following me because of my personal journey. You saw me fighting for housing justice, walking through evictions, second chances, and faith-filled pivots. And when I had to shift my focus to carry this mission forward, you stayed. You didn’t leave. You gave me space to lead.

Now, I’m excited to officially share that this mission has found its home.

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Now I can get back to my journey.

Leadership Lessons from a CTA Bus

I was already on edge that day. Tired. Worn. Carrying the weight of a mission and a dozen quiet battles nobody could see. I got on the bus hoping for peace, but instead—I got tested.

A man stepped on, loud and animated. Said he was a drug counselor. He started talking about how terrible “these young people” are, how he mentors them, but they’re lost, hopeless, out of control. He was loud—too loud. Not just in volume, but in ego.

At first, I agreed with one thing he said, trying to connect. And just like that, it flipped. He turned to me and said, “Your generation doesn’t get it. We did real drugs—they don’t know nothing about that life.”

I calmly told him, “You’re actually from my mother’s generation. She went through all that. I get it.”

He didn’t like that truth. Suddenly, he was attacking me. “What do you even do?” “You need a new profession if you’re on this bus.” “Don’t act like you’re better.”

I wanted to respond. No yelling. No profanity. Just truth—cutting and clean. I had the words. But I paused. And in that moment, I saw a reflection… not just of him, but of me.

What if someone was watching? What if someone was recording? What if this was the moment I was supposed to teach, not talk?

That day, I almost stepped off my throne. I almost gave away my position just to prove a point.

And the moment passed.

But the lesson didn’t.

That day, I almost got off my throne and forgot who I was in the heat of a moment—and I know better.

I’m not just a tenant advocate. I’m not just a founder or leader. I’m a teacher—even when it’s inconvenient. Even when it’s on a bus. Even when I’m exhausted.

From that day on, I decided: I will not lose my crown to someone who never earned it. Have you been in a similar situation?

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