Dear Highline College Community,

Thank you to everyone who showed up and spoke honestly during Wednesday’s listening session. I have spent time thinking about how that space unfolded, and I want to share some reflections with you.

The session was intended to create space for you to share your thoughts and experiences. Instead, parts of it shifted into more of a Question & Answer (Q&A) format. I want to clearly acknowledge my role in that. Old habits are hard to break, particularly the habit many of us have, myself included, of moving quickly to respond, explain, or solve rather than simply listen. It is often more comfortable to speak than to sit in silence and fully absorb what others are sharing. In this instance, I unintentionally moved us away from the purpose of a listening session and from modeling the kind of intentional listening our community deserves. Listening – truly listening – is something I continue to work on and remain committed to improving.

We will approach our next session on March 3^rd, differently. Our focus will be listening first, creating space, suspending judgement, seeking understanding before responding, and ensuring every voice has the opportunity to be heard. Your perspectives and experiences matter, and they are essential in shaping our community.

The importance of listening – of honoring stories, lived experiences, and voices, feels especially meaningful as we observe Black History Month. This time invites us not only to reflect on history, but to actively value and elevate the voices that have too often gone unheard. Black history is not separate from American history or world history – it is an essential and inseparable part of both. The contributions, struggles, achievements, and cultural influence of Black individuals and communities have shaped our nation and our global society in profound and lasting ways. As poet Amanda Gorman reminds us, “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” Black History Month is a celebration of resilience, brilliance, culture, and enduring impact. It is a time to honor the beauty and strength woven throughout Black history and to recommit ourselves to equity, understanding, and shared progress.

This is an important and energizing time for our college as we continue to strengthen trust, dialogue and shared leadership. I am grateful for the dedication and care each of you brings to our community. Thank you for your continued engagement and for holding us accountable to be better. I look forward to seeing you around campus, and I hope to see you at the listening session on March 3^rd.

Kind regards,

Jamilyn

Jamilyn Penn, Ed.D.

Interim President

Highline College