April 2026
by Angel Villalobos, ETB Co-Director

Grounding Our Work in Connection and Clarity

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what I am learning, unlearning, and relearning through deeper collaboration across the Expanding the Bench (ETB) ecosystem.

In my work with Advancing Culturally-responsive and Equitable (ACE) Network Members, Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Scholars, the ETB Advisory Team, and internal staff, I continue to see how essential shared grounding and understanding are, especially in a moment that can pull our attention in a million different directions. I’ve been reminded — and regrounded — by peers and colleagues that the language we use, the agreements we build, and the clarity we create around our shared goals are all integral to how we partner with one another.

These foundational elements that help create collaboration that feels meaningful, aligned, and possible, even amid the overwhelm many of us are experiencing.

I see this practice taking shape across ETB in different ways — through ETB: Regional work, LEEAD practicum projects, and our efforts to better define and connect ETB’s pathways. For me, this has been a time of deep reflection to reimagine what collaboration alongside community can look like, and to more clearly name the elements that help us build it together.

The space behind my desk has also become part of that reflection. It’s where I go to reground and sit with my thoughts away from the computer. It holds things I love — especially plants — along with reminders of friendships, generosity, and moments of care from people who have been part of my journey. In its own way, that space reminds me that grounding, reflection, and community are always part of how I find my way back to the work.