Christine Huck, CEO/Executive Director City Garden Montessori School
Even when you are in the trenches fighting racism, some fights require people who are actually built for the battle
That’s what Christine Huck, CEO/Executive Director of City Garden Montessori School, felt when her organization became a microcosm of the outside world in the new George Floyd era. City Garden Montessori School is built on anti-racism. They state: We recognize that racism and privilege are present in our culture, school, and world. The underlying goal of City Garden Montessori School is to affect social change.
In the wake of people rising up and declaring that nine minutes and 29 seconds was too long to watch a man die, the national social justice movement illustrated to Christine that she and her staff could no longer operate as “just us.”
Amidst mounting office tensions and difficult conversations filled with subtexts, the staff was on the verge of their own uprising. They were not able to converse and have a thoughtful dialogue on this issue.
Christine, knowing this issue was beyond the depth of her lived experience, asked for help. Working on the referral of a trusted advisor she brought in an expert, a woman of color, who could lead the organization through one of its most difficult and challenging conversations.
“She was our greatest cheerleader and greatest challenger,” says Christine about Marissa Q. Paine.
As a white woman, Christine knew she was going to be called to a higher task in order to effectively lead her diverse team through this crisis.
Marissa got to work immediately, not by coming in and taking over, but by observing and absorbing. In addition to Marissa watching and mentally recording the team’s reactions and interactions, she also used structured assessments and frameworks in her diagnostic approach.
“She is skilled at helping people understand others’ perspectives — in a human-centered and honest way. The way she facilitates dialogue is powerful,” says Christine.
In the end, Marissa was able to provide the management needed to help the organization deviate from its current course of action. Through her guided method of coming alongside the client, she operated in allyship, helping to address and alleviate their greatest need.
Christine saw improved communications in her staff, they felt more connected and they felt seen and heard. “It was a humbling experience,” she says.
The Shift: You have to be willing to be called out on what you know and pushing your ego aside to get to a deeper shared understanding because confronting yourself is where the work begins.
“I’m not going to pretend people felt good in this process, but real things were discussed which allowed us to live into our values and make real change,” Christine concludes.