Across the country, school communications professionals are carrying a tremendous weight. You are navigating polarized environments, responding to criticism that often misunderstands your purpose, and working every day to keep communities informed, connected, and grounded in truth. In moments like these, it can feel as though the work is under siege. And yet, you continue. You show up. You hold the line. That persistence is not accidental; it is the quiet, steady heartbeat of public education.

We often talk about love and compassion as if they are soft, effortless qualities. But anyone who has done this work knows the truth: love is forged, not found. Compassion is shaped, not stumbled into. They are not organic states that simply appear when we need them. They are the result of the heat of conflict, disagreement, frustration and the uncomfortable work of staying in the room when everything in you wants to walk out.

Even in creating our district's "Beloved Community Campaign," I had to confront that reality. There were disagreements. There were differences of opinion. There was stonewalling. There were moments that stirred real anger and deep frustration. I had to sit with emotions I didn’t want to feel, and conversations I didn’t want to have. But that journey, that messy, imperfect, human journey, is what ultimately led to a deeper understanding of love and compassion. Not the easy kind, but the kind that is earned through struggle.

Dr. Kelly Aramaki, superintendent of Bellevue (Wash.) School District, discusses the district's commitment to a Beloved Community.

At the center of this work is the vision of the Beloved Community — a concept created by philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce and popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It describes a global society rooted in justice, equal opportunity, and unconditional love, where poverty, racism, and violence are eliminated through nonviolent means. It is a world where conflicts are resolved peacefully, universal understanding is nurtured, and every person’s inherent worth is recognized and celebrated. This vision is not abstract for us; it is the foundation for the culture we are striving to build in our schools.

Together with Superintendent Dr. Kelly Aramaki, we created the Beloved Community Campaign and Toolkit to intentionally build that kind of environment across all 28 of our schools in the Bellevue (Wash.) School District, one where every student, staff member, and family feels safe, valued, and seen. The toolkit is not just a set of materials; it is a roadmap for culture-building. It includes shared language, communication templates, guidance for school leaders, family-facing resources, and clear expectations for how we talk about belonging, safety, and dignity in our schools.

The goal of the campaign goes far beyond the toolkit or the posters now displayed in our buildings. Those are the starting points, the shared foundation. The real power emerges when students and schools begin creating their own meaning and living into the values in ways that reflect their unique communities. We saw this almost immediately at Tillicum Middle School, where students created a video sharing tangible ways they plan to “call in” peers who may not feel part of the “in” crowd. They also developed a resource list of supportive phrases students can use when witnessing bullying or when someone is “othered.” This is exactly what the Beloved Community looks like in practice: students taking ownership of the values and shaping them into everyday actions.

This campaign is not separate from policy — it is anchored in it. Our School Board strengthened several key policies to support this work, including BSD’s updated non-discrimination procedure, its revised student discipline policy, and a set of supporting reinforcement policies that collectively affirm the district’s commitment to culturally responsive learning environments. Together, these policies ensure that discrimination is clearly prohibited, that restorative and fair discipline practices guide our responses to harm, and that every school is accountable for creating spaces where all students feel safe, valued, and respected.

And yes, the work is being challenged. Yes, the noise is loud. Yes, the pressure is real. But your presence matters. Your voice matters. Your commitment matters. You are not just communicators: You are culture shapers, trust builders and caretakers of the public narrative. You help communities remember who they are at their best.

If there is one message I hope you carry with you, it is this: love and compassion are not the absence of struggle. They are the result of it. They are what emerge when we choose to stay engaged, stay grounded and stay human in the face of challenge. The beloved community we all hope for is not a distant dream — it is something you help build every single day.

February is Black History Month, a meaningful time to reflect, uplift and learn. Throughout the month, we’re sharing stories and perspectives from NSPRA members that honor lived experiences and explore how communication can foster belonging in our schools and communities all year round. If you would like to contribute a personal reflection connected to Black History Month or share a communications strategy, initiative or campaign your district is leading to celebrate, educate or engage your community during the month, please email Janine Thorn at vpdiversity@nspra.org.