In a time of deep change, constant confrontations, and competing pressures, leading with love is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. As educators and school leaders, we are being asked to make decisions that shape the lives of children and families. The question is: Can we keep our hearts at the center when everything around us feels uncertain and divided?

Carmen Xiomara Urbina, a lifelong educator and bridge-builder, invites us into an honest and hopeful conversation about what it means to serve each and every child—especially in times when our values are tested. This keynote offers not just inspiration, but a pathway forward grounded in care, clarity, and collective purpose.

With over three decades of experience leading across Oregon’s education systems and communities, Carmen Xiomara reminds us that our work is about more than systems—it’s about our babies. It’s about honoring their stories, standing in integrity when it's hard, and choosing courage over comfort, even when staying silent feels easier and safer.

Together, we’ll explore:

• How to lead with love when the road is rough.
• What it means to hold space for every child—and every family—with dignity and hope.
• How we move forward when our values are questioned, and our hearts are tired.
• And the most important question of all: Is silence still an option? Or is our voice—rooted in love and guided by purpose—exactly what our schools and communities need right now?

This is a call to lead not by dismantling, but by lifting. To build stronger, more inclusive schools where every child feels seen, safe, and deeply valued. And to remember that in every wave of change, love can be our anchor—and our compass.