2025 GCDN Convening, Los Angeles

Photo by Will Yang and John McCoy.

Reflections on empathy, intention, and the quiet forms of leadership that move culture forward.

Last week I attended my first convening of the Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN) in Los Angeles, produced by AEA Consulting. The gathering brought together cultural leaders, urbanists, policymakers, funders, and practitioners from around the world to explore how we sustain culture in a time of change.

What made it powerful was not only the setting, but the depth of the questions being asked.

Empathy over assumption.

Staying, not scaling.

Supporting artists where they are, not where systems expect them to be.

Getting unstuck requires quiet resistance, clarity of intention, and a willingness to ask better questions. The conversations reminded me that progress in the cultural field is not about growth alone, but about presence, attention, and care.

Working across institutions, foundations, and networks, I left with a renewed sense of purpose and a belief that meaningful change often begins in thoughtful, sometimes uncomfortable dialogue.

Grateful to the GCDN for convening such an inspiring group, and to the AEA Consulting team for the ongoing exchange and collaboration.