“Now introducing your starting lineup… at small forward, wearing #5, from Kinsley, Kansas… Scout Fraaame!”
That might’ve been the callout when I laced up on the court, but these days I’m stepping into a different arena. I spent the last three years playing overseas basketball in Ireland. I learned a lot from my experience, but coming back stateside the question of “what’s next” was at the forefront. How could I apply the skills I have gained? Coming to Shockey, I knew I had a lot to learn about engagement – how do I combine the two?
Basketball is a contact sport. I’ve got bruises, broken bones, and scars to prove it. And funny enough, so is community engagement. Not in the bruised-rib kind of way, (well, hopefully not…I don’t know, I’m new here), but in the showing-up, staying-with-it, taking-the-hits kind of way. You don’t always know what’s coming, but you learn to plant your feet and take a civic charge.
I’m still learning the playbook and figuring out the rhythm of civic work, one conversation at a time. I ask questions, listen closely, and show up with everything I’ve got. The pivot from basketball to public engagement wasn’t something I always saw coming, but it turned out to be exactly the kind of challenge I was looking for.
I recently attended a public meeting about a wastewater treatment plant. This time around? It was calm. Informative. Cookies were offered. But I know that hasn’t always been the case. I’ve heard about a previous meeting where residents showed up upset, opinionated, and ready to speak their minds about odor, property values, and everything in between. And that’s when it hit me: this work gets real. It doesn’t always stay on script.
People care deeply about what’s happening in their neighborhoods, and sometimes that care shows up loud, raw, and emotional. I’m still early in this work, but I’m paying attention and getting ready. Because it won’t always stay calm, and when it doesn’t, I won’t be afraid to take the charge. That’s what teammates do – show up, absorb impact, and keep the game moving forward.
Throughout my basketball career, there were many lessons from the court. Teamwork, grit, and awareness are just a few from a long list, but they’ve definitely helped kickstart my rookie season at Shockey.
Teamwork –
As the captain of my team, I learned to lead. That doesn’t mean I just showed up and hoped everyone would do their part. I had to be someone they could count on. I had to show up consistently, support others, listen, and create space for everyone to contribute. All things that are just as central to community engagement as they are to basketball. While my role on a team looks different at Shockey, one thing hasn’t changed: the impact of working together. Whether it’s planning a meeting with the team, collaborating with a client, or listening to community voices, progress happens when we’re clear about roles and committed to each other’s success.
Grit –
Basketball isn’t always pretty. There are missed shots, tough calls, and hard losses. You learn quickly that progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about sticking with it, learning from losses, and staying locked in, even when the outcome isn’t immediate. That same mindset has helped me enter this new space with humility. Engaging the public about their own communities requires thick skin. We’re stepping into their space, and they should feel empowered to speak their minds, even if it’s not always pleasant. Our job is to maintain our composure and keep moving forward. Whether it’s a hard foul during a close game or an angry resident in a public meeting, grit is about staying calm under pressure.
Awareness –
On the court, you develop a kind of sixth sense, knowing where your teammates are, when to move, when to cut, when to create space. You read the defense, the clock, and the energy in the gym. That kind of court awareness shows up in civic spaces too.
In engagement work, it’s about reading the room, sensing when someone wants to speak but doesn’t feel ready, or knowing when to adapt your approach because something isn’t working. Awareness is about staying grounded in the moment and being responsive to what people actually need, not just what’s on the agenda.
Bringing it all together –
That’s part of why I feel lucky to be at Shockey. It’s not just that they make space for people with different backgrounds, it’s that they value it. They don’t expect you to have all the answers on day one. What matters is that you show up with curiosity, energy, and willingness to learn in real time. That’s how we approach community work too, not as the ones calling the shots, but as teammates showing up to listen, learn, and figure it out together.
Being new here, I’ve been met with encouragement, mentorship, and a seat at the table. That’s not just a vibe; it’s a strategy. Shockey has built something strong, and I’m grateful to be learning from a team that leads with both heart and expertise. It’s about showing up, paying attention, and putting in the work alongside good people. And it means knowing that the best teams are the ones where everyone plays a role, and everyone is in it for the long game.
My path isn’t exactly conventional, but it came with grit, curiosity, and a lot of lived experience that turned out to matter. I used to chase rebounds, now I chase perspectives. It’s not about having all the right answers. It’s about showing up, asking good questions, and being willing to learn out loud.
If that’s where you’re at too, just know there’s space for you in this work. Your story counts. And who knows, there might even be a spot in the starting lineup.
Just a little something to leave you with. I’m thinking this needs to be the new way we kick off public meetings:
“Standing at 5’9″, with a jump shot as clean as a well-run public meeting and the hustle to match, bringing fast-break energy to slow-moving systems, a small-town spark with a statewide vision, representing Kinsley, Kansas, and the voices too often left on the bench, give it up for your starting lineup’s newest public playmaker… Scout Fraaame!”