Open-mindedness, willingness to take risks, and patience are the essentials for leadership, according to Linette Robinson, a 20-year resident leader of the Shaw neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Her private formula for successful leadership also includes "having something to believe in and always hoping for the best." This is the philosophy she has employed for the past 10-plus years as an activist with Manna CDC.

Robinson's primary work with Manna has been with Shaw Education for Action (SEA). This program reaches out to community residents to help them obtain job training and then find and keep decent jobs. According to Robinson, stable employment in jobs paying a living wage is a key to building and maintaining a stable neighborhood.

A homeowner who achieved that dream 10 years ago with Manna's assistance, Robinson now helps counsel her neighbors so they, too, may cross the threshold of their own home some day. She also has served on and led neighborhood committees that have tackled numerous challenges, including researching ownership of abandoned properties, exploring ways to create job opportunities in Shaw, organizing public safety workshops and clean-up campaigns, and winterizing homes for elderly residents. In addition, she has testified at city council meetings and hearings and attended a number of community leadership training workshops.

In her own quiet way, Linette Robinson leads the Shaw community by example. Her actions demonstrate that positive change can be achieved through dedication and service.