I can’t wait for you all to meet Lawrence, he is a remarkable, fascinating man whose enormous capacity to love and support is truly unique. He is a fervent supporter of the arts, his former students, his Mom, his chosen family, and he makes the world a better place by being in it. I struggled with what to call this episode, as it was so rich with so many wonderful insights and lessons, but I settled on “Pouring Into Each Other” because at its heart, this conversation is about how Lawrence pours into others, how he has been poured into, and how all of this love and support has lasting ripples across generations and time. I cannot overstate how huge this man’s heart is, how boundless his capacity to love and support others is, and how his reflective nature is such a gift! I touch on his bio at the top of the show, but it's extensive so I'm sharing more here. His areas of professional expertise include: ✔Educator Preparation ✔ Leadership Development ✔ Mentorship & Youth Resiliency ✔ Administrator & Teacher Induction ✔ Human Services ✔ Career Development ✔ Career Technical Education ✔ Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion ✔ Performing Arts & Entertainment Production Dr. Lawrence V. Fitz is a transformational leader with extensive experience in the field of education, working in public institutions, Fortune 500 corporations, and non-profit organizations. His roles have included coaching and developing organizational leaders, designing curriculum, conducting program evaluations, serving as a lead school site administrator, and teaching at all levels from K-12 through graduate study. He has been honored with a service award of distinction from the California State Senate for his “commitment to inspiring vision and leadership excellence” and received a commendation from the California Assembly for his “dedication and support in mentoring youth.” Recognized as an expert in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in professional and educational settings, Dr. Fitz focuses his research on social and educational justice leadership. His work emphasizes three key areas: Mentorship (establishing support systems for transitional-aged youth and developing leaders), Human Capital Development (enhancing value and self-worth through education and career attainment), and Arts Advocacy (amplifying justice through inclusive practices in the performing arts). He presents nationally on these topics. Through advisory board service for the City of Brea’s (CA) Curtis Theatre, he works as an artist and arts advocate who is passionate about increasing the community’s involvement in the performing arts, addressing inequality, and amplifying the voices of marginalized artists. He is a faculty member at the University of La Verne's College of Business, where he teaches courses in leadership, communication, and gender, culture, and diversity. Additionally, he teaches graduate-level leadership and licensure courses to school administrators at the University of Massachusetts School of Education for Instructional Innovation. Ciara’s Info Follow on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaragogan/ Follow Stumbling Through Growth on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stumblingthroughgrowth/ Ciara’s business, Uplift Inclusion - https://www.upliftinclusion.com/
