ULA Annual Conference 2026

Jennifer Blair Keynote: "Authentic Grace: Enlisting Gentle Boundaries and Compassionate Resistance by Shifting Motivations Toward Self-Compassion and Empathy"

Libraries are caregivers, providing compassion, and empathy to their communities. We recognize the impact we make, but only primarily as a library representative. As servant leaders, we often fail to recognize that compassion also requires self-application. But by shifting motivations and applying compassionate resistance, we incorporate gentle boundaries to maintain and eventually excel in implementing strategies to be intentionally authentic. In leading by example, we employ the same level of compassion and empathy we give to others. We go beyond surface-level acknowledgement, believing in our individual roles, illustrating authenticity and intentionality in applying grace to ourselves.