A number of months ago I was invited to a Center for Ethical Leadership retreat over at Bainbridge’s Islandwood Center. As I struggled to locate my core values and work up a vision that extended beyond daydreaming about lunch, I met Tamara Broadhead, a political consultant and graphic designer who is also a longtime community newspaper geek. Tamara is a serious Real Change fan. We bonded over this, and a certain sunny-side-up cynicism that we both share.

We talked about Real Change, why we love it, and how it could be so much more. Once we were both back in the world, I called to ask if she could help with marketing. She said yeah. She already had an idea.

She said it drives her crazy that so few people in Seattle know how good our journalism really is. We’d talked about the “homeless newspaper” perception, and how many people assume we can’t possibly be good. But we were still missing the obvious.

“Redesign the thing,” she said. “Tantalize readers with headlines and graphics,” she said. “Make them open the paper.” “People should see stories they care about,” she said, “and not just someone who needs help.”

“I’ll do this for you,” she said.

And she did, over numerous versions, revisions, consultations, and work sessions with our staff. Because Real Change matters. She is my hero. Thank you Tamara.