Meet Amanda Darrow

We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Darrow recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from finally allowing myself to be my true, authentic self. For a long time, I felt like I had to hide parts of who I was or fit into boxes that didn’t really belong to me. Carrying that weight was exhausting, and it kept me from really believing in my own strength. But once I chose to live as my full, authentic self, I began to flourish both academically and professionally. It felt like a door opened, and I realized that the strength I had been looking for was inside me all along—I just had to give myself permission to live it out.

That same authenticity is what fuels the work I do every day as the Executive Director of IncludEd United. Leading this nonprofit means standing alongside educators, students, and community members who are navigating incredibly challenging times in education. There are days when the political climate feels heavy and the pushback against inclusion and equity feels overwhelming. But I remind myself why I started this work: to create spaces where people feel they belong, to give educators the support they deserve, and to ensure students see their identities reflected and celebrated. The mission of IncludEd United pushes me to keep going, even on the hardest days, because I know the impact is bigger than myself.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

IncludEd United exists to build inclusive, equitable, and supportive environments where every person feels valued and respected—regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or ability. At a time when many students, educators, and employees feel unseen or excluded, our work ensures that belonging is not just a promise but a reality. We accomplish this through hands-on programs such as educator support groups, young adult mentorship for college students, workplace trainings, and our annual IncludEd in Schools Conference (Next one is January 10, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah). Each of these initiatives empowers individuals to thrive and equips institutions with the tools to create lasting culture change. When teachers are supported, their classrooms transform. When young adults find mentors, their pathways expand. And when workplaces commit to inclusivity, entire communities benefit. Our impact goes beyond programming—we help bridge divides, amplify marginalized voices, and build dialogue in spaces where it is often missing. We believe inclusion is not a one-time initiative but an ongoing practice of listening, learning, and growing together. By centering authenticity and equity, IncludEd United strengthens schools, workplaces, and communities, creating ripple effects that improve educational outcomes, mental health, and civic life.

In a climate where equity and belonging are too often questioned, IncludEd United stands as a vital resource. We remind educators, students, and communities that inclusion is not optional, but that it is the foundation of success, resilience, and progress.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Determination
One of the most impactful qualities in my journey has been determination—the ability to keep pushing forward even when the path isn’t easy. Whether it was pursuing higher education while balancing leadership roles or continuing to advocate for educators and students in the face of political and systemic challenges, determination kept me moving.

Advice: For those searching for ways to stay determined, I would recommend that you set small, achievable goals and celebrate the progress along the way. We often forget how much we do day by day. For myself, I set daily lists for both work and my doctoral coursework, I break the big projects into smaller daily goals and get excited when I cross a project off my list. As each project wraps up, I celebrate with activities I enjoy doing like basketball, playing games with friends, or reading a new book. This is what I would explain as celebratory self-care.

Empathy
Empathy has been central to both my leadership and academic work. As Executive Director of IncludEd United, I’ve learned that listening deeply and understanding the lived experiences of others builds stronger relationships and more impactful programs. It also helps me create spaces where people feel safe, valued, and heard. A space I so desired when I was in school and still desire as an adult in certain spaces.
Advice: To develop empathy, I encourage people to actively seek out perspectives different from their own. That might mean attending community events, engaging and building dialogues with people from diverse backgrounds, or simply asking thoughtful questions and truly listening. When I say truly listening, lean into what people are telling you, they want to share this part of themselves with you, listen. Consider the courage it takes when people share different parts of themselves with you. Even if you do not agree or find moral conflict with what they are sharing, listen with care. This is what it means to develop empathy and to be a good human.

Visionary Thinker
One of my greatest strengths has been the ability to think as a visionary—seeing possibilities before they exist and designing them down to the smallest detail. Whether it’s creating unique conferences (with Taylor Swift themes), turning policy research into accessible programs, or designing events like the IncludEd Met Gala with every element reflecting a deeper story, I thrive on imagining what doesn’t yet exist and then making it real. Visionary thinking isn’t only about having bold ideas—it’s about pairing creativity with intentional design so that every detail connects back to purpose.
Advice: For those early in their journey, visionary thinking can be uncovered by giving yourself permission to dream big and then grounding those dreams in concrete steps. Start by asking “what if?” and then sketch out the details—colors, textures, timelines, people involved—so the vision becomes tangible. For example, when I imagined the “IncludEd in Schools Conference,” it wasn’t just about scheduling speakers—it was about building a theme that would inspire educators but one that would create an experience that educators would remember long after they left. That level of detail helped transform a concept into a movement. This January, attendees will get a Survivor themed (yes, the tv show) conference. Now is the time for your own concepts to become a movement.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Right now, the biggest challenge we’re facing at IncludEd United is how the political climate has affected funding. Education has become so politicized that conversations around diversity, inclusion, or even just supporting teachers can be seen as controversial. Because of that, some of the traditional funding sources we would normally turn to have either pulled back or become much more cautious. It makes raising money for programs that educators and students clearly need a lot harder than it should be.

To overcome this, we’ve been focusing on building support in creative and community-driven ways. Events like the IncludEd Gala and our IncludEd in Schools Conference do double duty—they raise funds, but they also bring people together and show why this work matters. We’re also leaning into partnerships with organizations that share our values and diversifying where we get our support from so that we’re not dependent on any one stream of funding.

Most importantly, we’re telling the real stories of the teachers and students who benefit from our work. When people see the human impact, they realize this isn’t about politics—it’s about building schools and communities where everyone belongs. That message resonates, and it’s what keeps us moving forward even when the climate is tough.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.includedunited.org
• Instagram: included_united
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-darrow-a52210100/

Image Credits

Images to credit: Lisa Wucherpfennig and Nicole LaRue