Word with Corey: Back at it: reflections from leave

When I went on parental leave this spring, someone told me that my time away was reflective of the society we want to live in, one where family comes before work. That stuck with me. Not because work doesn't matter (I love this job), but because it named something I care about deeply: building a California where people have the time, space, and security to live full lives.

I had a lot of time to think while I was away. About the work, about HAC, about the politics and policies we fight over every day, and about how I want to live my own life. A few things came into sharper focus.

The cities we want to live in

At its core, I think HAC's mission is about creating the cities we want to live in. That means abundant housing, yes. But also great transit, access to jobs, open space, and places designed around people. Housing is the foundation, but the goal is bigger than any single bill or project.

To make that vision a reality, HAC needs to be the urbanist organization in California that is both powerful and influential. It's why our team operates on two levels at once. At the political level, we advocate for pro-housing policy changes and build coalitions to win them. At the technical level, we make sure those policies actually work once they're on the books. Winning the vote is only half the job. The other half is making sure homes get built.

More than the sum of our parts

Being away also gave me a new appreciation for our team. Plainly put, HAC did very well while I was out, and that's a direct reflection of the people we have.

Someone asked me whether I have all the team members I want. The honest answer is no, and that's because we're growing. I have a vision of a larger statewide organization that helps deliver a better future to the next generation. We're not there yet, which means we're constantly asking our team to do a lot: a lot of community outreach, a lot of organizing, a lot of education. They rise to it every time, but the need across California is only getting bigger.

Growing together

Getting to that next level depends on two things.

The first is you, our members. HAC grows when member organizations see and support the return on investment we deliver: better policy, faster approvals, more feasible projects, and a political environment where housing can actually get built. If you've seen that value, I hope you'll renew, deepen your support, and help us bring new members into the coalition.

The second is being strategic. With limited capacity and enormous need, we have to be precise about where we engage, both from a policy perspective and a political one. That means showing up where HAC's voice makes the biggest difference and picking the fights that move the needle.

My goal hasn't changed; if anything, it's clearer. I want HAC to be the organization that makes California's cities the best they can possibly be.

Not to sound too sappy, but I've got a little extra motivation waiting for me when I get home these days.

It's good to be back.