The Power of Showing Up: Why Presence Is More Than Just Being There
It was a warm June night. The kind of evening that holds joy, anticipation, and just a little bit of exhaustion. I was at a high school graduation—not for a family member, but for a dear friend. She had made it through, against the odds. Just her and her mom here in the U.S., and now she was walking the stage.
When she saw me in the crowd, her eyes widened. “You came?” she asked, surprised and smiling.
Of course I came.
Later that evening, we all went out to eat to celebrate. I followed behind them as her mom drove us to the restaurant. That’s when I noticed her tail lights were out.
When we got to the parking lot, I let her know. She hadn't realized and said she'd take care of it the next day—by then, the shops were already closed.
The next morning, my friend called me. Her mom had been pulled over. She was given a ticket and her license was taken away.
She tried not to let it ruin the joy of the previous night, but her voice cracked when she told me. The weight of a traffic ticket hits differently when you're a low-income, single mother of color. It’s never just a ticket. It’s missed work. It's navigating bureaucracy without a car. It's a strain on dignity and resources when you already have so few to spare. (IYKYK)
When Presence Is Protective
That night reminded me that showing up is not just an act of love—it’s a kind of protection.
It’s what we do for each other when we say, “I see you, and I’ve got your back.”
Her mom didn’t know her tail lights were out. From the driver's seat, she couldn’t see what I could from behind. She was doing her best. But even the most careful among us have blind spots.
Whether it’s in life or in business, we all need people who can notice what we can’t see. Not to judge us, but to care for us. To help prevent what could otherwise become a quiet crisis.
What This Has to Do With Your Business
Your work—the work of liberation, community-building, and systems change—is sacred. But let’s be honest: it’s also exhausting. You are holding so much.
And while you're at the wheel, committed to the mission, it's easy to miss the operational tail lights going out:
A deadline slipping through the cracks
A budget that’s not being tracked
An opportunity you didn’t have time to follow up on
These aren’t just details. These are the places where ease can erode, and burnout can creep in.
At Galvan Consulting, we believe presence is more than availability—it’s attentiveness. It's watching the road with you, from behind and beside, so you don’t have to do it all alone. We provide administrative support that centers care, justice, and efficiency—not just to “get things done,” but to protect your capacity to keep doing what matters most.
Showing Up Is Our Practice
In a world that makes it easy to feel isolated in leadership, we’re here to say: You don’t have to carry this alone.
Our work is rooted in transparency, integrity, and relationship. We serve organizations led by people of the global majority who are advancing anti-oppression work—not just because it’s our niche, but because it’s our commitment.
We understand that you are not just building a business or managing a program. You are tending to people, purpose, and possibility. Our role is to tend to you.
We believe a just world includes sustainable leaders. That’s why we do what we do: to make sure that your brilliance isn’t dimmed by logistics. That someone is showing up for you, even in the smallest ways.
Ready to Have Someone Behind the Wheel With You?
If you’ve been doing it all yourself, consider this your invitation to rest. To delegate. To have someone check the tail lights, hold the to-do list, and free you up to lead with more clarity and less stress.
We’re here when you’re ready.
Let’s talk about how Galvan Consulting can show up for you—consistently, intentionally, and with care.