Working on the Front Lines Builds Character

Earlier this year, while working toward my next full-time communications role, I took a part-time position in parks and recreation maintenance. The work was hands-on, early mornings, and physically demanding. It meant maintaining fields, caring for public spaces, and helping ensure facilities were ready for the community each day.

It was one of the most grounding and rewarding professional experiences I’ve had.

In communications, we often talk about infrastructure, public services, and community investment. On the maintenance side, you deliver those services directly. You see how residents experience their city in immediate and practical ways: whether a ballfield is ready for a game, a park feels clean and safe, and a trail is accessible and well maintained.

There’s very little distance between the work and the public impact.

I was reminded that local government is deeply tangible. It’s not just plans and policies — it’s the condition of a park on any given morning or afternoon. It’s whether families have a positive experience. It’s the pride residents feel in their community.

As I prepare to begin my role with the City of Littleton, I’m especially grateful for that perspective. Supporting Public Works and city operations through communications means understanding what’s happening beyond the press release or social post. It means recognizing the effort behind every project and the real-world impact on residents.

Working on the front lines reinforced something important: the best public communication starts with respect for the work itself. When you understand the operational side, you communicate with greater clarity, empathy, and credibility.

And sometimes the best way to gain that understanding is to show up early, work alongside a dedicated team, and see firsthand what it takes to serve a community well.