Jennifer Karls: A Journey of Leadership, Learning, and Systemic Change
Jennifer Karls, Co-Founder & Director, Roots of Inclusion; LE’2016
My journey with Leadership Eastside and the Adaptive Leadership program began in 2014 when I was a parent advocate working to ensure children with disabilities had access to an equitable and inclusive education. I organized learning groups, advocated within my school district, and participated in committees, but I struggled to understand what was truly needed for systems change.
A colleague encouraged me to apply for Leadership Eastside, recognizing that the program’s approach aligned with my goals. Through my experience, I realized that some of my advocacy efforts were unintentionally reinforcing the status quo. This led to deep personal reflection and a profound shift in how I approached my work. I learned that systems are designed to produce the outcomes they currently achieve, and real change requires addressing adaptive challenges, not just applying technical fixes in what are perceived to be broken systems.
These insights dictated that the work needed a different structure, one that would not only support advocacy, but also help others understand how real systems change occurs. This understanding led to co-founding Roots of Inclusion with my colleague Sarah Butcher, Class of 2017 Leadership Eastside graduate. From the beginning, we built our organization on the principles of Adaptive Leadership and Gracious Space. We knew that dismantling inequitable systems shaped by racism, ableism, and bias required a different approach, one that centered real conversations, diverse perspectives, and deep structural change.
Roots of Inclusion partners with community-based organizations, agencies, and community leaders to facilitate conversations and provide educational opportunities that help people recognize and navigate adaptive challenges. We examine policies and structures that need to shift for sustainable change and work to bridge gaps in understanding how systems intersect and impact the lives of people with disabilities and their families. A core part of our mission is strengthening existing relationships and identifying where new connections need to be built to create meaningful, lasting change. We believe that true transformation happens when people come together with a shared commitment to equity and inclusion.
Photo courtesy of Eastside Pathways. Jennifer Karls speaker at EP’s All Partner Meeting.
The lessons I learned at Leadership Eastside continue to guide me, not just in my work, but in how I move through the world. Now more than ever, we must recognize where adaptive challenges exist, distinguish them from technical problems, and create spaces where people can come together for honest, complex conversations. By fostering relationships and building connections, we can make real progress toward a future where equity and accessibility are a reality for every individual, no matter their circumstances.
As we celebrate 20 years of Leadership Eastside, I extend my gratitude to the leadership over the years, the staff, students, board members, and everyone connected to the organization. You have shaped not only my journey but the journeys of many others who are working every day to build a more just and inclusive society.
