A Collective Reflection by the 2025 Southern Education Leadership Initiative Fellows
This Love Letter to the South is a collective reflection written during the closing of the 2025 Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI). It was born out of personal stories, shared experiences, and deep contemplation throughout a summer spent learning, working, and growing across the Southern region.
Each fellow contributed at least one sentence—an expression of adoration, commitment, disappointment, conflict, or hope—toward a letter that honors both the beauty and complexity of the South. It captures not only our reverence for the region’s people and culture, but also our belief in its potential for transformation through justice, equity, and education.