Shadowing a Councilman for a day
- Larry Carroll Jr.
- Oct 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 29
There’s a saying that proximity breeds perspective. Throughout the day, I had the privilege of closely observing Councilman Isaiah Thomas — a leader who embodies both courage and compassion in the way he serves Philadelphia. As someone deeply invested in community wellness, behavioral education, and leadership development, following Councilman Thomas wasn’t just about politics — it was about studying purpose in motion.
I met his aid Taylor, She seems to be the one controlling the flow of traffic in and out of his office. She also controlled of the flow of his thoughts, setting his schedule in motion glossing over his schedule. I then met David. David proceeded to explain to me his experience with Isaiah, he spoke about Isaiah's passion for basket ball. I recall him saying, he wasnt sure if Isaiah, loved basketball more than he loved being a councilman. Taylor concurred with the thought.
After some time, Isaiah walks in and gets right to business. I get up and shake his hand, he ask, "you here to see me"? I reply, "I am here to shadow you". After a quick brief with his team, we walk out of his office and into a photo shoot. From the photo shoot, we walk into a chamber with a round table. Councilman Isaiah shows me a seat to sit in, right next to council president Kenyatta Johnson.
I sit, Isaiah gives me what looks like an agenda. He points to a bullet point with number and tells me to hold. Mistakenly I take President Councils pen to write, when he sits he looks for it. Isaiah chuckles and says, "you cant take the president councils pen". I nervously chuckle. Before we dove into the agenda we first are given time to introduce ourselves. What is your name, degree, etc. Soon after the introductions we introduce bills. Isaiah explains, when I hear "yes" or "yes with consent", write a check next to it.
After introducing the Bills and checking them off. we walk to a different chamber. The organized chaos that ensued in that chamber I can only imagine is a dialed down version of the wall street. While navigating the overcrowded chamber, I shook hands and watched as people interacted. This seemed to be where councilmen and council women make their deals.
The proceedings were interesting, in a ceremonial way, individuals who accomplished noteworthy acheivements helpingthe city were recognized by the full council. I had the honor of being a part of recognizing Stephon Fulton aka CoolBoystep for his accolades.
Lessons in Service and Strategy
As a behavior educator and life coach, I approach leadership through a systems-thinking lens. Observing the Councilman reaffirmed how effective leaders blend empathy with structure. Policy without people is empty, and passion without process is chaos. He finds the balance between both.
From community meetings to strategic discussions, I learned how intentional planning meets the pulse of real-world impact. Whether addressing education equity, youth engagement, or gun violence prevention, his leadership is rooted in actionable compassion — the kind that doesn’t just talk about the people, but works with them.
Bridging Civic Engagement and Community Healing
Following Councilman Thomas also helped me understand the emotional and behavioral side of politics — how leadership can heal or harm communities. I saw firsthand how authenticity, accountability, and accessibility are the cornerstones of trust. When people feel seen, they show up differently. When leaders listen, communities begin to heal.
This experience deepened my belief that government and community organizations must work hand-in-hand — especially in spaces that address trauma, education, and youth empowerment. It’s not enough to have programs; we need alignment.
A Personal Reflection
For me, this journey wasn’t just observation — it was inspiration. It reaffirmed my mission with Ryze Above Inc. to develop the next generation of socially conscious leaders who understand that growth happens from the inside out. True leadership is not about power; it’s about purpose. It’s not about being seen; it’s about seeing others.
Following Councilman Thomas reminded me that transformation doesn’t always happen in classrooms or boardrooms — sometimes, it happens on city blocks, in council chambers, and through the quiet consistency of service.
Conclusion Walking the Talk
As this chapter of following Councilman Isaiah Thomas comes to a close, I’m walking away with more than insight — I’m walking away with responsibility. Leadership isn’t about titles or proximity to power; it’s about the courage to show up, listen, and act with integrity.
What I witnessed in Councilman Thomas was the intersection of public service and personal purpose — a blueprint for what authentic, community-rooted leadership looks like. It challenged me to continue aligning my work with Ryze Above toward healing our communities from the inside out — through education, wellness, and empowerment.
We all have a role to play in the movement toward progress. Whether you’re mentoring a youth, speaking truth in your workplace, or organizing change in your neighborhood — leadership lives in the small, consistent acts of service we choose every day.
So as I continue to build, learn, and serve, my goal remains the same, to help others see that transformation starts with awareness, grows through action, and sustains through unity.
Let’s keep rising — together.
Yours truly, the realest author you know
— Larry Carroll Jr.
Founder, Ryze Above Inc.
Behavior Educator | Author | Public Speaker
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