This summer, many of you have been helping homeless people cope with the extreme temperatures by treating  heat-related conditions, distributing drinking water and sunblock, and opening cooling stations. By example, at the most personal and immediate level, you are leaders in the fight against homelessness. Thank you!

Great examples of leadership are everywhere in the HCH community. Clinicians and administrators are developing supportive housing and medical respite care projects, and sharing their knowledge with others at conferences and in webinars. HCH consumers are actively promoting voter registration, organizing HCH Day events, and advancing the use of community health workers. HCH advocates are working to ensure fulfillment of the promises of the Affordable Care Act for homeless people. Multi-disciplinary teams are using the HCH model of care to further their recognition as patient-centered medical homes to ensure the delivery of excellent health care services.

In so many ways, at every level of the HCH community, capable leaders surround us. As I travel the country, I don't encounter many "followers", and I wonder why that is. Could it be that the work itself will not allow for anything less than leadership? Is it that people with the remarkable personal characteristics of confidence, vision, compassion, and self-knowledge are disproportionately drawn to a place where they might make a difference? Whatever the explanation, I am constantly inspired by the leaders I meet everywhere.