My name is Emily Padgett, and I’m currently serving as a fellow with the Pauli Murray Center. I’ll be sticking around in Durham to begin a chaplaincy residency at the Durham VA Hospital in August, which I’m really looking forward to as I continue exploring what it means to accompany people in meaningful ways. In the midst of all the work and learning that fills my days, I’ve found grounding in a few key places—one of them being the Johnson Mill Nature Preserve, which has become something of a sacred space for me. Walking through the woods, feeling the rhythm of the seasons shift, and just having that quiet time outside has been a practice that helps me stay present.
Building community has also been a huge part of my life here, especially through the Church of the Advocate and the experience of living in an intentional community. It hasn’t always been easy—communal living can be complicated and stretching—but over time, I’ve grown to love the people I share space with. We’ve found ways to navigate life together, and that process has been both challenging and really beautiful. Dance has also been a source of deep joy for me, and something that keeps me connected to my body in ways that feel so necessary. I absolutely love Lindy Hop and Balboa, and getting involved with Back Studio Stomp (Dee’s dance) and taking classes at Ninth Street Dance Studio has been incredibly life-giving.
Spending time at the Pauli Murray Center (PMC) has been such a gift. Every week, I find myself immersed in a mix of research, public engagement, and deep conversations, and I’m constantly learning more about Pauli Murray’s life and legacy. One of the projects I’ve been most excited about is assisting with the in-person book club discussions focused on Proud Shoes, their powerful memoir about family, race, and identity. Writing guiding questions and conversation starters has been a really engaging process—it’s one thing to read a book and sit with your own reflections, but it’s another to think about how to create space for a group to explore those ideas together in ways that feel open and generative. Anjalique Knight has been such a helpful mentor in this, offering feedback that has challenged me to think more deeply about how to craft questions that spark meaningful dialogue. With four more sessions to go, I’m looking forward to seeing how these discussions unfold.
Another project I’ve been steadily working on is creating a simple family tree and visual representation of Pauli Murray’s lineage for visitors to explore during tours. Their family history is such a foundational part of their story, and it has been really fascinating to piece together more details about the Murray side of the family. I’m in the process of beginning to collaborate with Ms. Rosita, a relative on Pauli’s Murray side of the family, to fill in some of the gaps, and it’s been a reminder of how history is never really complete—it’s always evolving as we learn more, as different people bring their knowledge and perspectives to the table.
I’ve also been getting more comfortable with a more public-facing role, assisting with guided tours at the PMC. I love sharing what I’ve learned about Pauli Murray and their life, but public speaking—especially in a group setting—is something that still makes me a little nervous. Tours are a great way to practice, though, because they’re conversational and interactive, and each time I participate, I feel myself settling into it a little more. It’s a skill I want to keep developing, and I’m excited to keep pushing myself in that direction.
Another big part of my work has been with the Faith Taskforce, which is focused on deepening the connections between the PMC and faith communities. I’ve had conversations with different faith leaders about collaboration, and it has been such a rich space of both learning and leadership for me. One thing I’ve been sitting with is how to balance deep listening with stepping forward and guiding a conversation—especially when I’m the one extending an invitation to sit down for these conversations. These interactions have reinforced for me how important it is to build relationships that are truly reciprocal, where both the PMC and faith communities can support and learn from one another in meaningful ways.
All of these projects—whether it’s researching history, creating space for discussion, or stepping into more public-facing roles—have been stretching me in different ways, and I honestly feel really lucky to be doing this work. It’s such a privilege to be part of preserving and amplifying Pauli Murray’s legacy, and at the same time, I’m growing in ways I didn’t expect. I’m grateful for the team I get to work with, for all the opportunities to learn, and for the ways this work is shaping me. I’m looking forward to the rest of my time at the PMC and everything still to come