Ep. 30 – Perfection Is the Detriment to Progress: Building Raleigh Together (with Christina Jones)

In this episode of The Jentry Podcast, host Jonathan Mason sits down with Christina Jones, Raleigh City Councilmember for District E, whose leadership blends honesty, empathy, and relentless commitment to community progress.

Christina opens up about her unconventional path from theater to politics, how storytelling informs her communication style, and what it truly takes to govern one of the fastest-growing cities in America. She discusses Raleigh’s rapid growth, the realities of infrastructure and housing pressures, and the importance of bringing residents into the conversation—even when solutions aren’t perfect. With humor, heart, and humility, she reminds us that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about moving forward together.

Takeaways
Progress Over Perfection: Christina believes chasing perfection can stall progress. Real leadership means taking action, learning publicly, and adjusting as you go.
Growth with Grace: As Raleigh evolves, Christina emphasizes transparency, empathy, and inviting residents to help shape solutions rather than resist change.
The Art of Listening: With roots in theater and community service, she views governing as a performance of empathy—connecting with people where they are.
No Magic Wand: Cities don’t have endless resources or quick fixes, but collaboration and compassion can stretch impact further than any budget line.
Leading with Humanity: Christina’s message is simple—she may not always have the answer people want, but she’ll walk beside them while finding it.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and welcome
01:40 From theater to public service: storytelling as a leadership skill
04:55 Governing a growing city: Raleigh’s unique challenges
09:38 The myth of perfection and the reality of progress
14:26 Affordable housing, budgets, and “no money tree” moments
18:44 Engaging residents through transparency and dialogue
22:17 Change is uncomfortable—and that’s okay
26:03 Balancing empathy with tough decisions
29:58 Advice for young women in leadership
33:25 Final reflections: holding hands through the hard work

Keywords
Christina Jones, Raleigh, North Carolina, local government, city council, public service, progress, perfectionism, housing, infrastructure, transparency, empathy, leadership, community engagement, women in government, storytelling