ALF's The Dialogue Podcast

In November of 2018, ALF Silicon Valley hosted Leading with Purpose, a live event featuring Ellen Grace O’Brian, Author and Spiritual Director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, and Ela Gandhi, Founder of the Gandhi Development Trust in South Africa. Ellen and Ela were joined by surprise special guest Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farmworkers Movement and renowned nonviolence leader in her own right.

The three women had never met before, and we at ALF couldn’t resist the opportunity to host an impromptu dialogue facilitated by Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese (ALF Class XXXIII), on what keeps them leading with purpose in tireless pursuit of a non-violent world.

In November of 2016, Santa Clara County voters approved a $950 Million affordable housing bond projected to fund 120 new affordable housing developments over ten years, including 4800 new units for extremely low income and very low income individuals. In October of 2018, Supervisor Cindy Chavez (Class XII) – an architect of Measure A - and San Jose City Councilman Raul Peralez (Class XXXI) spoke with ALF CEO Suzanne St. John-Crane at a San Jose Rotary Club meeting about Measure A funded developments in progress, in the pipeline, or struggling to get through a sometimes contentious public process.

In April of 2018, SCC Supervisor Dave Cortese’s office hosted a firearms and safety summit where over 300 community members came together to talk about – guns. He enlisted ALF’s help in facilitating a participatory dialogue. In the liberal bubble of Northern California, the right conditions for dialogue brought together a surprisingly diverse cross section of gun enthusiasts, NRA supporters, as well as gun reform advocates and antigun activists. The goal? For attendees to leave understanding – and perhaps even building community – with those who had opposing views.

Featured Guests, L-R:

Supervisor Dave Cortese (Class XXXIII)

Walter Wilson, Facilitator and Community Activist

Rayna Ritchie, Summit Attendee

For more information about ALF's Fellows Experience and Facilitation Services: [email protected]

In 2016, a report on philanthropy in Silicon Valley revealed a major disconnect between donors and the local community. The report found that 90% of philanthropic dollars leave the region and of the dollars that stay, the vast majority are given to hospitals and universities. The good news, and the opportunity, is that the report revealed that our booming Silicon Valley community houses more than 76,000 millionaires and billionaires. American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley CEO Suzanne St. John-Crane speaks with ALF Senior Fellows Carol Larson, CEO of the Packard Foundation, and Rick Williams, CEO of the Sobrato Family Foundation at a San Jose Rotary Club meeting on how we as a community must play a role in creating a “give where you live” culture.

Four unlikely partners were brought together through ALFSV's Urban Innovation Network. What happened as a result changed the conversation - and policy - around the City of San Jose's event permitting process.

Guests:

Blage Zelalich, Downtown Manager, City of San Jose

Ryan Sebastian, Principal, Movable Feast

Demone Carter, Program Manager, School of Arts & Culture

Jim Reber, Executive Director, San Jose Parks Foundation

Through a series of intersections and dialogues brought about by American Leadership Forum’s Education Innovation Network, ALF Senior Fellows Chris Funk, Superintendent of East Side Union High School District and Siobhan Kenney of Applied Materials are joined by Katey Kennedy of the 1440 Foundation to talk about their journey of seeding, and scaling, a mindfulness program in schools.

Senior Fellow Dr. Robbie Pearl (Class XVII), recent CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, discusses his second book, Mistreated: Why We Think We're Getting Good Healthcare (and Why We're Usually Wrong) which hit #7 on the bestseller list. Dr. Pearl adamantly stresses that while fixing health insurance is critical, we need to focus as much on the way that medical care is technologically enabled, organized and delivered - for the good of the patient in all of us. Dr. Pearl is donating all book proceeds to charity.

These ALF Faith Leader Affinity Group members talk at a very personal level about race, bigotry and the power of listening. These unlikely allies came together to support one another, and in the process, envisioned a stategy to heal the fracture of perceived difference in our community.

Why are Silicon Valley community-based organizations struggling to meet demand in one of the wealthiest and most sophisticated regions in the world? Why aren’t more Silicon Valley philanthropists directing their dollars toward local organizations and issues, in addition to national or global causes?

Senior Fellows Alexa Cortés Culwell and Heather McLeod Grant, co founders of Open Impact, set out to answer these questions in their recently released report, The Giving Code: Silicon Valley Nonprofits and Philanthropy.

In this podcast, Heather shares a bit about their findings and what steps can be taken to bridge the giving gap.

Consultant/Coach and ALF Senior Fellow Amari Romero-Thomas (Class XVI)guides you to let go of what no longer serves you and turn your focus to the ONE thing. A perfect follow up to ALF's Taking Stock retreat.