Practicing Connection

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Many military families don't live near a large installation. 

Jennifer Holliday, Alabama's first Military Family Liaison shares what it takes to coordinate support for geographically dispersed families and what any service provider can do to build that connective tissue in their own community.

Jennifer Holliday serves as the first Military Family Liaison for the State of Alabama. She is a military spouse with over 21 years of military life experience with her Army husband Doc Holliday, including 7 wartime deployments and 9 PCS moves while raising their three Army BRATS. They now live on the “retiree side,” in Huntsville.

Her past military spouse leadership roles centered around Family Readiness Group Leader and Advisor positions, including the 3d SFG(A) Headquarters and 3ID Headquarters. Jennifer was also the Vice President of the Stan the Man Foundation from 2006-2010, helping the organization continue and expand its mission to support military families in need at Fort Bragg.

Since moving to Alabama in 2016 for Doc to serve as the Redstone Arsenal Garrison Commander, Jennifer has cultivated an expansive network across the local military spouse, civilian, Federal, and Veteran communities. She has volunteered in a variety of roles across the community and continues to serve as the Communications Director for the Semper Fi Community Task Force.

Links and resources from this episode:

• The Heroes Welcome Initiative website
• Heroes Welcome LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alabama-heroes-welcome-initiative
• Heroes Welcome on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlabamaHeroesWelcomeInitiative
• Jennifer on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferholliday1

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Belonging isn’t just a warm feeling - it’s something people build together over time. 

In this episode, we’re talking about how communities learn to do that in ways that are genuinely caring, how they keep it going, and what that means for people who have to rebuild their sense of community again and again, including many military-connected families.

Jessica and Erin talk with Julika von Stackelberg, a Family and Community Resilience Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension, whose work sits at the intersection of parenting education, community development, and systems change. Through programs like the Orange County Resilience Project, Julika brings people together to build communities rooted in care, connection, and shared responsibility.

Together, they unpack what “belonging” looks like in practice, why the feeling of being cared for can matter even more than visible acts of support, and how communities can sustain that care over time—even when people are constantly coming and going.

Whether you work with military families or are simply interested in how stronger, more resilient communities are built, this conversation offers practical insights and thoughtful questions to carry into your own work.

Links and resources from this episode:

• Julika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julikavstackelberg/

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• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected] 

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Community engagement, co-creation and collaboration depend on meaningful conversations. 

Asking the right question is the most effective way of expanding a conversation, keeping it engaging and making it meaningful.

In this replay episode from 2024, Jessica and Bob share a practice to help us engage people in the meaningful conversations we need to have, in order to plan and do our work together.

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• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected] 

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Getting to a shared purpose as a group often requires digging a little deeper than usual. 

In this replay episode from 2024, Jessica and Bob talked about the "chaordic stepping stones," a helpful tool for going below the surface with a group, and share four questions that can help groups work toward a clear statement of purpose together.

Links and resources from this episode:

• "You don't have to be local" by Derek Sivers
• "Keep Going" by Austin Kleon

Connect with us!

• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected] 

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How does a small North Carolina city become a national example of collaboration between military and community? 

Mayor Will Lewis says it starts with relationships - and a willingness to show up for one another.

In this replay episode from early 2026, Jessica talks with Havelock, North Carolina Mayor Will Lewis about what it looks like when a city and an installation grow together. 

As president of Allies for Cherry Point Tomorrow, Mayor Lewis helps connect community, education, and military partners to strengthen opportunities for service members, veterans, and local families alike. 

Their conversation explores how collaboration, communication, and long‑term vision can build lasting readiness at every level.

Links and resources from this episode:

• Visit the ACT website: https://alliesforcherrypoint.com/

Connect with us!

• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected] 

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What is the value of using a systems lens in community work?

In today’s archive episode, we are hearing from Bob and Jessica about solving issues in your community on a systems level, not just on a focused project level.  

It’s easy to get caught up in a silo, or to talk past each other. While hyperfocusing on one event or initiative in your community can have great results, it can also cut you off from system changes that have a greater impact on your community. 

So what can you do to help you and your community start thinking about the whole system? Jessica and Bob have some great places to start. 

Our From the Archive series is where we update and rerelease retired content that we feel is still relevant today. 

Links and resources from this episode:

• Military Family Readiness Academy: oneop.org/mfra

Connect with us!

• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected] 

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We talk a lot on this podcast about the importance of collaborating with others in your community. 

But if you are finding yourself overwhelmed or with limited capacity, this framework and practice are a great way to get started. You don’t have to make everything happen yourself! 

Today we are diving into an episode about leveraging community assets as part of our From the Archive series. In this series we are updating and rereleasing retired content that we feel is still relevant today. 

This episode is specifically about the Community Capitals Framework and how to get connected with the assets that already exist in your community. 

Jessica and Bob discuss how this framework, developed by Jan and Cornelia Flora, identifies seven types of capital - natural, cultural, human, social, political, financial, and built - and how these capitals can be leveraged to build resilient and supportive communities for military families.

Links and resources from this episode:

• Strategic Doing
• Holding Change
• Community Capitals Framework
• Spiraling-Up: Mapping Community Transformation with Community Capitals Framework
• Military Family Readiness Academy: oneop.org/mfra

Related episodes:

• Feeding Military Families with Stronghold Food Pantry CEO Monica Bassett
• An Ecosystem of Military Family Support with Nicola Winkel
• Partnering on Early Education for Military Kids
• Reconnecting with Nature: Health and Well-Being for Military Communities (webinar)

Connect with us!

• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected] 

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Do icebreakers always make things awkward?

Have you ever had to do an icebreaker that made you cringe? What if your icebreakers actually helped your team do better work? 

In this episode Erin and Jessica discuss why icebreakers sometimes suck the energy out of the room and share real world examples of what it is like when they actually work. 

Then Erin shares a practice on how to design an icebreaker that makes team building, making connections, and getting work done easier. 

Links and resources from this episode:

• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected] 

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How do you build community connections that actually work?

Have you ever gotten stuck as you try to build community partnerships? 

In this month’s Listener Q&A, Erin and Jessica answer questions about classic partnership problems: 

• What do you do if you can’t find time to build connections during work time
• How do you navigate miscommunication years into a partnership? 
• If I can only do one thing, what should I focus on? 

Links and resources from this episode:

• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected] 

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Do you see yourself as a generous collaborator? Have you ever been generous with a collaborator, only to leave disappointed? 

This week's practice is all about unpacking generosity. Making time for generosity can build trust, which is a key ingredient to collaborative relationships. 

In this episode from the archives, Bob and Jessica discuss what generosity can do for you in your relationships and why it can be challenging to offer generosity to new people. Then Bob guides us through a simple reflection to dig into your motivations and align with your values. 

Links and resources from this episode:

• Genuine Generosity: https://randomactsofleadership.com/genuine-generosity
• Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter
• Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/ 
• Send us a message: [email protected]