Where were you pushed? Where were you curious? What did you learn?
I often ask these questions of groups as we close our meetings as a way to capture those critical final thoughts at the end of a meeting. These questions have become my theme over this past year as we have been challenged in so many ways. And I have been pushed a lot, have felt endlessly curious, and have learned more than I ever thought I would. Not just about myself but about the capacity of groups to engage deeply in the work that matters to move our community forward.
This year, in the midst of a pandemic, ALF started its facilitation arm ALF Insights (ALFI). Who starts a business, a business based on providing facilitation work, during a pandemic? We do, and we did, and it has been amazing! ALFI is committed to bringing groups of people together in spaces of productive tension in order to build deeper relationships that lead to powerful community impact. And we have been doing it all over Zoom! Never in a million years did I think that we would have been able to adapt the intense dialogues ALF is known for to an online format. But we have, and those of you that have utilized and are utilizing ALF Insights have been there, right alongside us, doing impactful, deep, community-changing work.
“This is not easy work. People are being pushed, feeling curious, and learning a lot about themselves and their organizations.”
Over this past year, we have worked with over ten groups, engaging in a range of services from “one and done” meetings to those doing deeper work for over 12 months and still going strong. We have worked with nonprofits, philanthropy, and government groups. We have supported board members, staff, and community leaders, all looking to leverage opportunities or manage internal challenges and more deeply and authentically center race equity in their dialogues and processes. This is not easy work. People are being pushed, feeling curious, and learning a lot about themselves and their organizations.
I encourage you to go to our website and check out what we do, and ask if ALF Insights can support you to realize your goals and aspirations for your organization or group. Please reach out to me, and we can talk more!
To learn more ALF Insights and connect with Jenny, visit alfinsights.org/contact.
Jenny Niklaus is currently the primary facilitator for impact groups on race equity, housing, climate change and philanthropy. She is also overseeing the organization’s community facilitation offerings.
Jenny began her career at Community Solutions with women and children who were victims of violence, continuing that work for a decade, first with the YWCA of Santa Clara County and then Support Network for Battered Women. After having a tremendous impact in the field of ending violence against women and children, Jenny joined the leadership staff at Sacred Heart Community Service and Catholic Charities. This work eventually led to her becoming the CEO of HomeFirst where she led the agency for a total of six years.
Jenny is a proud member of Class XXIV.
