We are living through history right now. Confederate flags and statues are coming down in droves. Community policing policies are being taken up quickly and dramatically. Privilege, inequity, tragedy, and opportunity are staring us in the face – all day, everywhere. How might we, as Senior Fellows, make this time of incredible disruption and uprising for equity more than a moment, and more of a movement?
Our board and staff have been on a journey to more deeply walk the talk of our ALF values. Several board members are building a board curriculum and dialogue circles around leadership, race, equity, and inclusion. Our staff is engaging in exercises and dialogues around power, privilege, and opportunity. Our Fellows program has evolved substantially over the years – from bringing on new faculty to overhauling the reading list to holding space for deeper dialogues on racism, white supremacy culture, and how we build equitable communities.
We’re sharing with you today our three-year strategic plan that went into effect May 1, after months of conversations with our board and staff. ALF’s commitment to equity and inclusion is baked into every level of our strategic plan, and every dialogue we facilitate as an organization. The fourth pillar of our plan is to “Scale the ALF Movement.” That movement involves living, breathing, and leading with ALF values. Showing up as engaged citizens vs. consumers, and considering the consequences of our organizational, personal, and civic decisions when it comes to creating equity, or being complicit to the status quo. Being a “citizen,” and being a Senior Fellow, are not passive roles. They require work.
In this moment of disruption, where the appetite for big change is looming large, we must lean in as Senior Fellows to this movement and do our part to, as our Senior Fellow Commitments say, “Educate, Innovate and Donate.” Get educated on the issues and create and or invest in systems change.
The door is open to build better systems as we emerge from the tragedies and disruption before us. I challenge you to step into this opportunity.
