VIEW THE 2023/2024 IMPACT REPORT
In 2023, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Even before COVID, about half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. In February of this year, San Mateo County passed a resolution that declared loneliness a public health crisis. While a panoply of information and connection options exists, they are only keyboard-deep. What we seem to be missing on a broad scale is the love and intentionality of deep relationship building, face to face, over time.
American Leadership Forum is and always has been bucking this trend, and this year has been no different. We once again provided 192 opportunities for network members to retreat, dialogue and learn together. Over 600 Senior Fellows participated in those opportunities. We graduated one class of 26 Senior Fellows, and joined and strengthened another who most likely “never would have met but for ALF.”
On the national front, we took connection to the next level. Under ALF Silicon Valley’s leadership, and with the partnership of ALF Houston and funding support from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, ALF Connect was born. In February of 2024, 5,000 Senior Fellows from 46 states were invited to come together via an online alumni community for the first time in ALF’s forty-two year history. In the first eight weeks, 25% of the national network joined. The opportunity before us to engage and leverage our greatest resource—our alumni —is tremendous.
The question remains—as we enter one of the most contentious political seasons and presidential elections in our nation’s history—if we will use our ALF skills and relationships to see, hear and love each other despite our differences. To lead our organizations and communities through the hardest conversations, in the depths of “the U” (Theory U reference there…), to realize new ways of being, doing and leading for the common good. This requires letting go of comfort, and letting come the unknown—informed by thoughtful conversation, empathy and intention. We get to choose how we will respond to the conditions that exist. And, we have a voice in creating better conditions.
I’m so grateful to the Senior Fellows and foundations that supported our work this year. While the Fellows program is primarily funded by tuition, all of the resources we make available to the network, as well as Senior Fellow convening and dialogue opportunities require additional support. We quite literally couldn’t do what we do without them (and you!).
We have a compelling story to tell from the last twelve months, and much to celebrate. My invitation to you all is to double down on connection, listening and leading with love in the months and years to come, so that we can continue to discover new and better ways to realize equitable and thriving communities.
VIEW THE 2023/2024 IMPACT REPORT
Suzanne St. John-Crane
Chief Executive Officer
ALF Class XXV / Urbanism XXXIV
Interim Executive Director, ALF National
