The power of the ALF network is found in the abundance of stellar leaders committed to connecting networks for the common good. In this blog, we’ll spotlight one leader who has dedicated 20 years (2003-2023) of his time and effort to the Network Development Committee (NDC). That leader is Terry Christensen (Class XIV).
Terry Christensen was recruited shortly after his graduation in 2003 by Ann Skeet (Class X) and Patricia Gardner (Class XX) to join the committee. The labor union representative in his class, Terry had a finger on the pulse of who was underrepresented in Santa Clara County. The host and executive producer of Valley Politics at CreaTV since 2015, Terry has been active in the labor council for over 20 years and was the founding Executive Director of CommUniverCity San Jose. A Professor Emeritus at San Jose State University, Terry utilized his passion for politics, teaching, and service to promote underrepresented voices in the community. He was intentional in nominating from the constituencies that he’s been associated with during his career. This was the important lens he brought to the recruitment process in ALF.
NDC is tasked with identifying and recommending candidates for the Fellows Program to be approved by the ALF Board, distributing scholarship funds, and considering ways to grow the ALF network. Ambassadors for ALF, the committee meets every two months to bring forth names of prospective Fellows who are ready to stretch and explore their leadership potential. Chaired by Anita Nunes (Class XXXV), the Network Development Committee curates a class of cross-sector leaders who are dedicated to solving the issues of our region.
As a member of the Network Development Committee, this would be an opportunity for Terry to nominate candidates who were deeply devoted to the upliftment of their communities.
“Growth comes from relating to others outside your typical sphere and bonding with them. This diversity makes for a strong network.”
A key consideration for Terry when nominating a candidate is their willingness to engage in dialogue, listen to other people, and make the time commitment. He shared that the time commitment is the largest barrier across all sectors, but taking a moment to pull away from day-to-day obligations can be a lasting treasure of the Fellows Program journey.
During his own Fellows experience, Terry remarked that taking some time away from his responsibilities gave him the necessary space to ponder what he was doing as a leader in the community. In hindsight, he realized that time was a gift to himself — a fact he made a point to share when he was recruiting leaders for the program.
Dedicated to his community and local government, Terry was aware that it was important to lend a voice to those in need. He pulled from his networks: the gay community, Latino constituencies, and grassroots leaders such as activists or emerging leaders who didn’t have significant titles yet.
A crucial network Terry nominated from was the LGBTQ+ community. An integral part of his own life experience, he shared with me the time when he met his class for the first time. On that day, he came out to his class and was wholly accepted by them. The importance of LGBTQ+ representation in the Fellows program was underlined in our conversation; especially with today’s political climate, it’s now more important than ever to bring these leaders into the conversation.
Another important consideration for filling a well-rounded class is the cross-sector collaborations that can be nurtured. Terry Christensen shared another pertinent personal experience: coming from an education and public sector background, he learned a lot from his partner, whose career was in the private sector. Having access to this different perspective, he was able to bond deeper with his partner and his family. He emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration: “Growth comes from relating to others outside your typical sphere and bonding with them. This diversity makes for a strong network.”
Now retired and living six months out of the year in London with his partner, Terry has stepped away from the Network Development Committee. During his tenure, he nominated approximately 60-100 potential Fellows and has been a part of seating 30 classes for ALF Silicon Valley. A key learning from his 20 years of service is that we need to create a safe space for diverging opinions — whether it be political, across sectors, or approach to leading, we have the power to create the container for meaningful human connection.
When interviewing Terry for this spotlight on his service, I asked him what motivated him to stay on the committee for 20 years. His answer was simple. It was to highlight sectors—and their leaders—who were under-represented, doing great work in the region, and could benefit from a cohort of leading-edge thought leaders.
Terry left this call to action: nominate freely and encourage those who are skeptical to come and learn about ALF; take a conscious step away from the frenzy of everyday life and engage in expansive dialogue. These are gifts we are giving to ourselves—and, subsequently, our networks at large.
Allyson relocated to San Jose from Central California and joined the ALF team in June 2021 where she’s grateful for the diverse communities she gets to work with everyday. In her free time she enjoys writing stories, drawing, and reading the latest fantasy novel on the beach.
