A crucial part of enacting real change in our communities is working together or collaborating. Relationships are where the real magic happens; we call on one another to lend a hand or leverage the expertise of a seasoned leader. At ALF Silicon Valley, celebrating these collaborations is one way we highlight the great work members of the network are doing. One such example is Class XLII, our most recently graduated class, which has rallied around Stephen Murphy (XLII), the President and CEO of Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay High School.
Belonging to a network of 40 Cristo Rey schools, Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay High School opened its doors in 2018 in the Fruitvale district of Oakland. An anchor in its community, it primarily serves the Hispanic, Asian-American, and African-American students in the East Bay area.
When speaking with Stephen about these collaborations, he remarked how important it is to lean into the community and explore the curiosity of partners who might be interested in the school’s work. He found some of those partners in his own Fellows class.
Even though the class graduated in March 2023, Stephen and his classmates collaborated long before graduation. Some of the highlights are as follows.
Cristo Rey provides several programs encouraging students to consider their futures beyond the classroom. One of those programs is called “Lunch and Learn,” where the students explore expansive ideas, learn more about careers they are interested in, and the importance of believing in yourself. Several Class XLII Senior Fellows recently spoke at one of these Lunch and Learn sessions, including Mica Mayo, Vice President of Operations, Digital Innovation & Transformation at ServiceNow; Tanja Powers, Vice President, Head of Ophthalmology at Genentech; and Maria Noel Fernandez, Deputy Executive Director of Working Partnerships USA.
“This is the ethos Stephen associates with Class XLII. He recalled their deep and honest exploration of what it means to be truly impactful. Sometimes those conversations were difficult but in a positive way.”
Another program the school offers is the Corporate Study Work Program, where the students participate in job-sharing teams to fund their tuition costs. In this program, the students work five full days per month at white-collar or administrative jobs. The program is structured around their academic schedule so students can attend all their classes. Classmate Jimmy Hu, Chief Operating Officer of Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation, has hired twelve students to support the study-work program. Guillermo Diaz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Conectado Inc., has also collaborated with Stephen by connecting him with dozens of partners interested in the school through his foundation Conectado.
Another example of cross-sector collaboration in this class was when they came together for the Cristo Rey Gala, in which the community celebrates the bright future of the students. In March of this year, the class purchased a table, donated, and bid on items at the gala. This resulted in the raising of $50k from ALF participants alone. Stephen estimated that at least $100k of revenue for the school has been generated through ALF connections. This is the power of the network. The power of relationships–of true human connection.
This is the ethos Stephen associates with Class XLII. He recalled their deep and honest exploration of what it means to be truly impactful. Sometimes those conversations were difficult but in a positive way.
As the President and CEO of the school, Stephen is encouraged by the enthusiasm and support his peers have given Cristo Rey. “It’s validation for where the school is going,” he remarked when asked what these collaborations represent, “Connecting with people who aligned with the school’s spirit is a wonderful byproduct of joining ALF.”
Stephen summarized it best: “Every human being wants to trend towards health, think expansively, and think joyfully.” Imagine the impact we can make when we structure the environment in a way that allows for prosperity and exploration of our highest good.
Cross-sector collaborations are a powerful avenue for sharing the wealth of resources and knowledge within our valley. It’s inspiring to witness influential and caring leaders come together for the betterment of the next generation. This is the change-making we hope to witness and foster within ALF so that others within our network–and communities at large– are inspired to connect and co-create with others of different sectors. With aligned spirits and passions, we can do great work in this world and bring others along for the ride.
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.
