Staff Report with attachments
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Interim Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 09/06/2022 ITEM NO: 11
DATE: August 23, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive the American Leadership Forum Insights (ALFI) Discovery Report
Regarding Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) and Direct the Town
Manager to Work with ALFI in the Development of a JEDI Plan
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the American Leadership Forum Insights (ALFI) Discovery Report regarding justice,
equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and direct the Town Manager to work with ALFI in the
development of a JEDI Plan.
BACKGROUND:
On August 17, 2021, the Council unanimously voted to authorize the Town Manager to enter
into agreements for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion consultant services with two firms:
American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley Insights (ALFI) and ReadySet.
ALFI was selected to address the Town’s external JEDI goals through Town partnerships with
local organizations and the broader community. ALFI specializes in external engagement and
dialogue and leveraging community partnerships. Additionally, ALFI was contracted serve in an
advisory role to assist with community workshop/meeting design and other work. This report
focuses on the work of ALFI and potential next steps.
ReadySet was chosen to examine the Town’s JEDI context internally. ReadySet’s strength lies in
internal organizational assessment and roadmap development. ReadySet was expected to
design an internal JEDI survey, review existing Town processes and procedures, conduct
interviews and focus groups with staff, review and analyze the findings, and develop a robust
assessment of the organization. After ReadySet completed the first phase of its work, the Town
terminated the contract consistent with the provisions in the agreement.
PAGE 2 OF 4 SUBJECT: American Leadership Forum Insights (ALFI) Discovery Report and Future Work with ALFI in the Development of a JEDI Plan DATE: August 23, 2022
DISCUSSION:
Attachment 1 contains the ALFI Discovery Report documenting the approach, high level
findings/themes, and recommendations. ALFI engaged with community leaders and Town
partners, including the Chamber of Commerce, faith-based organizations, business owners,
local school districts, and others in a series of listening sessions to assess the level of
understanding of the current JEDI efforts and identify barriers and opportunities.
The high level findings/themes centered on:
• Opportunities for the Town’s continued commitment to JEDI work.
• The discovery process created a sense of hope for future involvement in this work.
• The importance of being an “inclusive Town” (defined differently by different
participants).
• Concerns and fears for the personal safety of participants in this work.
• Various levels of knowledge about the Town’s work and the need to engage in the
development of a plan with more specificity and accountability.
The recommendations were organized under the following topics: Collaborative on-going
engagement, develop safe spaces, build capacity for the work, connect this work to the
vibrancy of the Town economy, intentionally engage school districts and youth, and continue to
build affordable housing.
In considering the recommendations of the ALFI Discovery Report, some of them are already
being implemented:
• The 2040 General Plan has now been adopted with its Racial, Social, and Environmental
Justice Element. The Land Use and Community Design Elements will likely be subject to
a referendum (signatures are being reviewed now by the Registrar of Voters).
• The Housing Element is underway and will soon be circulating for public comment.
• The Town is considering collaborating with the School District on a social norms effort.
• The Town is providing spaces for members of the community to learn and be in
dialogue together, starting with programming through our Library on Affordable
Housing and the intersection of environmental sustainability and equity.
• The Town Council has adopted civility guidelines for all Council and Commission
meetings, being clear that:
o The Town embraces diversity and strongly condemns hate speech and offensive,
hateful language or racial intolerance of any kind at Town meetings.
o Town Council and staff are well aware of the public’s right to disagree with their
professional opinion on various Town issues. However, anti-social behavior,
slander, hatred, and bigotry statements are completely unacceptable and will
not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form at Town meetings.
PAGE 3 OF 4 SUBJECT: American Leadership Forum Insights (ALFI) Discovery Report and Future Work with ALFI in the Development of a JEDI Plan DATE: August 23, 2022
DISCUSSION (continued):
o All public comments at the Town Council meeting must pertain to items within
the subject matter jurisdiction of the Town and shall not contain slanderous
statements, hatred, and bigotry against non-public officials.
Though our policy does not speak to personal safety, this is our practice with our Police
Department.
Rather than implement the remaining individual recommendations on an ad hoc basis, staff
proposes that the recommendations be folded into a more detailed JEDI Plan with specific short
and long term goals, action items with timelines, and metrics. The Plan should include
definitions of “inclusivity,” “belonging,” and other terms to develop a common understanding
of these concepts. The Plan should identify gaps and overlaps with the equity work being done
by other organizations in Los Gatos.
Staff recommends continuing its contractual arrangement with ALFI for the development of a
JEDI Plan. The Plan would be put together with community involvement, including but not
limited to the stakeholders/institutions/organizations who participated in the discovery phase,
including Los Gatos youth. The effort should engage with every Town Commission, Town
employees, and people who have expressed concerns about the Town’s participation in equity
efforts.
CONCLUSION:
For the reasons discussed in this report, staff recommends that the Town work with ALFI in the
development of a JEDI Plan.
ALTERNATIVE:
Alternatively, the Council can defer consideration of the ALFI report and its recommendations
to its annual Strategic Priorities session in January 2023. Staff is not recommending this
alternative because equity, diversity, and inclusion is currently an ongoing Strategic Priority.
The development of a Plan with community engagement is the logical next step to develop
specific short and long term goals, action items with timelines, and metrics.
A Plan would also assist with the ongoing work occurring with the Town’s internal Equity Team,
consisting of staff from several Departments. Given the high degree of community interaction
by staff, it is timely to integrate the internal and external work into a unifying Plan.
PAGE 4 OF 4 SUBJECT: American Leadership Forum Insights (ALFI) Discovery Report and Future Work with ALFI in the Development of a JEDI Plan DATE: August 23, 2022
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Town is under contract with ALFI and there is $17,000 remaining in the agreement. The
planning effort is estimated to cost approximately $45,000. With the cancellation of the
ReadySet contract, the unspent $14,000 can be redirected to ALFI under the Town Manager’s
authority. The additional $12,000 is available from the Non-Departmental account for Special
Studies.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. American Leadership Forum Insights (ALFI) Discovery Report
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
DISCOVERY REPORT
ALF INSIGHTS
ALFALFINSIGHTS™
ATTACHMENT 1
Town of Los Gatos Discovery Report
We can leverage our pride
and use the JEDIJEDI plan to build upon
the best of Los Gatos.
Dave Watermulder, Town of Los Gatos Interfaith Group
American Leadership Forum Insights
1
ALFI was hired to accomplish the following phases
of work:
Phase I Goals: Discovery
Engage community partners, through meetings
with individuals and groups, in order to ascertain
their understanding of the jedi plan as well as gather
input on equity and inclusion efforts in the Town.
Phase II: Summary and Recommendations
Summarize themes and ideas and provide back a
set of recommendations about gaps in the current
plan, suggestions for additions and deletions as
well as points of clarity and to offer a process for
on-going community engagement.
WHAT WE DID: PROCESS OVERVIEW
ALFI held a total of 18 Discovery sessions with
27 individuals spanning community members,
business owners, nonprofit leaders, faith groups
and education administrators. Please see the
full list of who participated and their affiliation in
Appendix D. Each individual or group was asked
the following questions.
-What are the opportunities that you see for
the Town as they move forward with their
equity work ?
-What are you feeling most hopeful about?
-What are you most concerned about?
-What in your mind creates an inclusive
community?
-jedi Plan thoughts and feedback? Are you willing
to engage in the jedi process in the future? In
what context?
WHAT WE LEARNED: HIGH LEVEL THEMES
The work of grappling with race and systemic
inequities is hard and are not quickly resolved.
It requires courageous and brave leadership, of-
ten in the face of strong opposition. Through the
discovery process, alfi heard the following themes
across all of those we spoke to. It should be noted
that of all those we interviewed, everyone was will-
ing to be engaged in the on-going work.
THE TOWN of Los Gatos over the past
couple of years has worked diligently
to create their Justice, Equity, Diversity
and Inclusion Plan (JEDI) with the
intent of lifting that work up into Town
processes and policies as well as the
community. The Town engaged ALF
Insights (ALFI), the consulting arm of
American Leadership Forum Silicon
Valley (ALFSV), which is committed to
bringing groups of people together in
spaces of productive tension in order
to build deeper relationships that lead
to the creation of powerful community
impact. As a neutral convener of cross
sector leaders, alfi has the ability
to emerge new frameworks for how
an organization or network manages
change and embraces dynamic
processes that use tension as a vehicle
to bring their work to the next level.
Town of Los Gatos Discovery Report 2022
2
Opportunities Overall participants saw many op-
portunities for the Town’s continued commitment
to the jedi Plan:
-The opportunity for the Town government to
create initiatives, policy, action and tone setting
around the jedi work.
-The opportunity for community learning centered
around events, specific programs and dialogue in
order to create awareness and enlightenment.
-The opportunity for the Town to engage and
leverage the energy and voices of youth.
-The opportunity for businesses to promote inclu-
sive practices.
-The opportunity to address this work through
affordable housing which would impact the de-
mographics of the Town and shift the definition
of who is welcome.
-The opportunity to leverage the energy of
the Town and the pride the community holds for
the Town.
Hope The process and plan created a sense of
hope for those that alfi spoke to.
-Previous and current efforts to address race eq-
uity brings hope.
-The new ideas and possibilities that are centered
in creating a new future for the Town.
-The participation and voices of youth through
their school campuses, the March Against Hate
and participation in government.
-The open acceptance of the lgbtqia+ community
through physical and visible solidarity such as
public art displays.
-The interfaith work happening in the Town.
-That the jedi Plan was created and being dis-
cussed openly and woven through the policies
and practices of the Town.
Inclusion Being an inclusive Town, while defined
differently by the participants, mattered to every-
one. For some that was about wanting everyone to
be comfortable in the Town and for others it was
about ensuring that business is supported and cre-
ating a place that folks want to visit. An inclusive
Town was defined as:
-A place in which there is open and visible sup-
port for all people.
-A place that is safe where people do not have to
worry about being discriminated against based
on their race, gender or sexual preference.
-A place with a diverse population in terms of
race and economic background that provides
for shared community experiences.
-A place that creates a true sense of belonging
and seeks to create spaces without judgment.
-A place that can tolerate a diversity of viewpoints
and in which its residents are able to engage in
civil discourse across differences.
-A place that the community in Los Gatos has
pride in and that those outside of the Town want
to visit.
Concerns Along with the opportunities and hope
that discovery participants felt, there are also real
fears and concerns about the on-going jedi work.
-Fear about engaging in the work and how that
might impact the personal safety of participants.
-Fear that this work will reflect negatively on
the Town, that it will keep people away from
the Town, impacting businesses or will have neg-
ative fiscal impacts.
-Concern that the Town, and the larger commu-
nity, lacks the capacity or knowledge to do the
work. Who will own this work and ensure that
it gets done?
-Concern that some residents do not agree with
the Town doing this work and the resulting im-
pact that has on individual leader’s ability to stay
engaged with the work.
-Concern that the Town will not go deep enough
or far enough with the jedi work to make a lasting
impact. How do we ensure authentic versus per-
formative action?
-Concern that the jedi work may derail other criti-
cal work of the Town.
JEDI Plan Discovery participants had various lev-
els of knowledge about the jedi Plan in its current
form and the following feedback.
-Ensure that the community is a part of creating
and iterating the plan so that there is collective
and coordinated energy to support the imple-
mentation of plan objectives.
-Ensure that the plan works in conjunction with
the other work happening across the school,
American Leadership Forum Insights
3
We are Los Gatos. We are working
towards an authentic and accurate
depiction of the people who
live in the Town.
Catherine Somers, Los Gatos
Chamber of Commerce
business and nonprofits communities.
-Stay invested in the work and provide the sup-
port and infrastructure for that to occur.
-Create more specificity and accountabili-
ty in the plan itself to ensure that the plan is
not performative.
-Commit to this process for the long-term.
RECOMMENDATIONS
As the Town moves forward with the jedi plan and
its resulting work products, we believe that the fol-
lowing recommendations will aid them in staying
the course in creating a Town that is inclusive and
safe for all.
Collaborative, On-going Engagement
Instead of different groups working individually
to address the issues of race equity, the Town of
Los Gatos should provide the infrastructure and
funding for those groups to work together long-
term. Additionally, as these organizations will be
doing the work, their voices should be a part of the
design and implementation of the work in order to
ensure the authenticity of the process.
>RECOMMENDATION: Form a facilitated, commu-
nity working group that will come together to
build relationships and develop a deeper under-
standing of jedi concepts. Use this group to iterate
Town of Los Gatos Discovery Report 2022
4
The town is starting to awaken now
and we have to do something
collectively to bring about change.
Kareem Syed, Former Resident;
Peacemaker during BLM and other protests
and how they will be adjusting their work in sup-
port of the jedi Plan.
Intentionally Engage School Districts & Youth
One of the places where issues related to race and
anti-semitism have shown up the most publicly
has been on school campuses. In addition, there
are many young people that are deeply engaged in
jedi work as the March Against Hate demonstrated.
>RECOMMENDATION: Ensure that the school dis-
tricts and youth have an intentional and con-
nected voice to the jedi work as it moves forward.
>RECOMMENDATION: Reaffirm to the school dis-
tricts that they are not alone in handling these
incidents. Create space for them to work collab-
oratively with the Town to brainstorm solutions
to these problems.
Continue to Build Affordable Housing
Across all the participants alfi spoke with, housing
was brought up at least once in each of the discov-
ery sessions. Ensuring economic diversity through
affordable housing was seen as a critical piece in
the jedi puzzle.
>RECOMMENDATION: continue to build and support
affordable housing through the General Plan and
Housing Element.
and deepen the jedi plan that includes short and
long-term goals as well as a timeline of activities.
>RECOMMENDATION: Develop a statement of what
inclusivity and belonging mean to the Town as a
part of the jedi Plan.
Develop Safe Spaces
In order for people to be willing to publicly engage
in this work, there needs to be a commitment to
the physical safety of those who participate.
>RECOMMENDATION: Create guidelines for safety
that allow working group and community mem-
bers to develop solidarity and commitment to
seeing the process through.
>RECOMMENDATION: Ensure all threats to personal
safety will not be tolerated through clear policies
and practices.
>RECOMMENDATION: Utilize art and community en-
gagement with art as a path to create safe spaces
for learning and expression.
Build Capacity for the Work
In order for the jedi plan to be effective, there needs
to exist a baseline of knowledge and understand-
ing of historical inequities and how those impacts
show up currently. Specifically the following con-
cepts: intersectionality, color-blindness, econom-
ic disparities, historical inequities and the work
of reconciliation.
>RECOMMENDATION: Provide spaces for members of
the community to learn and be in dialogue together.
>RECOMMENDATION: Emphasize that the jedi work
benefits everyone and detail how and why this is the
case as they engage in these community dialogues.
Connect the Work to the Vibrancy of the Town
Economy
Often there is a concern that engaging in jedi work
might negatively impact the public perception of
the Town and the people who live there. In fact, the
willingness to be “front and center” on the work of
addressing historical and current inequities can in
fact be a boost for the Town and its public image.
>RECOMMENDATION: Develop a public facing cam-
paign about what the Town is doing in regards to
its jedi work along with its plan. Ensure that there
is transparency about what the Town is learning
American Leadership Forum Insights
5
APPENDIX A: QUESTION SUMMARIES
Discovery Question #1: What are the opportu-
nities that you see for the Town as they move for-
ward with their equity work?
“In a world moving more and more toward
a global way of thinking, the Town would
be better served with the addition of a
Unity Commission made up of diverse
groups – ages, backgrounds, etc. – to be
the eyes and ears of the Town and who
bring more vitality to the community. Ex-
isting partnerships in the Town should be
leveraged and synergies explored. Orga-
nizations such as numu, Los Gatos Library,
Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, awo, and
others can work together to center, pro-
mote, and celebrate diversity.”
— Folake Phillips
Overall, participants felt that opportunities exist.
Most communicated that the Town government
can be leveraged as conveners, supporters, or
initiators of the equity work. Collaboration was
mentioned as a key ingredient to the success of
this work and that the Town officials should fos-
ter environments for multiple sectors to work
together. Business was a key sector discussed
along with Community Based Organizations (cbo’s).
Although collaboration was discussed most, the
need for support and leadership from the Town
government, financial, organizational, and other-
wise, was recognized as well. Often mentioned as
initiators of events and programs that community
leaders could then take over or amplify the work
of cbo’s that is already happening. Some partic-
ipants also stated that large businesses want
to recruit skilled workers from all backgrounds
and having an inclusive and diverse Town aids in
the process.
Events, dialogues, and programs centered
on community awareness and learning about jedi
were also seen as an opportunity. These occasions
create space for various experiences and perspec-
tives to be acknowledged and valued. The events
should focus on elevating voices that are often
marginalized, helping to make the Town inclusive
and safe for all. Some direct ideas were, music
festivals, economic investments in departments
to push the work forward, ongoing equity curric-
ulum, and opportunities to learn of the Town’s
painful past.
A focus on youth in this process was also sug-
gested. The thought is to have similar opportuni-
ties as mentioned above for students to lead and
participate. Including jedi into the school curricu-
lum was also highlighted.
Affordable housing was another notable topic.
The idea that diversity, equity, and inclusion de-
pend on who can ‘afford’ to live in Los Gatos was at
the heart of these suggestions.
Town of Los Gatos Discovery Report 2022
6
Discovery Question #2: What are you most
hopeful about?
“I’m hopeful with the direction of this dei
process and am glad that it has begun. I’m
proud of how the Town is handling these
challenges and of the steps they have
taken to prioritize their dei efforts. I have
listened to a few council meetings and
am impressed by how the youth in this
community have spoken up about their
feelings and how articulately they were
able to get their points across. Due to this
involvement of the town’s youth I think it
would be a great opportunity to engage
with the Town’s youth commission.”
— Dominic Broadhead
Participants were most hopeful regarding past
and/or current events. Events like the March
Against Hate, student-led initiatives at the high
school and visual representations, such as rain-
bow sidewalks, were repeatedly mentioned. Some
participants mention the existence of a jedi plan
and the surveying afli was conducting as signs of
positive movement. Participants also mentioned
that the town leadership bringing the jedi conver-
sation to the forefront was encouraging along with
hearing and seeing so many other residents look-
ing to create change.
Participants also expressed hope about fu-
ture events and projects. There were numerous
ideas communicated that had participants excited
and engaged. Many discussed the opportunity for
people to engage each other as people and not
ideological groups. The space for human connec-
tivity through dialogue, storytelling, music, and the
arts was highly regarded and a source of hope for
many participants. Participants mentioned hope
in new people hired/elected to important roles
within the Town i.e., new police chief and mayor.
Participants also discussed student engage-
ment as a source of hope. Past events and the de-
sire to create more opportunities for young people
to influence policies, share ideas, and learn more
about equity and inclusion seemed to come from
participants across the board.
Other things to explore: Participants men-
tioned that the beginning of this work may be
tough but believe the overall community will
come along with time. Some believe the Town can
handle the challenges ahead, but officials need
to keep moving the ball forward. To change will
require the development of new skills and a high-
er capacity to hear and understand one another.
Another thing that was notable is how infrequent-
ly the topic of the Town’s police department was
mentioned. This is a potential place of hope since
policing, by and large, has shown up a lot in other
cities and communities regarding jedi work.
Discovery Question #3: What are you most
concerned about?
“Neither the Town nor the school district
can solve this issue on their own. It is
a community problem and to address
it effectively, we need to find ways to
work collaboratively across sectors to
find solutions.”
— Dr. Michael Grove
The overwhelming response to this question,
along with it being mentioned throughout our
interviews, was fear. The trepidations of many
participants centered on the response of resi-
dents who may be resistant to the work. Although
negative interactions were not expected from
most residents, the strong and vitriolic nature of
a small segment of residents weighed heavily on
the minds of everyone we spoke with. Concerns
about personal safety, alienation, and retaliation
were consistently brought forward. Concerns
about safety need to be addressed for the Town to
get strong buy-in from the community. Addressing
this issue will increase who and how long people
stay engaged.
The next issue of concern is the efficacy and
capacity to make change. Participants questioned
the long-term commitment the Town has toward
equity work. It was mentioned that the General
Plan should reflect jedi concerns to help it properly
move forward. There was also concern that some
people with influence and power will impede any
progress either because change is hard or holding
the status quo is preferred. Participants, acknowl-
edging the large scope of the work and the chal-
lenging political climate, questioned if the Town
possessed the knowledge and ability to create a
more equitable and inclusive community.
Other things to consider in addressing
American Leadership Forum Insights
7
participant concerns are affordable housing, train-
ing and education for youth, and accessibility to
resources to increase the community’s knowledge
around equity work.
Discovery Question #4: What in your mind
creates an inclusive community?
“I’d like to be able to see a black, lesbian
developer come and live comfortably in
Los Gatos and attend her synagogue.”
— Jon Hicks
When participants were asked to imagine what an
inclusive community looked like they painted this
picture: A community that is safe and welcoming
to those who do not fit the norm, empathy and
compassion exhibited between neighbors, vi-
brancy that is attributed to diversity, new voices
welcomed at decision-making tables, and a deep
sense of belonging that crosses the boundaries of
gender, culture, race, sexual preference, and so-
cio-economics. It was acknowledged that some of
these characteristics may not be measurable, but
the feeling would be recognizable.
Participants stated that an inclusive commu-
nity has jedi dialogues, addresses unconscious bias,
educates people on the history of the indigenous
people, creates intentional spaces and opportuni-
ties for residents to come together and celebrate
differences. The inclusive community creates and
highlights role models for the next generation to
emulate, helping them be even better informed
and aware of jedi issues.
Participants stated that representations of
diversity in business ownership, government
officials and teachers would be part of an inclu-
sive community. Community policing standards
should be employed, where all residents are treat-
ed fairly no matter race, religion, or sexual orien-
tation. Affordable housing should be part of an
inclusive community.
Other topics to note, questions about the cur-
rent demographics of the Town were raised and
concerns that perceived homogeneity of econom-
ic backgrounds within the town may obscure the
actual needs. Some participants mentioned the
need for greater clarity regarding what the Town
is communicating when it speaks of justice, equity,
diversity, and inclusion.
Discovery Question #5: What are your thoughts
on the jedi Plan? Are you willing to engage in the
jedi process in the future? In what context?
“I fully support the town’s jedi efforts. I
think they’ll be strengthened by includ-
ing reasons why this is good for Los Gatos
and worth town expenditure. I’d like to
add that the town staff needs to make
clear to the community how and why the
jedi efforts benefit everyone and harm
no one.”
—Amy Nishide
Everyone who participated was open and will-
ing to engage the jedi process in the future. Most
were enthusiastic and excited to see the Town
take these initial steps. There were some concerns
about possible politicizing of the process and po-
tential backlash.
Participants were generally familiar with the
jedi plan. Overall, participants thought the direc-
tion was good, while expressing concerns about
clarity of purpose, tangible deliverables, and the
long-term commitment. Collaboration between
the various sectors; government, business, educa-
tion, and the community; was highlighted as a large
need. The development of a Unity Commission
was suggested as a step to keep the work moving
forward. Despite all the positive feedback, fear
regarding the perception and response of some
residents was mentioned. Fear was one of the
most expressed emotions along with the desire
for progress.
Participants suggested numerous ideas about
how to engage the process. The majority fell into
three categories: events/entertainment, dialogue,
and training/education. Ideas such as movie view-
ings, concert series and using the arts to bring peo-
ple together around topics of diversity and inclu-
sion were suggested. Creating spaces for open and
honest dialogue to help residents learn from one
another was referenced. Training and educational
partnerships between cbo’s, schools and the gov-
ernment were also highlighted. Previous events
and groups were named as examples to build on;
March Against Hate, the Anti-Racism Coalition and
the Chamber of Commerce to name a few.
Town of Los Gatos Discovery Report 2022
8
APPENDIX B: ALF INSIGHTS MODEL
The work of emerging and building spaces for
high quality dialogue within an organization is not
a linear process but a cyclical one. The process
of learning, creating, implementing, evaluating
and iterating should become a cultural norm for
an organization or network. When this process is
built into the day to day ethos of an organization,
it allows for growth, flexibility, nimbleness and
responsiveness to the needs of employees, those
served and the larger community.
ALF Insights (alfi) knows, through its many years
of working with diverse groups, that the creation
and maintenance of relationships is critical for
the success of any working group. In order for
members of a group to begin to engage with the
work at hand, they have to be able to successfully
take risks with each other in order for the ultimate
products to have full buy-in and be responsive to
the community’s needs. The ability for members
to authentically share their personal and profes-
sional value propositions, and to seek common
ground, is inherently connected to the quality of
relationship within the team. alfi is focused on de-
veloping a highly personalized program that will
move both relationships and impact forward. It
is important to note that this is not a linear pro-
cess as vigorous, generative social-impact groups
are a picture of evolving social relationships
and a robust platform for sustained production
and impact.
DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS
BUILDING KNOWLEDGECRE AT I N G T O G E THERIMPLEMENTING & EVALUATINGONGOING LEARNINGALF Insights works with the
organization to establish a
structure of ongoing learning
and development. Maintenance of
generative teams is ongoing and
emergent work. It is critical to have
structures in place and natural
leaders identified so that the
organization can evaluate, learn
and iterate as needed.
A vital cornerstone of this work is the building of relationships
and the creation of authentic dialogue and risk-taking.
The work here is to create a container that is “stretchy”
enough to handle productive tension and discord.
ALF Insights works with the
organization to develop
knowledge and understanding
of team culture, practices for
effective dialogue, processes for
managing and leveraging
tension and the creation of impact.
ALF Insights assists the organization in thinking
together about how the wisdom gained and the relationships
built can be leveraged into new
structures, processes and
systems for the organization.
ALF Insights works with the organization to
create a process of accountability at the
staff, board and partner level in order to ensure
fidelity to new structures.
American Leadership Forum Insights
9
APPENDIX C: ALF INSIGHTS FACULTY
For this project the following faculty members
were engaged:
Jenny Niklaus
alfi Chief Facilitation Officer
Jason Reynolds
alfi Faculty
Darcie Green
alfi Faculty
Allyson Paul
alfi Executive Assistant
APPENDIX D: LIST OF DISCOVERY PARTICIPANTS
Rabbi Melanie Aron, Congregation Shir Hadash
Father Ricardo Avila, Dave Watermulder,
Erica Rader, Town of Los Gatos Interfaith Group
Diane Fisher, Jewish Silicon Valley
Kareem Syed, Former Resident; Peacemaker during
BLM and other protests
Jon Hicks, Netflix
Catherine Somers, Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Michael Grove, Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High
School District
Paul Johnson, Los Gatos Union School District
Kristi Grasty, Los Gatos High School
Kylie Clark, Jeffrey Suzuki, Amy Nishide,
Ali Milano, Sandrine Chaumette, Rob Moore,
Alicia Spargo, Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition
Ami Davis, NUMU
Karen Rubio, Plant Based Advocates
Sasha Balasingham, Youth Commission Chair,
Los Gatos High School
Dominic Broadhead, Los Gatos-Saratoga Parks
and Recreation Center
Folake Philips, Varily Isaacs, AWO
Teri Hope, Business Owner
Susan Farwell, Business Owner
Jim Foley, Business Owner
Sobrato Center for Nonprofits
1400 Parkmoor Avenue, Suite 280
San Jose, CA 95126
Email: alfsv@alfsv.org
Phone: (408) 554.2000
ALFSV.ORG