You Were Built for This.
By Suzanne St. John-Crane
ALF Silicon Valley CEO
ALF National Board Chair
On Friday March 13, our Silicon Valley Chapter launched Class XXXIX. We begin each program year with a ritual: Bringing together the soon-to-be-graduating class and new class for a network building exercise. We invite four different drumming troops in as faculty: Taiko, Aztec, African and Arabic drummers, to explore the power and beauty in each unique cultural rhythm. Fellows break up into small groups and learn a new “language,” playing a simple beat on their drums. We then gather as an entire group in a large outdoor courtyard and are conducted by San Jose Taiko’s Wisa Uemura (Class XXXI) to play all together. It is one of the most inspiring days – seeing cross sector leaders smiling, laughing, and playing their hearts out as an ALF network – strengthening each other’s voice and deepening the collective rhythm.
On Friday March 13, Santa Clara County was under the “no crowds over 250” order due to COVID-19. The location where we met was restricting crowds of 50 or more. We were just under the limit – at about 40 staff, drummers and Fellows.
Months prior, I was a little surprised as to the number of healthcare executives who were nominated to this class and a little hesitant to seat them all together given the sector diversity goals for each cohort. Something told me to just let it go and seat them. To quote our Founder Joe Jaworski: Synchronicity.
So it began. Leaders of small and massive health care organizations, a Santa Clara County executive, university president; a Catholic bishop, labor union president, tech company general council, VP and engineer; a senior climate scientist, chamber president and non-profit CEOs – participated in their first ALF Check-in. We all knew what was before us and that this was the tip of the iceberg. I distinctly remember hearing one of them say, with complete grounded humility and strength, “I was built for this.” I get chills thinking about this moment. Indeed Senior Fellows, we are built for and by these times.
For an hour or two that Friday, we were able to recharge our batteries and be in community. While no one spoke it out loud, I believe we all knew that this would be the last time we would be face to face for a while. As the four drumming troops and their Fellows convened outdoors to drum together as one, news alerts were popping up on my phone that all Santa Clara County schools were closing, and Santa Clara County dropped gathering maximums from 250 to 50. For just those few moments though, we were reminded of the power of listening – to each other’s perspectives and rhythms; the power of participating – to strengthen our collective community voice and impact; the power of authentic relationships – to lift each other up in the hardest of times.
Since that Friday, I’ve witnessed heroic examples of cross sector collaboration, from a Senior Fellow raising $10 Million (while quarantined in her bedroom) to cover rent for those most at risk of losing their housing, to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and ALF Silicon Valley staff imbedding themselves with the Silicon Valley Council of Non-Profits – a hub in coordinating safety net organization emergency funds and disinfectant supplies. From private sector companies opening their supply cabinets and donating to local hospitals and CBOs, to our electeds quickly responding with siliconvalleystrong.org to rally the troops. I’m sure you’re witnessing, and a part of, the same kind of heroic efforts in your community. This is just the beginning… and cross sector relationships are critical to an efficient, innovative and deep response to this crisis.
To ALF staff and board members across the country: our work is more important than ever right now. We are witnessing the ultimate return on our relationship building investment. All of the bridging that we do between disjointed, disconnected and siloed ideologies and sectors is moving our communities through this crisis. So keep going.
Remember, you were built for this.