Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Classes L, LI and LII are currently underway.  These classes are being held virtually at the current time.  Optional in-person activities are being offered outside to those who are interested.

Plans have been made to hold Wilderness Experiences in the spring of 2021 if it is deemed safe.

Yes!  The organization has revamped the curriculum and adapted it to a virtual learning environment. We have also added new components including the Harvard Adaptive Leadership framework and Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQI) to help leaders better understand leadership styles. 

No, right now, ALF is not offering in-person programming.  Once it is deemed safe for groups to convene again, we will inform the network.  In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming Senior Fellows to join us on our many virtual convenings online.

On the upper right corner of the website, select Login.  From there a screen will appear asking you to type your Username and Password into the boxes. When this information is complete, click the "Submit" button.

If you have forgotten your login credentials, select "Forgot my Username" or "Forgot my Password" and the system will send you emails to generate new login information.

Your Username and Password have not changed. If you have a username and password for the old ALF website, you may use them to login to the new ALF website.

If you have forgotten your login credentials, select "Forgot my Username" or "Forgot my Password" and the system will send you emails to generate new login information.

To access the Directory, you must first be logged into the ALF website.

To see your own member profile or profiles of other ALF Senior Fellows, click on "Directory" in the upper right corner of the website. An alphabetical listing of all Senior Fellows with their photos will appear. You may use the "search" functions to look for a Senior Fellow by their ALF Class, by their first or last name, their title or company name. To search by sector, current or previous industries, areas of interest, or expertise click on the words "Advanced Search" and select from the drop down options. Then select, "Go".

To access a member profile and their contact information, click on "More" at the bottom of the Senior Fellow's photo.

To access/change your membership profile, you must first log into the ALF website by selecting "Login" in the upper right hand corner of the website.

Once you are logged in, choose the third option, labeled "Profile" to update your information.

This will take you to a membership page where you can change your password, your e-mail address or change your profile information such as your title, organization, address, areas of interest, etc.  Remember to select "Save" at the bottom of the page.

Under "Senior Fellows" click "ALF Classes and Committees," this will take you to the general webpage. Once there, click on the class, group or committee name and you will be taken to the individual group page.

You can e-mail any class or committee on which you serve. You can either initiate the email from a list included on the "Classes and Committees page" under "Senior Fellows" (on the main navigation) or you can just use that address (eg ClassI@alfhouston.com or Curriculum@alfhouston.com) in the address line of a regular email. 

1. Select "Directory" from the upper right hand corner of the website.  If you are a Senior Fellow, login to the ALF website. 
2. Enter a Fellow or Senior Fellow's first or last name and click "Go."  Your search will create a list. You can click "More" under the Senior Fellows photos on any of the people listed to pull up that person's profile.
3. Instead of entering a name, you can enter a title, company name or ALF Class and then click "Go".
4. You can also select "Advanced Search" to search by Senior Fellows sector, current industries, areas of interest or area of expertise.  Then click "Go".

You may search for Fellows/Senior Fellows using the advanced search.  The database can be searched by any one of the following criteria:  ALF Affiliation, Sector, Current and Previous Industries, Areas of Interest, Areas of Expertise, and Education (please note you can only search one of the criteria at a time).

For example, if you wanted to search for all Senior Fellows who attended a certain university, you can select the name of the university and click on the "Go" button.

The database is only as good as its information.  The search will only include Fellows/Senior Fellows who have entered such information into their profiles.

American Leadership Forum (ALF) is a national 501(c)(3) not for-profit organization with local chapter affiliates. In an effort to reweave what John Gardner called the "unraveling social fabric," Joseph Jaworksi founded ALF in 1980 in Houston (www.alfnational.org). Its mission is "joining and strengthening diverse leaders to serve the common good."

There are now nine active chapters:

1. Charlotte, North Carolina
2. Great Valley, California
3. Houston,Texas
4. Michigan
5. Mountain Valley, California
6. Oregon
7. Silicon Valley, California
8. Tacoma, Washington and
9. Waccamaw Region, South Carolina

Each year, the ALF community gathers to honor leaders who model the boundary crossing, collaborative servant leadership style that ALF promotes. The event is typically the largest gathering of ALF Senior Fellows each year, and event sponsorships provide important support for ALF's mission of joining and strengthening diverse leaders for the common good.

Past Joseph Jaworski Leadership Award Recipients

2020 Randy and Sue Sim

2019 Alan and Renee Helfman

2018 Leticia and Stephen Trauber
2017 Ann and J. Kent Friedman
2016 Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro
2015 Arthur and Philamena Baird
2014 Dan Wolterman, President and CEO, Memorial Hermann Health System
2013 Bill King, President, Southwest Airport Services, Inc.
2012 Donna Fujimoto Cole, President and CEO, Cole Chemical
2011 Amegy Bank Leadership Team: Chairman Walter Johnson, Chief Executive Officer Scott McLean, and President Steve Stephens
2010 Scott McClelland
2009 Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza and the three Marek brothers (Ralph, John and Bill Marek)
2008 Downey Bridgwater
2007 Jim and Molly Crownover
2006 Judge Robert Eckels and Mayor Bill White
2005 Elizabeth and Peter Wareing
2004 Dorothy Caram, Ed.D. and Gasper Mir, III
2003 Kirbyjon Caldwell
2002 Emily and Holcombe Crosswell
2001 Peggy and Bill Barnett
2000 Maconda Brown O'Connor, Ph.D.
1999 Judge John Hill, Jr.
1998 Laura Lee and Jack Blanton
1997 David Underwood
1996 Rev. William Lawson
1995 Charles Miller
1994 Leo Linbeck, Jr.

Because ALF primarily serves to bring together diverse leaders to better serve the community, the organization typically does not hold positions on community or political issues. ALF, as an organization, would require a resolution by the Board of Trustees in order to take a position on any issue. ALF Fellows and Senior Fellows, on the other hand, frequently advocate for positions on community issues, and ALF encourages such activity. The views of ALF Fellows and Senior Fellows, however, should not be construed as those of the organization, its staff, or its Board of Trustees.

The cost of the Fellows/Sector program is $8,000 per Fellow ($7,000 plus a $1,000 personal commitment). Most Fellows are supported, at least in part, by the corporation or organization for which they work. While ALF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, scholarship help is available to ensure that financial concerns do not prevent a potential Fellow from accepting the invitation.

Participation in an ALF Fellows Program is by invitation. Members are selected for their demonstrated leadership both at work and in the community, as well as their commitment to the community. Fellows should be willing to challenge their own assumptions, and increase their understanding and awareness of others.

The selection process for the Fellows Program is designed to create a diverse group within each class of Fellows, bringing together individuals from different sectors, ethnic backgrounds, religious traditions, political affiliations, genders, geographies, and more.

The selection process for single sector programs is designed to create a group that brings together diverse perspectives within that community.

Criminal Justice Class brings together leaders who can actually affect change who are focused on criminal justice but working on different aspects of the issue. The goal is to understand each others' roles and perspectives better and perhaps come up with some creative new ideas. This could be suggestions they could implement themselves to marginally improve the functioning of the system, or more profound changes they could work to implement over time. Class members are drawn from a broad definition of "criminal justice sector", including District Attorney, defense attorney, judge, probation officer, correctional officer, law enforcement officer, alternative school administrator, nonprofit leader working to reduce recidivism, policy advocates, academician, chaplain, and mental health professional.

Medical Class members are drawn from a broad definition of "medical community", including representatives from among the following organizations: hospitals and clinics including private/public/for profit; schools including medical, nursing, public health, community college; public health departments; insurance companies; corporate health care purchasers; pharmaceutical or medical equipment suppliers; foundations and mental health providers. The individuals represent all functions (physician, administrator, development, nurse, public health and board member).

Education Class members are drawn from a broad definition of "education community", including representatives from among the following organizations: schools including multiple school districts, charter schools, early education and college; business and government representatives; foundations; nonprofit organizations supporting schools; and other community partners. The individuals represent all functions, including board members.

The Community Development Fellows Program is designed to join and strengthen leaders involved in all aspects of community development in two contiguous neighborhoods.  The first Community Development Program has a focus on the 5th Ward and East End.  Inevitably challenges arise among those currently living there and those pushing for further development.  Members from the first Community Development program are drawn from business, investors, government, local chambers of commerce and entities such as TIRZ and CDCs, various community-based organizations, and some highly involved individuals.

The Workforce Development Program, launched in April of 2016, is designed to join and strengthen diverse leaders involved in all aspects of workforce development from across the Greater Houston community.  The intent of the class is to engage a thoughtfully constituted Workforce Development cohort of individuals from corporations, educational institutions, social service agencies, government agencies and many other organizations in the time proven ALF curriculum. 

In May of 2017, the American Leadership Forum launched the Community Education Fellows Program.  This class is intended to join and strengthen diverse leaders who have a stake in and a passion for significantly improving the future of education across the Greater Houston region.  The intent of this class is to bring together a group of leaders who have the potential to create a needed connection and synergy across education, health care, social services, criminal justice and government. 

Nominations for future Fellows come from ALF Senior Fellows. Nominations are reviewed and invitations extended by the ALF Selection Committee for the Fellows Program and by the Executive Director for the single sector programs.

ALF Fellows are members of the classes currently participating in an ALF Fellows Program. Senior Fellows are individuals who have participated in and graduated from ALF's Fellows programs.  Fellows are selected each year, drawing from the arts, nonprofits, corporations, government and politics, media, education, the professions, philanthropy and religion, and are diverse along many dimensions.  Approximately 25 Fellows are selected by a committee composed of former participants in the program who are charged with recruiting a class that truly reflects the diversity of Greater Houston and who show outstanding leadership and potential, as evidenced by:

• their achievement of positions of significant responsibility and leadership, both at work and in the community,

• integrity,

• professional stature, showing excellence in or contributions made to their professional or occupational field, and

• willingness to challenge their own assumptions and increase their understanding and awareness of others.

The American Leadership Forum is a nonprofit corporation funded by the participants, by the groups they represent, and by organizations and individuals who care about a healthy, thriving, diverse community.

Criminal Justice Community Program
The Criminal Justice Community Program is designed to join and strengthen leaders involved in all aspects of criminal justice in the greater Houston community. The sixteen-day program was offered for the first time in 2009, with content similar to the Core Fellows Program. The program presents participants with a broad perspective of the complex environment in which criminal justice operates, and enables them to develop relationships that can facilitate collaboration. This program offers benefits to the community, but also to the organizations sponsoring participants (leadership development and networking across the criminal justice sector), and to the participants themselves (personal growth, professional growth, effective skilled service to the community, and long lasting bonds with relationships of mutual trust among diverse leaders).

Medical Community Program
The Medical Community Program is designed to join and strengthen leaders in the Houston medical community by participation in a class comprised of representatives from all sectors in our community involved in health care. Five classes have completed the sixteen-day program, which was first offered in 2006. Content is similar to the Core Fellows Program. This program offers benefits to the community, but also to the organizations sponsoring participants (leadership development and networking across the medical sector), and to the participants themselves (personal growth, professional growth, effective skilled service to the community, and long lasting bonds with relationships of mutual trust among diverse leaders).

Public Education Community Program
The Public Education Community Program is designed to join and strengthen leaders in the Houston education community by participation in a class comprised of representatives from all sectors in our community involved in education. The sixteen-day program was offered for the first time in 2007, with content similar to the Fellows Program. The program presents participants with a broad perspective of the environment in which public education operates, and enables them to develop relationships that can facilitate collaboration.  This program offers benefits to the community, but also to the organizations sponsoring participants (leadership development and networking across the public education sector), and to the participants themselves (personal growth, professional growth, effective skilled service to the community, and long lasting bonds with relationships of mutual trust among diverse leaders).

Community Development Program
The Community Development Fellows Program is designed to join and strengthen leaders involved in all aspects of community development.  The Community Development Program, was offered for the first time in 2013, and had a focus on the 5th Ward and East End.  Members from the Community Development program are drawn from business, nonprofits, investors, government, local chambers of commerce, various community-based organizations, and philanthropy.

Workforce Development Program
The Workforce Development Program, launched in April of 2016, is designed to join and strengthen diverse leaders involved in all aspects of workforce development from across the Greater Houston community.  The intent of the class is to engage a thoughtfully constituted Workforce Development cohort of individuals from corporations, educational institutions, social service agencies, government agencies and many other organizations in the time proven ALF curriculum.  Together they engage in a program that builds deep, lasting and trusting relationships, fosters appreciation of differences, teaches and builds dialogue skills and creates an environment that is highly conducive to appreciative inquiry, emergent change and impactful collaboration.  Participation is designed to support these deeply connected and committed leaders in working collaboratively toward a collective impact approach and long term solutions in this area and to help build and strengthen the core network of deeply connected and committed leaders that a sustained collaborative community approach needs.  Additionally, participation will integrate the class members into ALF’s powerful and highly committed network of Senior Fellows across virtually every segment of our community.

Community Education Fellows Program
In May of 2017, the American Leadership Forum launched the Community Education Fellows Program.  This class is intended to join and strengthen diverse leaders who have a stake in and a passion for significantly improving the future of education across the Greater Houston region.  The intent of this class is to bring together a group of leaders who have the potential to create a needed connection and synergy across education, health care, social services, criminal justice and government.  There is little doubt that their participation will begin to show immediate benefits and their class project will in all likelihood identify substantially innovative ideas in this regard. Our time proven ALF curriculum builds deep, lasting and trusting relationships, fosters appreciation of differences, teaches and builds dialogue skills and creates an environment that is highly conducive to appreciative inquiry, emergent change and impactful collaboration.  Additionally, participation will integrate the class members into ALF’s powerful and highly committed network of Senior Fellows across virtually every segment of our community.

Each year, ALF selects 25 senior leaders from the Houston/Gulf Coast area in for profit, public and independent sectors to participate in the ALF Fellows program. The one-year program includes monthly seminars on collaborative leadership topics and community issues, a six-day Wilderness experience, and an initiative the class develops that includes community dialogue and is designed to strengthen the Houston/Gulf Coast community. One of the most important aspects of the program is the strong personal friendships that develop between the Fellows, promoting lifelong relationships that span multiple boundaries. Follow links to learn more about the Fellows Programs, or to see a list of the Current Fellows.

Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy we provide this notice explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used.

The Information We Collect:

This notice applies to all information collected or submitted on the American Leadership Forum Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter (ALF) website. On some public pages, you can register for events, make payments and donations and forward information. The types of personal information collected at these pages are:

• Name
• Address
• Email address
• Phone number
• Credit/Debit Card Information, etc.
• Payment/Donation Amount

On password protected, private Senior Fellows pages, Senior Fellows can register for events, make payments and donations and forward information. The types of personal information collected at these pages are:

• Name
• Class
• Company Name
• Work/Home Address
• Email address
• Work/Home/Cell Phone number
• Work/Home fax number
• Credit/Debit Card Information, etc.
• Payment/Donation Amount
• Assistant name
• Assistant phone
• Assistant Email
• Significant other
• Nickname
• Involvement in Social Networks
• Work History
• Education
• Community Involvement
• Areas of Expertise
• ALF Affiliations
• Honors and Awards
• Sector
• Current and Previous Industries
• Interests

Only Senior Fellows, who login to the ALF website with a password can edit their own information. Senior Fellows who login to the ALF website may see other Senior Fellows information listed above.

The Way We Use Information:

We use the information you provide about yourself when making a payment/donation only to complete that order. We do not share this information with outside parties except to the extent necessary to complete that order.

We use return email addresses to answer the email we receive. Such addresses are not used for any other purpose and are not shared with outside parties.

Finally, we never use or share the personally identifiable information provided to us online in ways unrelated to the ones described above without also providing you an opportunity to opt-out or otherwise prohibit such unrelated uses.

Our Commitment To Data Security

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

Our Commitment To Children's Privacy:

Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important. For that reason, we never collect or maintain information at our website from those we actually know are under 13, and no part of our website is structured to attract anyone under 13.

How You Can Access Or Correct Your Information

You can access all your personally identifiable information that we collect online and maintain by accessing your profile on our website. We use this procedure to better safeguard your information.

You can correct factual errors in your personally identifiable information by editing your own profile or by sending us a request that credibly shows error.

To protect your privacy and security, we will also take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.

How To Contact Us

Should you have other questions or concerns about these privacy policies, please call us at 713-807-1253 or send us an email at info@alfhouston.com.