Planning for Impact in Uncertain Times: West Valley Community Services charts its future through collaboration.
This is a complicated time to lead a social service nonprofit. Communities across Silicon Valley are struggling with the rising cost of living, while the systems many families depend on for support are under increasing financial and political pressure. In areas often seen as affluent, those challenges can be even harder to recognize. The assumption that wealth is evenly distributed can obscure the reality that many residents live one emergency away from crisis. For organizations working in these communities, the challenge is not only to meet urgent needs but also to help others understand that those needs exist.
The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong
The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where Everyone Belongs was a featured book at this year’s Silicon Valley Reads. This event, held for over 20 years, brings people together through books and dialogue around a specific theme. Given the fragmentation that is all too visible in our society, a conversation about building bridges is long overdue.
From the Courtroom to Community Leadership: Erica Yew on stepping into the CEO role at ALF Silicon Valley
Erica Yew has spent decades in public service, including more than 24 years as a judge, and has received numerous honors recognizing her leadership and commitment to community. She is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a member of Class 15, which she jokingly calls the best class. Over the years, Yew has remained active in the ALF network, including the AAPI affinity group, and was preparing to join the ALF Board of Directors when an unexpected opportunity changed her plans. I spoke with her about how she came to the CEO role, the importance of networked leadership, and what she hopes to accomplish in this new chapter.
Women/Femme Leaders Power Hour
The ALF Women/Femme Leaders Space meets quarterly to strengthen bonds among women and femme-identifying Senior Fellows while creating opportunities for both offering and receiving support. Facilitated by ALF Senior Fellows, the group welcomes any women or femme-identifying individuals who would like to join.
Big bill. big impact.
The newly passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” will slash $1 trillion in federal healthcare spending over the next decade. In Santa Clara County, this translates to more than $1 billion in lost funding over the next few years. Community health leaders warn that thousands of residents could lose access to care, while the region’s social safety net faces one of its most serious threats in decades.
A Series of Unprecedented Events
While we are no longer facing a global pandemic, our communities are facing a new crisis: massive cuts to the systems that we have built over the past decades. Santa Clara County is expected to have a $1 billion shortfall in its health and hospital system, which will send shockwaves through multiple systems of care, including county hospitals.
Building Resilience for the Long Haul: ALF Insights Faculty in Conversation
As a new presidential administration took office and a wave of executive orders began to reshape the civic landscape, a group of eight ALF Insights faculty and contributors came together on Zoom to reflect on what it would take to stay engaged in the work of change-making over the long haul.
Passion AND Purpose: YWCA’S Board Evolution
The mission of YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley (YWCA-GGSV) has always been clear, bold, and declarative: eliminate racism and empower women. In an era where these fundamental values are increasingly under threat, Adriana Caldera, Chief Executive Officer, and Aime McClane, Chief Operating Officer of YWCA-GGSV, are steadfast in their commitment to leading the charge. Recently, YWCA-GGSV partnered with ALF Insights to reshape the experience and function of its board of directors—an effort rooted in the organization's broader commitment to social justice and equity.