AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter 2010 ANNUAL REPORT Message from the Chair With that resulted. Another in fits and starts due to Hur- necessary to succeed in 2010 three major success was the ricane Ike and the financial in spite of its difficulties. I fellows HISD Café Dialogue downturn. After year-end hope all of you express your pro- (see article on page 4), we learned that The Fondren thanks to her and the staff grams which provided a unique Foundation approved a for an excellent job well running opportunity for both $100,000 grant for the fund, done and support their work simulta- HISD insiders and com- a major milestone in our in making our organization neously munity members con- quest to bring the fund to even better. again, cerned about the Dis- $1.5 million (it now stands It was great to see 260 Sen- Saenz 2010 trict. While the Reunion at approximately ior Fellows at the Jaworski was a year of both new and Senior Fellows Re- $875,000). I hope that those Dinner in May and I hope to and continued suc- treat are both wonderful, of you who have not yet see many more of you at the cess. Our first Criminal my favorite remains contributed to the scholar- 2011 Dinner and at other Justice Class graduated Chez ALF: Dinner in My ship fund will remember the ALF events during the year. in March, and our ven- Home and I encourage importance of having all ture into this new sector anyone who has not yet perspectives in your class, My Best, was good both for the 22 attended one of these including those from fellows Gracie Saenz (Class XIII), participants and, I be- dinners to participate in a who needed scholarships to Attorney lieve, for our commu- very special event. help get them there. nity. As with other ALF By the end of 2010, we Special thanks to our Presi- classes, members were had raised more than dent, Harriet Wasserstrum, enthusiastic about the $150,000 in the En- and her staff, for their excel- new relationships they dowed Scholarship cam- lent skills in providing our formed and we have al- paign that has proceeded organization the support ready seen collaborations

2010 Senior Fellow Activities Inside this issue: It was a busy year. More April August than 70 percent of Senior • Nonprofit Leadership • Strategic Plan Input Session Fellows participated in an Collaborative: Jennifer 2 October Strategic Goals event, nominated someone James – Thinking in • A Conversation with Albert for a Fellows Program, or Future Tense Schweitzer Fellows 3 paid dues. Below is a list Financial Report May • World Café Dialogue with of events held in 2010. • Joseph Jaworski Political Candidates January Award Dinner honoring • Chez ALF: Dinner in My Jaworski Dinner 4 • Reunion and Annual Scott McClelland Home Meeting at JP Morgan • Criminal Justice Class November Chase Heritage Hall 2 Opening Reception HISD Café Dialogue 4 • Strategic Plan Input Session February July • HISD World Café Dialogue • Night at the Ensemble • Education Class 4 5 Theatre Opening Reception Hawkins Interview • ALF Book Club: Life March and Death of the Great • Medical Senior Fellows 5 American School Sys- 2010 Graduates Retreat tem by Diane Ravitch • Convocation on Public 6 Education Class XXVII Project

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM Page 2

Progress during 2010 on Strategic Goals included in the 2008-2012 Plan

The website intro- increased learning by partici- duced at the end of pants and increased feedback to us. 2009 has expanded our capabilities, The series of questions focuses including the en- on what the participant wants to hanced monthly e- remember from the session, Touchstone, a better new practices they might try, online calendar with what they notice about them- RSVP capability, selves and others in the class and an ability to and their reactions to the class, accept payments and what they want the facilita- online. We have tors to know as we move for- posted articles about ward. “Each of us is boxed in Engage Senior Fellows Senior Fellows and our first two stories about community collabo- For the first time, the wilder- and doesn’t see all of Approximately 58% of our rations that would not have oc- ness facilitators for Ed Class 4 the connecting pieces. Houston-based Senior Fellows curred “But for ALF.” We plan to turned over planning each day ALF has connected participated in one or more continue to seek out such stories. we were in Colorado to the activities during 2010. Of some of the dots. We class which led to some really those who didn’t participate, Extend leadership good outcomes. can help others see some nominated candidates for development to other markets what is realistic. We the Fellows Programs and ap- It took just 35 invitations to In 2010 we offered Public Educa- can begin to make proximately half paid dues, recruit 26 strong leaders for tion Class 4 and Criminal Justice Class XXIX. More of the changes through our bringing this broader definition of participation to 71%. Class 2. We will do a third nominees knew they were being new relationships.” Criminal Justice class and a fourth nominated so the acceptance There were 15 opportunities Medical Community class in rate was somewhat higher than - Tyrone Tanner for Senior Fellows in 2010 as 2011. Other sectors that were in recent years. (Education Class 3), listed on the front page. considered included a second ALF well-branded, well- Associate Professor, Core program, Education Class 5, We continue to look for ways religion, and Houston growth. marketed

Prairie View A&M to encourage cross-class con- During 2010, ALF succeeded in University tacts. The three current fel- Effective Fellows program lows programs had a joint ses- getting an article about Convo- sion with Rice Professor Steve The Curriculum Committee con- cation in Houston Community Klineberg that was well- tinued work with Jean Latting and Newspapers’ Memorial Exam- received. Class XXVI mem- Jean Ramsey (from UH and TSU iner. Our press release on the bers served as Senior Fellow respectively) to develop a tool to HISD Café Dialogue led to Contacts for Class XXVIII. measure the impact of the ALF coverage by Telemundo.

Fellows Program. All three fel- The Class XXVI project which lows programs that started in both aimed to encourage Senior 2009 and 2010 took the “before” Fellows to update their infor- survey that is part of this Leader- mation on the ALF database so ship Research initiative. We con- it can be used more effectively tinue to work on the “after” sur- both by the ALF staff and by vey that will be administered both individual Senior Fellows to to these classes after graduation leverage their work in the com- and to all Senior Fellows. The munity and other networking next step is to figure out how really hasn’t happened yet, but what we learn should affect core may get some renewed atten- curriculum elements. tion in 2011. Our new individual class session evaluation process has led both to Page 3 Progress of Strategic Goals (continued) Maintain financial stability We continue to be financially • The Simmons Foundation: healthy, but the scholarship $15,000 - Public Education In 2010, Revenue (excluding fund is not sufficient to meet and Criminal Justice Fellows Leadership Research Initiative the needs for the three Fel- Programs and investment gains) was lows Programs we offer each • KBR: $10,000 - Public $686,000, about 6% below year. Our scholarship cam- Education Fellows Program budget primarily due to a short- paign started with Board • Chevron: $6,000 - Fellows fall in funds raised for the members at the end of 2008 Program; $6,000 - 2010 and Scholarship Fund. Expenses and was rolled out to Senior 2011Directory were $634,000 or 3% below Fellows in late 2009. • Fant Foundation: $1,000 - budget. Pledges to date total Public Education Fellows “I initially didn’t get the Net ordinary revenue was $151,000 and 75% of that has Program point of ALF. But when $27,000, which combined with already been paid. Serve as a resource for the Mike and Jo said they’d $25,000 in scholarship dona- Fee-for-service tuition covers Houston/Gulf Coast take the back and get us up tions produced reported reve- almost half of our expenses, community as a group we made it up nue of $52,000. but we are still dependent on The HISD Café Dialogue the mountain an hour Investment funds gained the annual gala, some pro- was a unique opportunity for faster than any other full $86,000 so the portfolio has gram grants, and Senior Fel- low dues to make ends meet. community leaders to engage group. That’s when I got recovered more than three- in a dialogue with the leader- fourths of the peak loss in Because we rolled out the it. We are very different scholarship campaign in Oc- ship of HISD. HISD appreci- 2008/2009. ated the opportunity to build people in the same type of tober 2009, we delayed a work yet we can work As of December 2010, invest- request for 2010 dues until awareness of and support for ment assets were $1.5 million: February 2010 and then sent the District’s strategic plan together. “ $771,000 (including $200,000 the 2011 dues request in No- and other participants valued so designated by the Board) is vember, so 2010 wound up the chance to have intimate - Joni Vollman restricted for scholarships; including two dues years for conversations with HISD (Criminal Justice 1), Chief, insiders. We have been $300,000 is an operating re- some Senior Fellows. Special Prosecutions serve set at six months of oper- asked by HISD to repeat this Bureau, Harris County ating expenses; and the rest is Grants were received as fol- event in six months. unallocated. lows: DA’s Office

Financial Results

For 2010 ALF had revenue of $686,000 (including $25,000 of do- nations to the scholarship fund) and expenses of $634,000. ALF also re- ceived and spent $102,000 for the leadership research project and had an investment gain of $86,000. AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM Page 4 Joseph Jaworski Leadership Award Dinner 2010 ALF dance and everyone was able Administration. He is a hosted the to move easily from food to graduate of Harvard’s Ad- annual friends. vanced Management Pro- Jaworski gram. Leadership A little about the honoree Award Scott McClelland is president Scott is a board member of Dinner at of H-E-B’s Houston Division the Greater Houston Partner- the Hilton and is responsible for the ship and of Memorial Americas. company’s operations in Hermann Hospital Systems McClelland A new Houston, East Texas, and at and is board chair of Houston format was introduced in order Mi Tienda – H-E-B’s Latino Food Bank. He founded to maximize visiting, reuniting focused format located in Houston’s Super Bowl Food and networking. After the South Houston. Founded in Drive, which is the largest in “ALF joins leaders in a cocktail hour and Big Board 1905 in Kerrville, Texas, the state and annually collects Auction bidding, the Joseph H-E-B is the 11th largest gro- 2.3 million pounds of food for Fellows Program Jaworski Leadership Award cery chain in the United Houston’s hungry. Scott has because together we was presented to Scott States with more than 71,000 also served on the boards of McClelland, president of employees and 315 stores in Jefferson Awards and Holo- can be more powerful H-E-B’s Houston division. Texas and Northern Mexico. caust Museum Houston, and than we can be After the brief program, guests on the Advisory Council of moved to the adjacent ball- Born and raised in Southern McCombs School of Busi- individually.” room where they enjoyed deli- California, Scott graduated ness, University of Texas, - Stuart Saunders cious food at various stations. from University of Southern Austin. There was ample open seating California with a Bachelor of (Class XXVIII), for the 375 guests in atten- Science degree in Business Managing Partner, Mission-Heights HISD World Café Dialogue Enterprises, Ltd. In November 2010, ALF held In a follow-up letter, Grier and 2010 Board President Greg a World Café Dialogue where Meyers thanked ALF for holding the dialogue. community leaders engaged ―That experience provided the district an opportunity to mean- in meaningful discussions ingfully interact with its community through a set of guiding with Houston Independent questions. By using this communication technique, we were able School District Board of Edu- to gain valuable input from community members…We are fortu- cation members and senior staff. nate that Houston has an active chapter of ALF, an organization of community leaders who have a deep concern about educating Randall Butler, executive all of our children. director of the Institute for (continued on page 8) Sustainable Peace and presi- dent of the Association for Conflict Resolution-Houston, facilitated four rounds of dia- logue around positive, open- ended questions. After the fourth round, Superintendent of Schools Terry B. Grier and HISD board members partici- pated in a panel discussing what they had heard and then several community partici- pants commented on their reaction to the process. Table discussions—HISD World Café Dialogue Page 5 Interview with Cecilia Hawkins, Education Class 3 Chair, Senior Fellows Committee

Why does ALF offer activi- formed, helps us to under- setting. About 100 people ties for Senior Fellows? stand other worlds, and helps have attended one of the While the main ALF offering influence and contribute to Chez ALF dinners each year is the Fellows Program, it is our greater Houston commu- since we started in 2008. important to offer activities nity. And most importantly, While attendance at a Senior after graduation so Senior we get to enjoy each others’ Fellows Retreat is much Fellows can stay connected company and have fun in the lower, those who do attend with their classmates, meet process. seem to really enjoy them. other Senior Fellows, con- Which have been most suc- What activities are you tinue to learn, and have a cessful in the past? More plan- positive impact on the com- than 200 Senior Fellows at- ning for munity. We try to find rele- tended the annual Jaworski 2011? “Issues look different vant ways to keep us con- Dinner – it really is a great Activi- when a classmate nected. We are all very busy reunion. Each year, nearly ties brings them up. ALF people; we live very busy 100 people attend the Annual planned makes me ask more lives so we need -- and it’s Meeting/Reunion. Chez for 2011 important -- to have formal ALF: Dinner in My Home is include questions. ALF is a ways for us to keep con- ALF at its best – great con- the cultural shift – we are nected. That’s what Senior versation with interesting given permission to Fellow activities do. When (continued people in a comfortable home on page 8) Hawkins we connect it keeps us in- think and stretch.” Kim Huseman 2010 Graduates—Education Class 3 (Education Class 3) Associate Director, Lucretia Ahrens Walter Jackson, Ed.D. Claude Toland, DM Rice Education Manager, Community Rela- Principal Vice President Student and tions Alief Taylor High School Career Services Entrepreneurship CenterPoint Energy DeVry University Program Marie Moreno Julia Guajardo Barrow Principal Karrie Washenfelder Regional Vice President Las Americas Education Center President Community Education Partners Kaleidoscope Middle School Fort Bend Employee Federa- Houston ISD tion Kenneth Goeddeke Head of Middle Schools Cynthia Pena, MBA Meredith Wedin, M.Ed. KIPP Houston Public Affairs Relationship Educational Consultant

Paula Harris Management Sheri Miller Williams Manager, Community Affairs Houston Branch Director of Leadership Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Schlumberger/Board Member Houston A+ Challenge Houston ISD Paul Sanders Frazier Wilson, Ed.D. Cecilia Hawkins, Ph.D. Executive Director Vice President Deputy Superintendent Teacher Professional Programs Shell Oil Company Foundation Rice University Humble ISD Lida Woodul Kim Huseman, M.Ed. Becky Seabrook, M.S. Board Member Associate Director Vice President, Education CyFair ISD Houston Health Museum Rice Education Entrepreneur- ship Program Tyrone Tanner, Ed.D.

Elneita Hutchins-Taylor Associate Professor General Counsel Educational Leadership Prairie View A & M University Houston ISD

NEWSLETTER TITLE Page 6 2010 Graduates—Class XXVII Irma Diaz-Gonzalez Holly Montalbano President VP – External Affairs Employment & Training Cen- ARAMARK ters, Inc. Armando Perez Frances Castañeda Dyess Group Vice President – Hous- President ton Region Houston East End Chamber H-E-B of Commerce James A. Reeder, Jr. Rick Figueroa Partner Vice President Vinson & Elkins

UBS Advisory & Brokerage Caroline Sabin “It is hard to describe Services Executive Director the qualitative aspects Deborah S. Gibson Powell Foundation of what I received. I Marcus Davis & Executive Vice President Holly Montalbano (l-r) Michele J. Sabino, Ed.D. learned more about the Amegy Bank of Texas Lina Sabouni value of team than in Jagdip Ahluwalia Grace Olivares Hernandez Executive Director Principal any other context. Community Affairs Director AUTOARCH Architects, Indo-American Chamber of Univision 45/TeleFutura 67 That sense of team LLC Commerce carried us through the Cruz R. Hinojosa, Jr. Deborah Anderson Jeffrey Stone wilderness and Senior Inspector, Neighbor- Owner Executive Director hood Protection difficult dialogues.” Pyramid Community Devel- Jeffrey Stone, LTD Houston Police Department opment Corporation Emily Untermeyer

- Jill Carroll Laura Jaramillo Executive Director/President John Breckenridge VP, Manager Texas Market (Class XXVII), President & CEO AMIGOS de las Americas Community Development & Adjunct Associate Theatre Under The Stars Fabené J. Welch Specialized Lending Professor in Religious B. Jill Carroll Wells Fargo Bank Senior Vice President & Gen- eral Counsel Studies, Rice Scholar-Writer-Speaker Toni Lawrence Religion EnerVest, Ltd. University Former City Council Member

Dan D’Armond Carol Abel Lewis, Ph.D. Director, Community & Gov- Associate Professor Transpor- ernment Relations tation Studies BMC Software Texas Southern University

Marcus Davis Sultana Mangalji President/CEO Community Volunteer TBK Holdings Inc.

Class XXVII Project By Caroline Sabin (Class ences through a program mod- goals: XXVII), Executive Director of eled after their own ALF ex- • Build Skills in leadership, The Powell Foundation perience. Thus, the birth of the communication, self aware-

In February 2010 while pon- AVANZA (taken from the ness, teamwork and cultural dering what to do for a class Spanish verb “to move for- awareness. ward‖) Project took place. • Broaden Horizons through project, ALF Fellows of Class XXVII decided they wanted to The Avanza Project set out to experiential learning and inter- make an impact on disadvan- work with approximately 20 action with ALF Fellows. taged youth by sharing their youth at George I. Sanchez • Broaden Experiences by ex- personal expertise and experi- School with the following posing youth to a variety of (continued on page 7) Page 7 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 2010 Graduates—Criminal Justice Class 1 Mike Anderson Beverly Malazzo Senior Judge Associate Judge State of Texas Harris County District Juve- nile Court Greg Baines Founder/Executive Director Mike Meade Just Do It Now Chief Juvenile Probation Offi-

Frederick Brown cer Major, Harris County Sher- Director, Fort Bend Juvenile Probation Dept iff’s Department Criminal Justice Bureau Willis Robinson

Catherine Burnett Administration Manager Vice President, Associate Houston Health & Human Services Dept “I didn’t know what to Dean, and Caprice Cosper & expect when we began Professor of Law Deborah Colby (l-r) John Sage South Texas College of Law Founder/Executive Director this journey. It turned

Brandon Dudley Bridges to Life out to be one of the best Katherine Cabaniss Executive Director Chief of Staff Brock Thomas experiences of my life. Crime Stoppers of Houston Office of Senator Rodney Defense Attorney This is a support team Ellis Anderson & Thomas, PLLC

Deborah Colby that flourished and Program Director, TRIAD Claudette Edwards Joni Vollman came out of nowhere Texas SKIP Prevention Program Chief, Special Prosecutions that I didn’t know Harris County Protective Texas Dept Criminal Justice Bureau could exist.” Services Philip Hilder Harris County District Attor-

Defense Attorney ney's Office Caprice Cosper Greg Baines Director Hilder & Associates, P.C. Curtresha Weston (Criminal Justice 1), Office of Criminal Justice Parole Supervisor Jolanda Jones Founder, Just Do It Coordination Houston City Council Mem- Texas Dept Criminal Justice Now Rebecca De Camara ber; Defense Attorney James Yi

Projects Director Lieutenant Harris County Juvenile Pro- Daryl Knox, M.D. Medical Director Houston Police Department bation Department Comprehensive Psychiatric John Donovan Emergency Program Judge, 113th Civil Court MHMRA of Harris County Harris County

Class XXVII Project (continued)

experiences and community They attended a performance of was given to the importance of venues around Houston. “Hairspray,” a Rockets game, education, graduating from

Comprised of seven sessions and visited Univision television high school and going on to spread throughout the 2010-11 station, BMC Software head- higher education, and the con- academic year, the program quarters and Texas Southern nection with career opportuni- incorporated many of the University. These trips incorpo- ties. The highlight of the pro- Search Institute’s Forty Devel- rated sessions on a variety of gram was an overnight trip at opmental Assets as well as topics, from issues of diversity, Camp Allen where Fellows and other life skills important for to careers in the arts, sports, the students participated on a the students. The students were communication, entertainment ropes challenge course and a exposed to many different ven- and technology, to etiquette, modified version of Myers- ues and an array of new experi- proper dress and other life Briggs personality test. skills. A great deal of emphasis ences throughout Houston. (continued on page 8) Page 8 AMERICAN 3101 Richmond Ave., Suite 140 Houston, TX 77098 LEADERSHIP Phone: 713.807.1253 FORUM Fax: 713.807.1064 Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter Email: [email protected]

Joining and strengthening diverse leaders Since American Leadership Forum’s founding in 1981, more than 750 Senior to better serve the public good. Fellows have participated in a leadership program designed to build a stronger, more cohesive, community in the Houston/Gulf Coast area. The intense yearlong ALF Staff fellows program fosters learning and trust among experienced leaders from every President: Harriet Wasserstrum Program Consultant: Tim Skaggs sector of our community. The result is a unique forum where traditional barriers Communications Manager: Kim Crider among people are removed, issues are discussed openly, and solutions emerge that Administrative Assistant: Ruth Duson-Phillips benefit the entire Houston region. Ask ALF! In addition to our core Fellows Program, American Leadership Forum now offers programs to join and strengthen leaders in Houston’s medical, public education, Houston’s Leadership Resource and criminal justice communities. Www.alfhouston.com

HISD Café Interview with Cecilia Class XXVII Project Dialogue (continued) Hawkins (continued) (continued)

The World Café event exemplified a Annual Meeting/Reunion, Chez ALF, Senior Most of the students had never been district/community partnership op- Fellows retreat, Jaworski Leadership Award outside of the city and some had never erating in an optimized manner… Dinner, and book club. We hope to offer one or even climbed a tree nor been in a ca- more study circles on race, religion, or immigra- noe. Thank you for your support – the tion as well as a couple of dialogues sponsored Based on the exit survey, all of the experience of engaging in meaning- by a current Fellows class to which Senior Fel- ful conversations, by speaking and students who stayed with the program lows are invited. felt it had helped them to grow in many listening to others who care about ways. It was noted they learned how to education, will forever influence our trust and communicate with others work. We look forward to continu- better; anything is possible if you set ing a strong relationship with ALF your mind to it; and fears and chal- and its network of fellows who are lenges can be overcome. ALF Fellows committed to positive change for the learned a great deal from the students Houston community.‖ and shared their personal challenges and stories. Moreover, a good time was had by all while relationships and memories were created.

From left to right: Superintendent Terry Grier; Trustees Anna Eastman, Harvin Moore, Michael Lunceford, and Greg Meyers; and moderator Randall Butler.