In an effort to reweave what John Gardner calls the "unraveling social fabric," Joseph Jaworski founded ALF in Houston in 1980. ALF is a national organization with active chapters in Houston, Hartford, the State of Oregon, Silicon Valley, Mountain Valley (Sacramento), Tacoma, Charlotte NC, Myrtle Beach NC, Michigan, and California's Northern San Joaquin Valley. The Mountain Valley Chapter, serving Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, and Northern Solano counties, was founded in 1997 by four Senior Fellows who had moved to Sacramento from other chapters and wanted to start a program here.
ALF-MVC annually invites two classes of 45-50 established leaders from diverse backgrounds - professional, ethnic and cultural, political, and geographic - to participate in a yearlong Fellows program. The yearlong Fellows Program is a rigorous engaging process of action and reflection with dialogues most relevant to the current leadership challenges resulting in civic engagement by action teams of passionate concerned leaders. Individual leadership is also transformed through rigorous reflection on strengths and challenges, intentions, and outcomes. Fellows are invited and expected to bring their wealth of experience, thinking, and their hearts to this dynamic adventure. Each class is carefully balanced for diversity of all kinds. The goal is to represent as much as possible the diversity of the region. Each class engages in the practice of collaborative leadership skills they have been exploring throughout the program by serving the community in some fashion.
After graduation, each class joins the ranks of Senior Fellows who continue their engagement through issue forums, social events, and community service. Senior Fellows carry forward the mission of working collaboratively for the public good. The cost per Fellow is $13,500, with most participants supported, at least in part, by their employer or sponsoring organization. Additional funds are raised to ensure broad access and participation, helping sustain the program’s commitment to geographic, professional, and cultural diversity.