Kim Clark
So, as I reflect on the ALF experience, I am taken back to the day I received the email inviting me to join the inaugural Action Learning Fellowship cohort. It was March 20th when the email arrived on my computer screen. I learned that I would meet Jordan, Lina, Masumi, and Nayelli, people like me whose passion for creating change within our communities was found inspirational to the BK Foundation Board. This was an opportunity to share resources and learn together. Yi Zhang and Jonathan Fong would be our community weavers, and later would become my mentors and friends. I couldn’t wait for the kick-off meeting to discuss the action-learning process, look over tentative dates and topics for the 4-5 more convening’s before June, and plan a timeline of BK resources and connections would be helpful for me. We shared biographies and helped each other finalize them to include an initial call to action/request that was later featured in the BK Foundation newsletter so that the community could know of our endeavors and to draw resources from the broader BKF community.
Soon a list of all the authors confirmed supporting the ALF cohort was in place—I browsed the list and the selection of Berrett-Koehler books and made my requests know on the linked document. A flurry of emails were exchanged outlining all the activities the cohort needed to complete: brainstorming other ways to support each other’s projects, scheduling and attending duo/trio meetings (as well as community weaver check in calls), contributing ideas for leveraging the group’s meetings together as well as the final showcase, submitting a list of books we want to read, authors we want to talk to and what next steps were are taking on our projects . We read and discussed excerpts from books written by change agents. Yi and Jonathan connected me and my cohort with BK authors; we even had an in-person experiential workshop with Michel Gelobter, author of Lean Startups for Social Change. This resource would soon prove to be one of my key action learnings. I now always think about my most viable product/service, test quickly, and using feedback data, continually adjust my product/service.
To this end, the steps I have taken to learn from and to advance my products/services include presenting my project at an annual conference of lawyers, academics and surveyed the participates to gauge interest in a lifestyle blog and/or best practices virtual community and/or national membership organization that brings together a diverse set of law firms universities, and nonprofits to heal and transform the common good. I used the same process at a meeting of North American lawyers and educators. Further, these data sets suggest in-person; live webinars; and on-demand trainings are viable products/services. The funds helped to cover the costs of these activities, and to educate myself on how to build capacity going forward to provide my most viable product/service.
From the final ALF showcase, I received wise feedback and interest from the BK community. One attendee at my showcase was so inspired, that I am now presenting four workshops at her job site for her colleagues. My project teaches and advises activists on best practices for living a good life; effectively reaching their highest potential; to promote the ethical convictions of liberation of self and others; and to work, strengthen outreach, and plan effective healing change. Funding is also being used to cover the expenses of these gatherings. I also produced a promotional video.
Soon a list of all the authors confirmed supporting the ALF cohort was in place—I browsed the list and the selection of Berrett-Koehler books and made my requests know on the linked document. A flurry of emails were exchanged outlining all the activities the cohort needed to complete: brainstorming other ways to support each other’s projects, scheduling and attending duo/trio meetings (as well as community weaver check in calls), contributing ideas for leveraging the group’s meetings together as well as the final showcase, submitting a list of books we want to read, authors we want to talk to and what next steps were are taking on our projects . We read and discussed excerpts from books written by change agents. Yi and Jonathan connected me and my cohort with BK authors; we even had an in-person experiential workshop with Michel Gelobter, author of Lean Startups for Social Change. This resource would soon prove to be one of my key action learnings. I now always think about my most viable product/service, test quickly, and using feedback data, continually adjust my product/service.
To this end, the steps I have taken to learn from and to advance my products/services include presenting my project at an annual conference of lawyers, academics and surveyed the participates to gauge interest in a lifestyle blog and/or best practices virtual community and/or national membership organization that brings together a diverse set of law firms universities, and nonprofits to heal and transform the common good. I used the same process at a meeting of North American lawyers and educators. Further, these data sets suggest in-person; live webinars; and on-demand trainings are viable products/services. The funds helped to cover the costs of these activities, and to educate myself on how to build capacity going forward to provide my most viable product/service.
From the final ALF showcase, I received wise feedback and interest from the BK community. One attendee at my showcase was so inspired, that I am now presenting four workshops at her job site for her colleagues. My project teaches and advises activists on best practices for living a good life; effectively reaching their highest potential; to promote the ethical convictions of liberation of self and others; and to work, strengthen outreach, and plan effective healing change. Funding is also being used to cover the expenses of these gatherings. I also produced a promotional video.