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Topic: Year-long leadership training programWho joins: 15 to 25 experienced leaders from different fieldsSteps: Monthly seminars plus one week outdoors building trust and teamworkTime needed: One full year to complete the programSource: American Leadership Forum - National (ALF)
The ALF (American Leadership Forum) Fellows Program is a year-long experience that brings together 15 to 25 established leaders from different fields. Together, they build the skills needed to lead across difference, navigate tough conversations, and tackle complex community challenges.
The program runs for one full year through a local ALF chapter. It includes a kickoff orientation, monthly seminars on topics like dialogue, conflict resolution, ethics, and systems change, and a weeklong outdoor retreat built around trust and collaboration. After graduating, participants join a network of Senior Fellows who continue working together on regional and community-wide challenges.
Start by finding the ALF chapter closest to you. Each chapter runs its own Fellows Program and sets its own application process and timeline. Some chapters also offer single-sector programs or innovation networks if the full Fellows Program is not the right fit right now. Chapter websites often include videos of graduates sharing their experience, which can help you decide if this is the right step for you.
No fixed date
Not location-specific
If you are already involved in civic leadership, workforce development, neighborhood advocacy, or cross-sector collaboration in the Houston area, the ALF Fellows experience can deepen those efforts. The Senior Fellows network connects you to leaders across sectors long after the program year ends.
Houston and communities across the country face problems that no single sector can solve alone. This program helps leaders from business, government, nonprofits, and community organizations learn to work together in deeper, more honest ways. Graduates leave with a lifelong network and a sharper ability to lead through complexity.
