Spring 2012
Vol 4, Issue 2
aly 12 w/ 1dfw signs

Advancing Leadership logo 
 Envision eNews

Left:  ALY '12 class holds signs promoting their team project: One Day Federal Way for The Homeless.
Greetings!
This is a season of transitions for our programs.  Our ALY '12 participants have completed their project and sessions and are graduating April 16th.  We are processing ALY '13 applications and will have those students selected within a week or so.

The AL adults are working towards the culmination of their project, and will have their kick-off event April 24th.  Applications are being accepted for AL '13 as well, and by May 18th we'll be prepping to interview those applicants.

Projects and graduations are where we see the real impact of our programs on individuals and the community.  I hope you get a sense of our collective accomplishment as you read this issue.

Yours in service,
  

Teri Hickel

Executive Director 
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AL 2012's Project Connects At-Risk Youth to Business Community

al 12 real world fw project logoDuring their opening retreat back in September, the current Advancing Leadership adult class was introduced to the AL team project concept. The only criteria were that their project benefit at-risk youth, that it have a positive impact on Federal Way, and that it came together before their closing retreat in May.

 

The result?  Real World Federal Way!  AL '12 is creating a non-profit job shadowing program for high school students that will introduce them to the business world. Goals for students participating in the program are to show them how their high school classes apply to the 'real world', particularly job skills, and to inspire them to explore career options.  Students will be matched with businesses that mirror their interests, and will spend time with a professional at work, learning how to prepare for that career, seeing exactly what happens on the job, and getting to know a successful adult in the field.

 

To make this program sustainable, AL '12 is working with Communities in Schools and Federal Way High School.  They are currently recruiting area businesses to be job shadow sites, and also need donations to cover initial costs for website, registration as a charity and printed materials to promote the program to students. Real World Federal Way will have a kickoff career event at Federal Way High School on Tuesday, April 24th, 2:30 - 4:30 pm.

 

Can you help?  Please contact AL '12 by clicking on the options below if you can support Real World Federal Way:

  1. Find out about becoming a job shadow business.
  2. Donate to help Real World Federal Way.
  3. Get more information and learn about other ways to help.

You can also get info by contacting Brett Hatfield at (253) 261-6205, MacKinlee Reed at (253) 315-5980 or Kristina Washington at (253) 334-5224, or by visiting the website: www.realworldfw.com.

 

Inspiring a Shared Vision: ALY Alum's Work is Good Medicine

aly amanda quach
Amanda Quach, ALY '06
Amanda Quach, ALY '06, has always gravitated towards leadership. She was an involved high school student, but really amped it up in college, taking on multiple servant leader positions while working towards her degree in physiology. Amanda's approach aligns perfectly with her medical focus. As she puts it, "I have come to view leadership as a muscle.  The more you practice and exercise it, the stronger it becomes."

 

What is distinctive about her leadership style is her interest in engaging others; and no alums, she isn't a green or yellow - she's a blue!  After completing her year in Advancing Leadership Youth, she returned to facilitate the next year's class. "It was a great opportunity because I love to teach, and I was definitely not ready to leave this wonderful organization!"

 

She served as the Activities Chairman and the Vice President of New Member Education for Delta Zeta sorority at the University of Washington, and got involved in several pre-med organizations "which allowed me to learn more about medicine and build positive relationships with my peers."  She was treasurer of Global Medical Brigades, helping to fundraise, recruit medical professionals, and prepare members for a medical mission trip to Honduras to provide free health care.  As a team leader for Health Care Alternative Spring Break, she contacted health care providers, clinics, and set up shadowing opportunities in rural areas of Washington State to help our members experience medicine in a rural or underserved area.  During her senior year of college, Amanda served as an intern on the ASUW Student Health Consortium, an organization in charge of improving the health and wellness on the UW campus. After graduating from college last spring, she went on a medical mission trip to Vietnam with the Vietnam Health Clinic and was able to translate for the physicians.
 
How did ALY prepare Amanda for her prolific involvement at the college level? "Being involved in ALY definitely made me more at ease with leading and facilitating a group, expressing my opinions, and, at times, standing by my values," she says.  "Just as important, ALY taught me about the community where I was born and raised.  I am completely in love with the Pacific Northwest, and ALY really strengthened the bond to my community.  I have always been involved in school and on campus, but ALY really encouraged me to be more active in my city, which I fully plan to do!
 
Best of luck to Amanda as she applies to medical school, and thanks to her for staying people-focused! 
Calling All Developing Leaders: Apply NOW to AL & ALY 2012-13
al 13 apply button It's time! Advancing Leadership (adults) and Advancing Leadership Youth (high school) programs are now accepting applications for the 2012-13 classes.

Applying to the AL adult program is easier than ever with our new online application form!  Scholarships are also available for individuals who require tuition assistance. The application deadline is Friday, May 18th.

aly 13 apply High school students who will be sophomores or juniors during the 2012-13 school year can apply to the ALY program.  This program is fully funded by our sponsors and free to students. Students can download the application from our website or get an application at their school. Application deadlines vary by school.

If you know someone who is ready to grow as a leader, encourage them to apply today!  It's an investment that will yield a lifetime of rewards.

 

AL Grad named CIS-FW 2012 Mentor of the Year
Sid White, AL '09, (r)
with his mentee James
Congratulations to Sid White, AL '09, on his new moniker: 
Communities in Schools Federal Way's 2012 Mentor of the Year!

 

Sid learned about mentoring during his Advancing Leadership class. "During the Community & Servant Leadership Day, Pete Gonzales, AL '08, spoke to the class about the CIS Mentoring Program and how it supports students by empowering them to stay in school and to achieve success in life," he remembers.  "I knew at that time that I wanted to be a part of the program."

 

Several years into his mentoring experience, he has really enjoyed watching his 'mentee' James grow in more than one way.  "He was 5' 3" when we met and is now about 6'2"! He has matured into a respectful young man."  What Sid likes best about their time together are the challenging conversations. "He always ask really tough questions.  At times we have to reference the computer for the answer.  It has been a learning and growth experience for both of us."
 
Sid's introduction to and involvement in mentoring is a perfect example of the Advancing Leadership networking model in action.  He has also seen the benefits of AL in his professional life. "The course helped me focus more on my responsibilities as a School District Facilities Administrator by ensuring our students are provided with educational facilities that are conducive to learning," he explains. "Advancing Leadership is a great program that I recommend to all my peers."
 Thank you Sid, for sharing your time and talents with James and the Federal Way community!
Connection, Calling, Community Service, Career: An Alum's Journey
aly karlo leonor
Karlo Leonor, ALY '06

Seven years ago, there was no way that Karlo Leonor, ALY '06, could have known how participating in Advancing Leadership Youth would ultimately affect his life path.  

 

It began with personal inspiration. "In a competitive high school atmosphere, it was an easy trap to focus on myself.  ALY kept me from being self-centered and opened up my horizons to a bigger world," is how he describes it.  "I always felt honored to meet the leaders of the city, but even more, it stirred in me that desire to serve others, especially the suffering and those in most need, and to live actively for the common good."

 

An immediate opportunity to respond to this calling came from Brady Nelson, AL '05 and a State Farm agent. Brady shared with the ALY class that State Farm was starting a Youth Advisory Board, which would bring together students ages 17 - 20 from across the United States and Canada to design and administer a multi-million dollar service-learning initiative.  Karlo applied and was accepted.  As a founding board member, he represented six states in the Pacific Northwest, and helped distribute $3 million in grants to schools and non-profits focused on service-learning.

 

After high school, Karlo went on to the University of Notre Dame.  Initially he considered being a teacher, and explored many subjects in the humanities.  As he gravitated toward philosophy and theology, he found himself drawn toward Roman Catholic priesthood. He enrolled in seminary while pursuing his degree, and his studies, campus life and a semester in Rome deepened his commitment to servant leadership.

 

Ultimately, Karlo recognized that he needed to shift his direction.  After his term on the State Farm YAB, he was hired as an independent researcher for the board, then as a summer intern for three consecutive years at State Farm's corporate headquarters. After completing his B.A. and a semester of graduate study in philosophy, he has been offered a full-time position beginning in July as an Enterprise Development Associate.

 

Not one to waste energy, Karlo has recently been hired by the Federal Way organization Gloria's Angels, which helps friends and families of people with life-threatening illnesses coordinate their support as a united team to be more effective.


Karlo is the first to recognize that the roads our lives follow can take us places we never expected. "The path to this career opportunity has been a long one, but it began with my involvement in ALY.  ALY is a pool of good people, good opportunities, and good community building.  My experience since my time in ALY '06 attests to those truths."  Congratulations to Karlo on his new job.  AL is honored to be a part of his journey.

 

If you would like to hear more, join us at the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce luncheon on May 2nd, where Karlo will be a speaker for ALY.  The State Farm Youth Advisory Board will be accepting applications for new members in August 2012.  Visit their website for more details.

Enabling Others to Act: AL Alum's Work Supports Microenterprise
al scott butterfield b&w
Scott Butterfield, AL '04

Following the path of a leader always yields pleasant surprises.  Whether or not someone is climbing a traditional corporate ladder, a leader who stays open to learning and exploration - even in nontraditional situations -  will inevitably experience growth. 

 

Scott Butterfield, AL '04, has been active in the financial industry for 25 years.  For awhile, his career path looked fairly traditional; he was working his way through executive positions in large credit unions, building a solid professional network and gaining a deeper knowledge of the credit union 'financial cooperative' model.

 

In 2003, he joined the Advancing Leadership 2003-04 class, and began to spend one day a month working and learning with fellow community members from many different industries, agencies, organizations and walks of life. "My educational experiences over the past 25 years are expansive," Scott says. "However, AL was the only educational experience with exposure to community leadership."  As he made his way through the program, Scott began to develop the roots of a long-term vision that changed his professional path.

 

Pairing his passion for the community development aspect of credit unions and his experience in comprehensive community collaboration during AL, Scott began moving from the executive track to a new role as consultant.  He also began moving away from larger institutions and reaching out to smaller credit unions. The result is his consulting firm, Your Credit Union Partner

 

As Scott explains, "I am a consultant for approximately 50 credit unions located throughout the U.S. I help credit unions increase their social impact within their local community. Most of my work is with low-to-moderate income communities with products ranging from alternatives to 'payday loans' and microenterprise small business development.  The work that I do is so rewarding because it benefits my credit union clients, their membership and the local communities."

 

In order for these programs - particularly microenterprise - to be successful, extensive community partnerships must be developed, including a community development focused credit union willing to provide micro-loans to emerging, underserved consumers; small business development centers, organizations supporting women, minority and low-income entrepreneurs and local community colleges committed to providing the education and technical assistance needed for the smallest of micro businesses; and Chambers of Commerce, who partner to ensure program communication and outreach. "The AL experience influenced my professional journey and prepared me to identify, organize and collaborate with diverse community partnerships," Scott emphasizes.  "I use my AL leadership skills daily, especially 'enabling others to act' ."  

 

Scott has plenty of encouragement for future participants in Advancing Leadership as well. "Participate and engage the program.  Don't make excuses - life is busier than ever and that isn't going to change.  Don't second guess the idea (of participating) because you have already had plenty of leadership experiences. AL is clearly different and better.   The learning is applicable and the community development experience can't be duplicated anywhere else.  You will be inspired and make lifelong friends.  Some of my (AL) friends have become important mentors who continue to shape and influence my development and improvement."

 

AL salutes Scott on applying the principles of Advancing Leadership and the Leadership Challenge to working with the underserved in business communities around the country.

One Day Federal Way for The Homeless: ALY '12 Walks the Walk

aly 12 1dfw group
ALY '12 Celebrates Success!
On February 21st, Advancing Leadership Youth led city officials, business and nonprofit leaders, families and fellow high school students on a 5K walk through Federal Way to build awareness and raise funds for the homeless in our city.

The amazing students of ALY '12 spent months planning the details and preparing for their event: One Day Federal Way for The Homeless.  They teamed with Reach Out, the local non-profit that coordinates seasonal shelter and transitional services to local homeless men and women. All funds raised were donated to this organization.

Starbucks hosted a full day of planning at their corporate headquarters, where ALY learned from the pros how to promote their event, rally community support, and utilize social media to communicate and inspire.

Sylvan Learning Center hosted another planning day and helped raise $300 for the cause with a SAT prep workshop.  ALY '12 set - and met - their fundraising goal of $5000!

Comcast in Washington State was the corporate sponsor of the big event day, where walkers traveled between three local churches that serve as shelters.  Participants learned about all the services provided by Reach Out, facts about homelessness in our city and state, and ways they can help.

Want to see more about this student-driven project? Watch the videos on the AL YouTube Channel and see the article and slideshow on the Federal Way Mirror site.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this success.  Congratulations ALY '12!

Special Contributions Make a Big Difference to Us

We are honored to have the support of community-minded sponsor organizations (our premier sponsors' logos are shown in every newsletter).  Their contributions are what make AL and ALY possible.
 
In addition to these sponsors, we have received several contributions - both financial and in-kind - that we want to recognize and thank:
  
Red Canoe Credit Union, for their donation of $250 to Advancing Leadership.  The donation was in honor of Red Canoe employee and AL board director Bridget O'Connor, AL '07, for her many hours of volunteer work with us.

 

Michael Barrett and United Reprographics, for the donation of two beautiful full-color banners to promote ALY's One Day Federal Way.
 
Federal Way Noon Rotary and Jack Stanford, for securing and funding insurance for the One Day Federal Way event.
 
Ed Streit, for photographing One Day Federal Way and providing digital images to ALY.
 
The Federal Way Police Department, for providing officer escorts on bikes to ride along with our 5K walkers and direct traffic.
 
The Starbucks stores in the Commons, Twin Lakes and North Shore for donating coffee and fixings to keep our 5K walkers warm during One Day Federal Way.
 
Our Savior's Baptist Church, for hosting One Day Federal Way, including the opening rally.
Advancing Leadership is proud of our corporate partners:

      FWPS  Starbucks logo   Comcast logo   GlobalScholar logo

Weyerhaeuser logo       Highline CC          St. Francis Hospital          Multi-Service Center