On April 9 & 10, the new Fellows from Class XLVI gathered for their official orientation at the beautiful Miramar Farms in Half Moon Bay. The day began with a “ground and connect” guided exploration of the farm, with host and ALF Senior Fellow Jayne Battey (Class XXIV) offering a variety of fun activities to kick off the day.
Later, CEO Erica Yew (Class XV) provided an introduction to the founding, history, and purpose of American Leadership Forum, followed by lunch before diving into the group’s 7-minute stories.
As many ALF Senior Fellows will recall, the 7-minute stories practice is a powerful and unique moment when Fellows stretch to share and listen to often-vulnerable, poignant personal stories. When the final story was shared, the group sat in silence, reflecting on a shared experience fueled by generosity and courage.
At the conclusion of Day 1, the Fellows enjoyed dinner together as they began to build informal connections. The next day, after a wonderful lunch, the Fellows engaged in small-group dialogue exercises intended to lay the foundation for their leadership stories in May.
At the end of Day 2, the groups gathered at the farm’s labyrinth for a final check-out. Many in the group thanked their new classmates for having the courage to share. Others spoke of trying to find the words to explain the gratitude and joy they felt. Of course, as many know well, the Fellows Program Orientation is not a set of concepts; it is a change in perspective and the beginning of what is sure to be Class XLVI’s lifelong bond.
View photos below. And meet the members of Class XLVI here.
