ALF Ismaili Center Tour
2026-04-22 14:00 - 2026-05-28 14:45, 2026-04-23 13:00 - 2026-05-28 13:45 (America/Chicago) | The Ismaili Center, 2323 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019, Houston, TX, 77019, US
An opportunity for Bridge Houston Practitioners to get a guided tour of the Ismaili Center joined by some ALF Senior Fellows.

The very knowledgable Ismaili Center tour guides will provide information on the Ismaili Center’s architecture, symbolism and the Ismaili faith.

Asian Leaders Lunch
2026-05-05 11:30 - 13:30 | BoyarMiller Law Office, 2925 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77098, Houston, TX, 77098, US
Come celebrate in honor of AAPI Month and Nory’s birthday, followed by a special announcement!

Come celebrate AAPI Month — and Nory’s birthday — with your ALF community on Tuesday, May 5th!
Lunch is from 12:00 to 1:30!
Join us for a special lunch co-hosted by Senior Fellows Donna Cole, Nancy Li, and Soner Tarim in partnership with Bill Boyar as we gather to celebrate Asian leaders in our community and the strength of the ALF network.
The lunch will be followed by a special announcement — so special, in fact, that Nory is sharing it on her birthday.
In lieu of gifts, please consider making a gift to ALF’s Annual Giving Campaign (not required to attend).
We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon of connection, celebration, and community.

American Leadership Forum 2026 Fellows Opening Reception
2026-05-06 18:00 - 20:00 | 1801 Main St 11th floor, 1801 Main Street #11th floor, Houston, TX 77002, Houston, TX, 77002, US
ALF Opening Reception for 2026 Fellows Classes

We are excited to formally welcome the Fellows of Classes 66 and 67 of the American Leadership Forum to the beginning of what we hope will be a most memorable year!
Join us for your Opening Reception on the evening of Wednesday, May 6th, at 6 pm on the 11th floor of 1801 Main Street to meet the outstanding leaders of the Houston community in your class and cohort year, as well as the ALF facilitators, board, and staff.
Appetizers and drinks will be served, information will be shared about the upcoming orientation retreat, and you will have time to meet with your class and facilitators.
Please use our parking garage at no cost. Use the second or third parking garage entrance on Fannin Street. If the gate isn’t up, you will pull a ticket to enter (but will not need it to exit). Once parked, take the elevator down to the courtyard, and the entrace to the building is on the other side of the courtyard. Check-in is located in the buildling lobby. You will then be directed to take the elevators to the 11th floor.

*This event is for ALF Fellows, Board and Staff. There will be other events in the future where you are welcome to bring family or friends.

Coffee Tasting: Class Connector Appreciation!
2026-05-27 08:00 - 09:30 | 1801 Main St, 1801 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002, Houston, TX, 77002, US
Celebrate your hard work for the ALF Annual Giving Campaign with a coffee tasting at the ALF office!

ALF and AGC co-chair and Senior Fellow Frank Danna, class 65, are celebrating our amazing Class Connectors and all their hard work with an exclusive coffee tasting event.
Frank will provide a selection of coffee blends from his own coffee roasting company and Class Connectors will help ALF select one to be our “Get Up and Lead” ALF coffee blend!
Join us to check-in, taste some coffee and connect with one another. The event will take place at the ALF Leadership Hub at 1801 Main Street.
The parking garage entrance is located on Fannin Street. Bring your parking ticket inside with you for validation.
You’ll take the elevator/stairs to the first floor of the parking garage and walk across the courtyard to enter the lobby. In the lobby you will check in with the front desk, citing ALF and then Sarah WIndham as your contact, alerting someone from the team to come down and bring you up to the office.

Bridging Data to Impact: Creating Change in Education and Workforce Policy
2026-06-01 11:30 - 13:30 | Amegy Tower, 1717 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77027, Houston, TX, 77027, US
Join us to explore how data insights can influence education and workforce policies for real change.

More than 60% of jobs in Texas require a postsecondary credential, yet only about 1 in 3 Texas high school graduates earn one within six years of graduation.
Join the American Leadership Forum and its partnering organizations for a conversation with David Leebron, former President of Rice University, and members of his team at Texas 2036 — a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives and expanding opportunities for all Texas through its bicentennial and beyond.
David will be joined by John Hryhorchuk, Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, and Mary Lynn Pruneda, Director of Education and Workforce Policy, for a discussion on one of Texas’s most pressing challenges: building the educated workforce the state’s economy demands.
The Texas 2036 team will share key research insights on education and workforce policy and what it will take to close that gap, in a conversation moderated by ALF Senior Fellow Y. Ping Sun. This lunch is generously underwritten by ALF Senior Fellow Donna Cole of Cole Chemical.
This event is presented in partnership with United Way, Leadership Houston, Center for Houston’s Future, Cole Chemical, and the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

Stronger Together: The State of Social Cohesion in Houston
2026-06-05 08:00 - 10:00 | Houston Texans YMCA, 5202 Griggs Road, Houston, TX 77021, Houston, TX, 77021, US
A data-informed conversation exploring new findings from the Kinder Institute on belonging, connection, and trust across Houston.

What does it really mean for a city to feel connected?
Join the American Leadership Forum, The YMCA Houston, The Kinder Institute for Urban Research, and the Houston Food Bank for a timely and important conversation grounded in new research from the Kinder Institute on social cohesion in Houston. Their latest findings explore how trust, belonging, and relationships shape not only how we experience our communities—but how we thrive within them.
At a time when many cities are experiencing increasing fragmentation, this conversation invites us to pause, reflect, and ask:How connected are we, really—and what will it take to strengthen that connection across Houston?
Together, we’ll explore:

What the latest data reveals about belonging, trust, and social ties in our region
Where Houston is strong—and where there are gaps
How social cohesion impacts well-being, opportunity, and community resilience
What role leaders across sectors can play in building stronger, more connected communities

This won’t be a lecture. In true ALF fashion, this will be a dialogue—bringing together diverse voices and perspectives to deepen understanding and spark new ways of thinking and leading.
If you care about the future of Houston—and the strength of the relationships that hold it together—we invite you to be part of this conversation hosted by the YMCA Houston and catered by the Houston Food Bank.
Who Should Attend:Anyone committed to strengthening connection, trust, and belonging in Houston.
Why This Matters:The data is clear: the quality of our relationships shapes the future of our city. This conversation is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and consider how we each contribute to the social fabric of Houston.

To read the study, follow this link: https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/tight-knit-neighbors-better-lives-how-strong-community-ties-can-help-houstonians-feel

Annual Check on Your Buddy Day
2026-06-17 08:30 - 11:00 | Amegy Building, ALF Leadership Hub, 1801 Main Street Suite 910, Houston, TX 77002, Houston, TX, 77002, US
This day is all about taking a moment to reconnect with your ALF buddy in whatever way works best for you.

Come by the ALF office at 1801 Main street to grab a coffee and a pastry with your buddy! Drop in with your buddy any time from 8:30-11:00am.

Enter the parking garage on Fannin, taking a ticket from the kiosk. Bring your ticket in with you and we can validate your parking. Exit the parking garage and cross the courtyard to get to the front desk. Check in and tag Sarah WIndham as your contact and we will come down and get you!
