Alan Preston

Ten years ago, Social Justice Fund member Alan Preston was returning from two years in India, and welcoming his first child. He had seen poverty unlike any that he had every known existed, and was determined to have an impact on the root causes of economic inequality. He met with the director of Social Justice Fund (then called ATR), and quickly realized that he had a chance not just to become a donor, but a part of a community that shared his values.

“I became a member on the spot, and signed up for the Basic Grants Committee,” recalls Alan. “I wanted to be part of a community, not just write a check. I had been looking for ways to direct my resources towards systemic change, addressing the root causes of problems. And I saw a chance to have a different experience with philanthropy that was less isolating than I’d had before.”

To Alan, being a member of Social Justice fund is part of his commitment to take responsibility for growing up with privilege. “I grew up inside a protective shell, unaware of the privileges of my race, class and gender. Once I left home, I went through ten more years of denial about my privilege… I worked on Wall Street, pursued an MBA, and lived life on auto-pilot. I didn’t reflect on myself much back then. I was living someone else’s life, not my own.”

By the time he reached his thirties, the need for a change was gnawing at Alan. “When I came back from India and my son was born, I realized I had to act on my values. I left the private sector for nonprofit work, but it was still action without a whole lot of reflection or compassion. I wasn’t grounded in my own sense of purpose and passion.” Luckily, Social Justice Fund kept engaging Alan with new opportunities to connect with local social change work.

Alan joined the Three-Year Grants Committee, and more insights followed. He cultivated a growing belief in the importance of combining activism with personal reflection and in 2001, connected with the Center for Courage and Renewal (CC&R). CC&R, based on the work of Dr. Parker J. Palmer, works with people in serving professions to align who they are on the inside with the work they do in the world. Through the local affiliate, Washington Courage & Renewal, Alan has been offering programs for philanthropists and community leaders in Seattle that develop the inner dimensions of leadership.

In response to the Board’s interest in cross-class leadership development, in early 2006, Alan proposed convening a Courage & Renewal program for Social Justice Fund in 2007. After extensive planning, Alan and co-facilitator Anita Morales are now leading a Courage to Lead® program for members. Together, Alan and Anita are modeling the very process of trust building and shared leadership that the series encourages. “We’re bringing together people from different parts of the economic spectrum, and we put the focus not on ‘me versus you,’ but this third thing that we have in common, building leadership for the progressive movement.”

When Alan is not busy with work and SJF commitments, he cherishes time with his ten year old son, “playing music, baseball, and hiking in the outdoors…. His birth woke me up. It made me realize that I needed to model the qualities I want him to have. Now I balance my commitment to fixing what’s on the outside to tending what’s on my inside.”

Look for more about the cross-class leadership series in a future issue of the SJF newsletter.