By Deblina Pakhira
From January 20 to 22, 2026, Cohort 5 of the Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program officially launched their journey with an immersive orientation retreat. A new group of dedicated leaders gathered at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort in Sanger, CA, to begin a transformative year.
Designed specifically for mid-career leaders, the Morgan Fellows program aims to deepen policy understanding and sharpen high-level decision-making and management skills. This retreat marked the beginning of a hybrid curriculum that will span through December 2026, combining virtual learning with immersive in-person experiences.
Building a Foundation of Stewardship
The retreat was structured around core learning objectives that will define the Fellows’ work throughout the year:
Stewardship and Personal Leadership: Led by Oscar Chavez, President & CEO, Community Foundation Sonoma County, and James Alva, Morgan Fellows Facilitator, this session explored the definition of stewardship through collective impact and cross-sector work. Oscar shared his personal and professional journey as a Steward Leader followed by an interactive fireside chat where fellows explored the “ethos” of stewardship.
The Triple-Bottom-Line: Triple-Bottom-Line, coined by John Elkington in 1994, is a sustainability framework that measures a company’s success based on three key pillars: Equity, Environment, and Economy. Alondra Gaytan, Director of Strategic Relations, Economic Development Collaborative, and James Alva facilitated a deep dive into the triple-bottom-line framework, using a case study on California Housing & Accessory Dwelling Units to help fellows apply these principles to regional economic development and planning.
Applied Wisdom: Leslie Hansen, Leadership Advocate, Applied Wisdom for Nonprofits, provided an overview of this core leadership and management curriculum, which serves as a cornerstone of the program.
Connection and Collaboration
The retreat focused on building a lifelong network of peers. Fellows engaged in:
Icebreakers & Networking: Activities designed to find “Common Threads” and unique facts among the diverse group, highlighting the patterns emerging across different regional backgrounds.
Introspection: Dedicated time for personal reflection on leadership goals and values.
Community Norms: The cohort established shared values, committing to “lean into the discomfort” of new ideas and ensuring all voices are heard through active listening.
Capstone Projects: The retreat concluded with a discussion on Capstone Projects, setting the stage for fellows to collaborate with their peers to transform regional challenges into tangible, systemic solutions.
Seeing such dedicated leaders in action this week has filled us with immense hope. As these individuals grow into their roles as ethical, values-driven stewards, we are confident that California’s future is in the best possible hands. We can’t wait to see the impact they’ll make.
