Help Alison Get Certified!
Donation protected
I've spent the last 10 years in service to others. I've had the great privilege of working for nonprofit organizations and public schools, directly serving youth and their communities. These communities were consistently underserved and under-resourced, and the work itself was always for minimal financial gain. I built relationships with brilliant, resilient young people and their supporters (their families, teachers, and other service providers), and I learned an incredible amount about what humans need not only to survive, but to thrive, in challenging circumstances. I loved what I did, even on the hardest days (and there were many).
About three years ago, a former employer introduced me to coaching. Coaching posits that the person closest to a given problem is closest to its solution, and this caught my attention. This notion runs counter to what many direct service providers believe (i.e., that service providers know best, and that those accessing services should just sit down and listen); the idea that my clients intrinsically know what's best resonated deeply with my previous training in asset-based youth development and community action work. I received ongoing coaching training, and had the chance to coach young people one-on-one and in group settings. Soon, I was developing coaching curriculum and trainings for the youth programs I was running, as well as for my colleagues' programs.
The opportunity to coach young people through crisis pushed and stretched me, and the act of coaching itself felt like coming home. Finally, after 10 years of running after school programs, internship programs, and employment programs; after volunteering and mentoring; after fielding countless middle-of-the-night phone calls from friends and being their go-to person for deep listening, curious questions, empathy, and accountability; I discovered that coaching combines my skills and talents into a singular practice that I simply love. Coaching others, while challenging and intense as it may be, doesn't feel like work. In the words of the poet Mayda del Valle, "It's not occupation or a vocation; it’s a calling – and I’m replying."
I want to become a stronger coach, and I have a lot to learn. I've found an outstanding certification program, Coaching for Transformation, offered by Leadership That Works. It's one of a handful of accredited coach training programs in California that's recognized by the International Coach Federation. I've taken LTW's 2-day coaching essentials training, and have been trained and coached by their certified coaches for the past 3 years. Leadership That Works is committed to bringing coaching to communities that might not otherwise have access to it, and their training is culturally competent and justice-oriented, all things that are extremely important to me. Most importantly, the certification process will give me the time and space to learn and practice skills that will be directly applicable to my tiny-but-growing coaching business, under the instruction of master coaches, an opportunity I wouldn't otherwise have.
$7,095 is a lot of money. It will cover: tuition, mentoring, books, assessment, participation in a learning community, and additional resources for the complete 9-month program. It doesn't include 6 hours of coaching from LTW's certified coaches, which I plan on paying out-of-pocket, as their rates are variable. $7,095 is the early bird registration amount; the cost will jump an additional $400 on April 12th. Eeek!
I'm turning 32 on March 29th. I have every "thing" I need - what I would love for my birthday is to know that I could afford to start this course in June. Any amount you donate will be incredibly appreciated! I'm happy to take the change from your couch cushions, or a few dollars from your tax refund (I'm really rooting for you to get a refund, regardless!). If you'd like to give me $32 in honor of each year I've been alive, even better! If I'm unable to raise the full amount by April 11th, I will be saving all money raised and continuing to work to earn the rest, so that I can get certified in the future.
Thank you for even remotely considering this ask. It's a hard one for me to make: the pessimist in me says that it's selfish and frivolous, and I feel really self-conscious about being vulnerable in this way. I don't like asking for help, but if feeling uncomfortable and exposed gets me closer to my goals, then I'll take it. Please don't hesitate to drop me a line if you have any questions, and thank you, again, for supporting me in whatever way works best for you.
About three years ago, a former employer introduced me to coaching. Coaching posits that the person closest to a given problem is closest to its solution, and this caught my attention. This notion runs counter to what many direct service providers believe (i.e., that service providers know best, and that those accessing services should just sit down and listen); the idea that my clients intrinsically know what's best resonated deeply with my previous training in asset-based youth development and community action work. I received ongoing coaching training, and had the chance to coach young people one-on-one and in group settings. Soon, I was developing coaching curriculum and trainings for the youth programs I was running, as well as for my colleagues' programs.
The opportunity to coach young people through crisis pushed and stretched me, and the act of coaching itself felt like coming home. Finally, after 10 years of running after school programs, internship programs, and employment programs; after volunteering and mentoring; after fielding countless middle-of-the-night phone calls from friends and being their go-to person for deep listening, curious questions, empathy, and accountability; I discovered that coaching combines my skills and talents into a singular practice that I simply love. Coaching others, while challenging and intense as it may be, doesn't feel like work. In the words of the poet Mayda del Valle, "It's not occupation or a vocation; it’s a calling – and I’m replying."
I want to become a stronger coach, and I have a lot to learn. I've found an outstanding certification program, Coaching for Transformation, offered by Leadership That Works. It's one of a handful of accredited coach training programs in California that's recognized by the International Coach Federation. I've taken LTW's 2-day coaching essentials training, and have been trained and coached by their certified coaches for the past 3 years. Leadership That Works is committed to bringing coaching to communities that might not otherwise have access to it, and their training is culturally competent and justice-oriented, all things that are extremely important to me. Most importantly, the certification process will give me the time and space to learn and practice skills that will be directly applicable to my tiny-but-growing coaching business, under the instruction of master coaches, an opportunity I wouldn't otherwise have.
$7,095 is a lot of money. It will cover: tuition, mentoring, books, assessment, participation in a learning community, and additional resources for the complete 9-month program. It doesn't include 6 hours of coaching from LTW's certified coaches, which I plan on paying out-of-pocket, as their rates are variable. $7,095 is the early bird registration amount; the cost will jump an additional $400 on April 12th. Eeek!
I'm turning 32 on March 29th. I have every "thing" I need - what I would love for my birthday is to know that I could afford to start this course in June. Any amount you donate will be incredibly appreciated! I'm happy to take the change from your couch cushions, or a few dollars from your tax refund (I'm really rooting for you to get a refund, regardless!). If you'd like to give me $32 in honor of each year I've been alive, even better! If I'm unable to raise the full amount by April 11th, I will be saving all money raised and continuing to work to earn the rest, so that I can get certified in the future.
Thank you for even remotely considering this ask. It's a hard one for me to make: the pessimist in me says that it's selfish and frivolous, and I feel really self-conscious about being vulnerable in this way. I don't like asking for help, but if feeling uncomfortable and exposed gets me closer to my goals, then I'll take it. Please don't hesitate to drop me a line if you have any questions, and thank you, again, for supporting me in whatever way works best for you.
Organizer
Alison Traina
Organizer
Alameda, CA