Alice in Action

Coaching, with deep listening and provocative questions, provides space for the person being coached to reflect on hopes, barriers, and inner wisdom. Alice was trained by Naomi García, who is part of the International Coaching Federation faculty. If you are interested in spiritual direction or coaching, or a combination, schedule a free consultation to explore the possibilities. Spiritual direction and coaching are best when practiced over time. Alice asks that you sign up for meeting monthly for 12 months or bi-monthly for six months.

• Alice coaches leaders in transition as part of the United Methodist Michigan Conference faculty.
• As part of Ministry Incubators, she consults entrepreneurs who are launching new ministries with a justice and community organizing lens

Alice leads spiritual direction sessions using combinations of guided breath prayer, poetry, scripture, questions and deep listening. Alice has long practiced spiritual direction both one-on-one and in groups with United Methodist and Presbyterian (PCUSA) congregations and also works with people from a variety of backgrounds.

• Decades of teaching 90-minute weekly contemplative classes using prayer, meditation, lectio divina, reflective writing and book studies.
• Co-founded ecumenical clergywomen’s writing group for spiritual and professional support, using the proprioceptive writing method.

Community Organizing

Alice cares deeply about her community and doing her part to rally for a better world. She harnesses her collaborative courage and compassion to bring people together to advocate for important issues. She is active in interfaith initiatives in her community, has led the call for policy change for the greater good, and is the co-founder of All Faith Alliance for Refugees.

• She is the consultant to the United Methodist Michigan Conference and Bishop David Bard on an annual justice-oriented Advocacy Day. In 2023, it focused on common-sense gun legislation; in 2024 it focused on increasing access to mental health care. Dubbed the ‘Methodist Miracle,’ it brought 350 United Methodists and Friends from throughout the Michigan Conference to successfully advocate with community partners towards gun safety laws.
• Coordinated “Starting and Sustaining” event to amplify EngageMI project leaders and train leaders across the conference in justice-oriented community-church partnerships.
• She helps build capacity and an action plan with leaders who are seeking to involve their churches in social justice work

Consulting

Alice provides coach-informed consulting in which she engages in deep listening, asks questions and blends the response with her extensive experience. Depending upon the needs, she will create a custom consultation that may sometimes use curriculum and is always grounded in spiritual practices.

• Provides services as a certified facilitator with Healthy Congregations, an ecumenical and interfaith organization that offers resources and training for congregations.
• Provides capacity building, conflict mediation, and neutralizing history using her training from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, an organization active in the sacred ministry of reconciliation.
• Provides consulting and coaching as a certified Intercultural Development Inventory facilitator.