2026 Core Forum

Middle‑management leaders serve as the crucial link between organizational strategy and day‑to‑day operations, translating broad vision into practical action while advocating for both staff and community needs. This session explores what happens when that translation is successful: When active listening, shared leadership, and the intentional elevation of staff and stakeholder expertise fuel forward movement. We will share key strategies to narrow approaches and strengthen outcomes from our own successful and less successful attempts. Presenters from two distinct roles will share how they navigate the complex work of acting as interpreters, coaches, and connectors between organizational strategy, decision‑makers, and frontline realities. The session examines two essential concepts: how leaders can support staff in embracing change even without direct decision-making authority, and how they can identify and elevate staff expertise to build collective ownership confidence, and psychological safety in the workplace. Participants will walk away feeling confident in providing responsive communication and an articulated “why”: to create alignment across departments, differing team structures, and diverse operational models, connecting systemwide goals and vision into everyday work that centers community impact and user experience, and recognizing shared power as a form of self-care.