Good work
Designing New Jersey’s First Collaborative Training Program for History Docents
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Civic narratives that are told and retold over generations give shape to a community’s sense of values, direction, and public kinship. As we approach the 250th anniversary of a rebellion whose legacy affirms this country’s commitment to liberty, equality, natural and civil rights, historical house museums have a unique opportunity to engage a new, more diverse exploration of the past. These local sites, with their emphasis on the people, places, and things, give visitors the opportunity to engage with history beyond written texts. Well-trained docents who can lead captivating tours, who can use inquiry and storytelling to inspire thoughtful introspection, and who can engage in inclusive living history practices, are essential to a community’s public history.For the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, Ahali created a framework to recruit, train, and place volunteer docents at historic sites in time for America’s Semiquincentennial.
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Working with an advisory committee, Ahali developed a strategic framework outlining program outcomes, recruitment targets, training methods, and evaluation practices. Ahali also developed implementation tools for a program coordinator and site-based trainers, and a portfolio of multimedia resources to recruit, train, engage, and recognize program participants. The six-month training program draws upon the collective strengths and resources of partner sites to provide a cohort of volunteers with the foundational knowledge and skills they need before being placed at a historic site for a period of learning and service.
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From its intentional recruitment strategies to its inclusive and accessible training materials, Ahali’s solution helps Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission to cultivate a community of passionate docents who will carry the torch of local history forward, ensuring that the stories of their past have the potential to impact and inform future generations. The Somerset County Docent Training Program is one of only a handful of programs in the country and the first of its kind in New Jersey.
Supporting the Work-Life Journey of Remote Psychotherapists
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As the landscape of mental health care continues to evolve, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote psychotherapy has become a crucial component of the American healthcare system. But how do we ensure that therapists who work in remote environments feel belonging and connection in their work? For The Therapy Collective, a remote private practice serving New Yorkers’ mental health needs, Ahali designed and developed customized tools that anticipate and address the unique needs in a remote therapist’s work-life journey, from their recruitment, through their training and development, and opportunities for leadership and advancement.
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Ahali worked with organizational leaders to develop a strategic learning plan and a blueprint for belonging and inclusion outlining the expected competencies and opportunities for clinical and professional development for provisionally licensed psychotherapists. Ahali designed over a dozen tools to strengthen an infrastructure that is adaptable and sustainable.
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By developing tools customized to the developmental, occupational, and holistic needs of provisional remote psychotherapists, The Therapy Collective is able to operationalize their commitment to a culture of learning and support within their practice. Leaders are better able to attract, retain, and grow therapists that can provide optimal client care.
