The Mountain Valley chapter of the American Leadership Forum recognized three individuals — Veronica Blake, Roy Brewer, and Larry Lee — as exemplary leaders at its annual awards dinner Oct. 24 at the Hyatt Place in downtown Sacramento.
Founded in 1980, the American Leadership Forum is a national nonprofit dedicated to joining and strengthening established leaders from diverse backgrounds to better serve their communities. The Mountain Valley Chapter, established in 1997, serves the greater Sacramento region, connecting leaders from business, government, nonprofit, education, and tribal sectors to promote collaboration, trust, and regional problem-solving.
Each year, ALF brings together a new “class” of fellows made up of accomplished leaders from across the region, who participate in a yearlong fellowship. These leaders engage in dialogue, reflection, and service projects, building bonds that extend far beyond their fellowship year. The organization now has nearly 730 alumni across 32 classes who continue to work collaboratively to improve the region.
“ALF provides a space where we can support one another. It only works if we show up,” said Bonnie Ferreira, CEO of the American Leadership Forum Mountain Valley Chapter and a member of ALF Class XII. “Your wisdom, your energy, your presence, these are all gifts that make ALF alive and impactful. Thank you for your leadership and all you do. Thank you for walking this path with us.”
Board Chair Faith Whitmore (ALF Class II and CEO, Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center, Ret.) reaffirmed ALF’s commitment to inclusion and community connection.
“When the directive came down from Washington for many entities to do away with diversity, equity, and inclusion. I want you to know that this board doubled down,” Whitmore said. “Our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion is more vital now than ever. We believe that meaningful dialogue, trust, and mutual understanding flourish when leaders from all backgrounds and lived experiences come together. That is who we are as ALF.”
Charles Dukes, ALF Class XXII and incoming 2026 board chair, reflected on the organization’s regional impact and legacy. “Seeing all of you together tonight fills me with a deep sense of gratitude,” Dukes said. “Next year will be extremely meaningful. ALF will be celebrating 30 years of creating change in our region. That is three decades of connecting people, ideas, and purposes to make this community stronger.”
Among this year’s honorees, Veronica Blake, ALF Class XIII and CEO of the Placer Community Foundation, spoke of her connection to the ALF community.
“I want to thank the American Leadership Forum for acknowledging my work with this prestigious award. I started my journey with ALF in 2009. As I emerged into this vast network of regional leaders, I felt welcome, personally and professionally. My classmates became my friends, and I am grateful to serve alongside so many wonderful people.”
Her colleague, Ann Lucas, principal of Nonprofit Strategies, praised her leadership. “I think Veronica is a unique leader because she has the ability to bring together people that might not ordinarily work together.”
Roy Brewer, ALF Class IX and partner at Brewer Lofgren LLP, shared his gratitude for the recognition.
“I am very grateful for the person or persons who nominated me. I am very grateful to the selection committee for choosing me. I am very pleased to be sharing this celebration with Veronica and Larry, both of whom are outstanding leaders and whose work in the community is very much appreciated.”
His business partner, Martha Lofgren, reflected on their long friendship and partnership. “I’ve known Roy for 20 years, and my first impressions were thoughtful, considerate, and smart. Then we hiked together during the wilderness experience, and that evolved into the business partnership that we have now. During the hike, one of the things I noticed about Roy is that he sincerely cares about other people.”
Nanette Farag, founder and CEO of Peregrine Strategies, added, “There are so many things that Roy has contributed to the region that really make it a better place. I think one of the more impactful things that he has done is that he has given back in his volunteerism.”
For Larry Lee, ALF Class XIII and president and publisher of The OBSERVER Media Group, the honor carried deep personal significance. His late father, Dr. William H. Lee, received the same award in 2004.
“(My parents) led The OBSERVER for nearly 60 years. They taught me that leadership isn’t about power, it’s about purpose.”
Lee challenged the room of influential leaders to use their resources and networks to stand up against the environment that is trying to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
“We need you — we need all of you — to stand up when it’s easier to stay silent,” he said. “True leadership isn’t just about achievement — it’s about accountability. It’s about using your influence to open doors for others, to build bridges where barriers or walls once stood, and to stay rooted in community no matter how high you rise. That’s the kind of leadership we need more of — not just in Black spaces, but in every space. Leadership that listens. Leadership that lifts. Leadership that lasts.”
Dr. Margaret Fortune, president and CEO of Fortune School, described Lee as a vital voice in the community. “He is the Black Press, and so in many ways he is the Black community. His greatest accomplishment is his relevance in the region, as reflected in the press. Nationally, he has been held up as a standard in the national Black Press.”
Bishop Dr. Parnell M. Lovelace Jr. added, “What makes him so vital to the region is that he is able to speak to the heart of where we need to go.”
Over the past three decades, the American Leadership Forum Mountain Valley Chapter has cultivated a network of changemakers who represent every corner of the Sacramento region. Through trust-building, dialogue, and collaboration, ALF continues to shape civic life, fostering leaders who work across boundaries to build a stronger, more inclusive community.
