Allison Ralph, PhD
@akralph.bsky.social
Principal @ Cohesion Strategy |Sings joyfully-Bakes for friends. Religious Pluralism | Depolarization
This season reminds us that connection doesn’t require sameness — only care.
Wishing you rest, warmth, and moments of real belonging, however you mark this time of year.
Happy holidays from Cohesion Strategy. ✨
Wishing you rest, warmth, and moments of real belonging, however you mark this time of year.
Happy holidays from Cohesion Strategy. ✨
December 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This season reminds us that connection doesn’t require sameness — only care.
Wishing you rest, warmth, and moments of real belonging, however you mark this time of year.
Happy holidays from Cohesion Strategy. ✨
Wishing you rest, warmth, and moments of real belonging, however you mark this time of year.
Happy holidays from Cohesion Strategy. ✨
Today, we join our fellow @listenfirstproject.bsky.social coalition members in celebrating #NationalUnityDay.
Unity begins with listening — with curiosity, respect, and connection. 💜
🔗 cohesionstrategy.com
#CohesionInAction #LeadWithClarity #MurmurationMindset #NationalUnityDay
Unity begins with listening — with curiosity, respect, and connection. 💜
🔗 cohesionstrategy.com
#CohesionInAction #LeadWithClarity #MurmurationMindset #NationalUnityDay
December 13, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Today, we join our fellow @listenfirstproject.bsky.social coalition members in celebrating #NationalUnityDay.
Unity begins with listening — with curiosity, respect, and connection. 💜
🔗 cohesionstrategy.com
#CohesionInAction #LeadWithClarity #MurmurationMindset #NationalUnityDay
Unity begins with listening — with curiosity, respect, and connection. 💜
🔗 cohesionstrategy.com
#CohesionInAction #LeadWithClarity #MurmurationMindset #NationalUnityDay
Shoutout to Stories Change Power!
Registration is open for their 2026 advocacy + storytelling courses — from Storytelling 101 to Ethical Storytelling to their Advocacy Learning Communities (online + in DC).
www.storieschangepower.org/programming/...
AND
www.storieschangepower.org/programming/...
Registration is open for their 2026 advocacy + storytelling courses — from Storytelling 101 to Ethical Storytelling to their Advocacy Learning Communities (online + in DC).
www.storieschangepower.org/programming/...
AND
www.storieschangepower.org/programming/...
Learning Communities | Stories Change Power
www.storieschangepower.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Shoutout to Stories Change Power!
Registration is open for their 2026 advocacy + storytelling courses — from Storytelling 101 to Ethical Storytelling to their Advocacy Learning Communities (online + in DC).
www.storieschangepower.org/programming/...
AND
www.storieschangepower.org/programming/...
Registration is open for their 2026 advocacy + storytelling courses — from Storytelling 101 to Ethical Storytelling to their Advocacy Learning Communities (online + in DC).
www.storieschangepower.org/programming/...
AND
www.storieschangepower.org/programming/...
Fun fact: Half of Allison’s Spotify Wrapped this year was bird-themed.
(Truly on brand.)
So we’re building a Murmuration Playlist for people who work across difference, conflict, and complexity.
What song fuels YOUR work?
Add it below. ⬇️
(Truly on brand.)
So we’re building a Murmuration Playlist for people who work across difference, conflict, and complexity.
What song fuels YOUR work?
Add it below. ⬇️
December 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Fun fact: Half of Allison’s Spotify Wrapped this year was bird-themed.
(Truly on brand.)
So we’re building a Murmuration Playlist for people who work across difference, conflict, and complexity.
What song fuels YOUR work?
Add it below. ⬇️
(Truly on brand.)
So we’re building a Murmuration Playlist for people who work across difference, conflict, and complexity.
What song fuels YOUR work?
Add it below. ⬇️
Our Senior Associate, Nevia Selmon, presented at the Annual Academy of Religion conference. Her reflections point to what pluralism requires today: shared inquiry, proximity, care networks, and civic attentiveness.
Read her blog: open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
#AAR2025 #philanthropy #nonprofit
Read her blog: open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
#AAR2025 #philanthropy #nonprofit
Reflections from the Annual Academy of Religion Conference: Insights for Building Ethical, Pluralistic Communities
By: Nevia Selmon
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Our Senior Associate, Nevia Selmon, presented at the Annual Academy of Religion conference. Her reflections point to what pluralism requires today: shared inquiry, proximity, care networks, and civic attentiveness.
Read her blog: open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
#AAR2025 #philanthropy #nonprofit
Read her blog: open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
#AAR2025 #philanthropy #nonprofit
Tolerating Disagreement — a quick primer on holding difference with integrity in nonprofit work.
If that resonates, join us Dec 4 (10–1 ET) for Leading When Values Collide, a virtual working session on navigating values tensions in leadership. cohesionstrategy.com
#nonprofitleadership #philanthropy
If that resonates, join us Dec 4 (10–1 ET) for Leading When Values Collide, a virtual working session on navigating values tensions in leadership. cohesionstrategy.com
#nonprofitleadership #philanthropy
December 1, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Tolerating Disagreement — a quick primer on holding difference with integrity in nonprofit work.
If that resonates, join us Dec 4 (10–1 ET) for Leading When Values Collide, a virtual working session on navigating values tensions in leadership. cohesionstrategy.com
#nonprofitleadership #philanthropy
If that resonates, join us Dec 4 (10–1 ET) for Leading When Values Collide, a virtual working session on navigating values tensions in leadership. cohesionstrategy.com
#nonprofitleadership #philanthropy
Had a great conversation with my colleague Nevia about why I created our Values Collide Workshop.
The tension isn’t something to avoid. It’s a doorway to deeper alignment.
Let's #ExpandWhatsPossible.
Watch here: www.linkedin.com/posts/cohesi...
The tension isn’t something to avoid. It’s a doorway to deeper alignment.
Let's #ExpandWhatsPossible.
Watch here: www.linkedin.com/posts/cohesi...
New Conversation on Navigating Values Collisions
Hi everyone — Nevia Selmon here, Senior Associate at Cohesion Strategy. I recently sat down with our Principal, Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D., for an… | Coh...
New Conversation on Navigating Values Collisions
Hi everyone — Nevia Selmon here, Senior Associate at Cohesion Strategy. I recently sat down with our Principal, Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D., for an import...
www.linkedin.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Had a great conversation with my colleague Nevia about why I created our Values Collide Workshop.
The tension isn’t something to avoid. It’s a doorway to deeper alignment.
Let's #ExpandWhatsPossible.
Watch here: www.linkedin.com/posts/cohesi...
The tension isn’t something to avoid. It’s a doorway to deeper alignment.
Let's #ExpandWhatsPossible.
Watch here: www.linkedin.com/posts/cohesi...
Big update: We’ve refreshed our site at Cohesion Strategy with a new case study on navigating value tensions, free research-based primers for nonprofit leaders, and a clearer way to access my publications on pluralism and integrity.
Explore the new resources → www.cohesionstrategy.com/about-3
Explore the new resources → www.cohesionstrategy.com/about-3
November 19, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Big update: We’ve refreshed our site at Cohesion Strategy with a new case study on navigating value tensions, free research-based primers for nonprofit leaders, and a clearer way to access my publications on pluralism and integrity.
Explore the new resources → www.cohesionstrategy.com/about-3
Explore the new resources → www.cohesionstrategy.com/about-3
We’re proud to share that Nevía Selmon will present her paper “Rower as Witness: Levinas, Ricoeur, and the Human Condition in Motion” at AAR 2025.
📍 Marriott Copley Place, Provincetown
📅 Nov 22, 2025
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
Her work bridges embodiment, ethics, and relational leadership!
📍 Marriott Copley Place, Provincetown
📅 Nov 22, 2025
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
Her work bridges embodiment, ethics, and relational leadership!
November 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
We’re proud to share that Nevía Selmon will present her paper “Rower as Witness: Levinas, Ricoeur, and the Human Condition in Motion” at AAR 2025.
📍 Marriott Copley Place, Provincetown
📅 Nov 22, 2025
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
Her work bridges embodiment, ethics, and relational leadership!
📍 Marriott Copley Place, Provincetown
📅 Nov 22, 2025
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
Her work bridges embodiment, ethics, and relational leadership!
Hope is a practice.
Our Q3 newsletter shares how we’re building frameworks that can hold difference — not dissolve it.
Read it here: cohesionstrategy.com/so/06PfEvenl...
Subscribe → cohesionstrategy.substack.com
Our Q3 newsletter shares how we’re building frameworks that can hold difference — not dissolve it.
Read it here: cohesionstrategy.com/so/06PfEvenl...
Subscribe → cohesionstrategy.substack.com
Cohesion Strategy | Substack
A Substack about navigating difference, building belonging, and strengthening democracy from the ground up. Click to read Cohesion Strategy, a Substack publication. Launched 6 months ago.
cohesionstrategy.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Hope is a practice.
Our Q3 newsletter shares how we’re building frameworks that can hold difference — not dissolve it.
Read it here: cohesionstrategy.com/so/06PfEvenl...
Subscribe → cohesionstrategy.substack.com
Our Q3 newsletter shares how we’re building frameworks that can hold difference — not dissolve it.
Read it here: cohesionstrategy.com/so/06PfEvenl...
Subscribe → cohesionstrategy.substack.com
No more purity tests.
We need the skills to bridge and act.
That’s pluralism with teeth — and it’s how we get sh*t done.
Join @CohesionStrategy’s upcoming Leading When Values Collide sessions for real tools to lead across difference.
Read blog here: open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
#Pluralism
We need the skills to bridge and act.
That’s pluralism with teeth — and it’s how we get sh*t done.
Join @CohesionStrategy’s upcoming Leading When Values Collide sessions for real tools to lead across difference.
Read blog here: open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
#Pluralism
Get Sh*t Done (For Real): Pluralism with Teeth
By: Allison Ralph
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
No more purity tests.
We need the skills to bridge and act.
That’s pluralism with teeth — and it’s how we get sh*t done.
Join @CohesionStrategy’s upcoming Leading When Values Collide sessions for real tools to lead across difference.
Read blog here: open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
#Pluralism
We need the skills to bridge and act.
That’s pluralism with teeth — and it’s how we get sh*t done.
Join @CohesionStrategy’s upcoming Leading When Values Collide sessions for real tools to lead across difference.
Read blog here: open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
#Pluralism
Reposted by Allison Ralph, PhD
Intern with Interfaith Alliance! We have three positions available for Spring 2026 (January 26 - May 15):
⚪ Organizing
⚪ Policy
⚪ Digital Fundraising & Mobilization
Applications are due by November 14.
⚪ Organizing
⚪ Policy
⚪ Digital Fundraising & Mobilization
Applications are due by November 14.
Careers
www.interfaithalliance.org
November 4, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Intern with Interfaith Alliance! We have three positions available for Spring 2026 (January 26 - May 15):
⚪ Organizing
⚪ Policy
⚪ Digital Fundraising & Mobilization
Applications are due by November 14.
⚪ Organizing
⚪ Policy
⚪ Digital Fundraising & Mobilization
Applications are due by November 14.
🎃 Feeling haunted by organizational tensions? 👻
That’s not a curse, it’s a call to lead.
🕸️ Join me Dec 4 for Leading When Values Collide — a virtual workshop for nonprofit & philanthropic leaders ready to face their values ghosts head-on.
👉 Register here
#Leadership #Halloween
That’s not a curse, it’s a call to lead.
🕸️ Join me Dec 4 for Leading When Values Collide — a virtual workshop for nonprofit & philanthropic leaders ready to face their values ghosts head-on.
👉 Register here
#Leadership #Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 4:33 PM
🎃 Feeling haunted by organizational tensions? 👻
That’s not a curse, it’s a call to lead.
🕸️ Join me Dec 4 for Leading When Values Collide — a virtual workshop for nonprofit & philanthropic leaders ready to face their values ghosts head-on.
👉 Register here
#Leadership #Halloween
That’s not a curse, it’s a call to lead.
🕸️ Join me Dec 4 for Leading When Values Collide — a virtual workshop for nonprofit & philanthropic leaders ready to face their values ghosts head-on.
👉 Register here
#Leadership #Halloween
Day 1 at #IS2025 was energizing 💡
From the State of the Charitable Sector to sessions on trust, belonging & purpose — powerful reminders of how data, story, faith & leadership all build civic strength.
#IndependentSector #Philanthropy #Trust #Belonging
From the State of the Charitable Sector to sessions on trust, belonging & purpose — powerful reminders of how data, story, faith & leadership all build civic strength.
#IndependentSector #Philanthropy #Trust #Belonging
October 28, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Day 1 at #IS2025 was energizing 💡
From the State of the Charitable Sector to sessions on trust, belonging & purpose — powerful reminders of how data, story, faith & leadership all build civic strength.
#IndependentSector #Philanthropy #Trust #Belonging
From the State of the Charitable Sector to sessions on trust, belonging & purpose — powerful reminders of how data, story, faith & leadership all build civic strength.
#IndependentSector #Philanthropy #Trust #Belonging
Heading to Atlanta for the Independent Sector Summit Tues–Wed! Excited to learn, connect & be inspired by so many working to strengthen our communities. If you’ll be there too, let’s connect to talk about deepening engagement & amplifying trusted voices for greater impact.
October 27, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Heading to Atlanta for the Independent Sector Summit Tues–Wed! Excited to learn, connect & be inspired by so many working to strengthen our communities. If you’ll be there too, let’s connect to talk about deepening engagement & amplifying trusted voices for greater impact.
Ran into Vinay Orekondy this morning at New America’s Everyday Democracy event—such a treat. Vinay wears many hats in the civic-renewal world, including co-chairing the Braver Network at Braver Angels and co-founding Better Together America. Keep building trust & belonging!
#EverydayDemocracy
#EverydayDemocracy
October 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Ran into Vinay Orekondy this morning at New America’s Everyday Democracy event—such a treat. Vinay wears many hats in the civic-renewal world, including co-chairing the Braver Network at Braver Angels and co-founding Better Together America. Keep building trust & belonging!
#EverydayDemocracy
#EverydayDemocracy
In a time of tension & change, Allison K. Ralph helps leaders slow down, see what’s really happening, and move forward with courage & clarity. Trust, truth & transformation — all in one room. #philanthropy #retreat
Check out our website to learn more, stay in the loop, or register: lnkd.in/eFe8nxk9
Check out our website to learn more, stay in the loop, or register: lnkd.in/eFe8nxk9
October 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
In a time of tension & change, Allison K. Ralph helps leaders slow down, see what’s really happening, and move forward with courage & clarity. Trust, truth & transformation — all in one room. #philanthropy #retreat
Check out our website to learn more, stay in the loop, or register: lnkd.in/eFe8nxk9
Check out our website to learn more, stay in the loop, or register: lnkd.in/eFe8nxk9
Atonement. Dialogue. Shelter.
From a Humanist Yom Kippur to a muslim peacebuilding conference to a Sukkot dinner — @Nevia finds gezellig in the spaces where people stay in relationship across difference.
Read on → open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
From a Humanist Yom Kippur to a muslim peacebuilding conference to a Sukkot dinner — @Nevia finds gezellig in the spaces where people stay in relationship across difference.
Read on → open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
Finding Gezellig in a Fractured World
By: Nevia Selmon
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Atonement. Dialogue. Shelter.
From a Humanist Yom Kippur to a muslim peacebuilding conference to a Sukkot dinner — @Nevia finds gezellig in the spaces where people stay in relationship across difference.
Read on → open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
From a Humanist Yom Kippur to a muslim peacebuilding conference to a Sukkot dinner — @Nevia finds gezellig in the spaces where people stay in relationship across difference.
Read on → open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
A successful two days at the Center for Christianity and Public Life conference!
Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D. Has a blast running into old and new faces, like Caleb Campbell of Disarming Leviathan, Zachary Davis of Faith Matters, and Andrew Hanauer of One America Movement.
#FaithAndPublicLife
Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D. Has a blast running into old and new faces, like Caleb Campbell of Disarming Leviathan, Zachary Davis of Faith Matters, and Andrew Hanauer of One America Movement.
#FaithAndPublicLife
October 21, 2025 at 10:35 PM
A successful two days at the Center for Christianity and Public Life conference!
Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D. Has a blast running into old and new faces, like Caleb Campbell of Disarming Leviathan, Zachary Davis of Faith Matters, and Andrew Hanauer of One America Movement.
#FaithAndPublicLife
Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D. Has a blast running into old and new faces, like Caleb Campbell of Disarming Leviathan, Zachary Davis of Faith Matters, and Andrew Hanauer of One America Movement.
#FaithAndPublicLife
What do you do when every option undermines one of your values?
Organizations often freeze when trust, inclusion, equity, or urgency collide — but these moments define who we are.
Our retreat explores how to lead when your own values are in conflict: cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
Organizations often freeze when trust, inclusion, equity, or urgency collide — but these moments define who we are.
Our retreat explores how to lead when your own values are in conflict: cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
October 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
What do you do when every option undermines one of your values?
Organizations often freeze when trust, inclusion, equity, or urgency collide — but these moments define who we are.
Our retreat explores how to lead when your own values are in conflict: cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
Organizations often freeze when trust, inclusion, equity, or urgency collide — but these moments define who we are.
Our retreat explores how to lead when your own values are in conflict: cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
Funders are being pushed to take public stands on divisive issues — with real stakes for governance, reputation & impact.
That’s why we created Leading When Values Collide: A Retreat for Philanthropic Leadership.
📅 Jan 28–30, 2026 | Mid-Atlantic
🔗 cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
That’s why we created Leading When Values Collide: A Retreat for Philanthropic Leadership.
📅 Jan 28–30, 2026 | Mid-Atlantic
🔗 cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
October 15, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Funders are being pushed to take public stands on divisive issues — with real stakes for governance, reputation & impact.
That’s why we created Leading When Values Collide: A Retreat for Philanthropic Leadership.
📅 Jan 28–30, 2026 | Mid-Atlantic
🔗 cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
That’s why we created Leading When Values Collide: A Retreat for Philanthropic Leadership.
📅 Jan 28–30, 2026 | Mid-Atlantic
🔗 cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
I’ve seen how values conflicts derail even the best efforts—climate funding lost, racial equity work stalled.
That’s why we’re launching Leading When Values Collide: A Retreat for Philanthropic Leadership (Jan 28–30, 2026).
🔗 www.cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
#ValuesBasedLeadership
That’s why we’re launching Leading When Values Collide: A Retreat for Philanthropic Leadership (Jan 28–30, 2026).
🔗 www.cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
#ValuesBasedLeadership
October 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I’ve seen how values conflicts derail even the best efforts—climate funding lost, racial equity work stalled.
That’s why we’re launching Leading When Values Collide: A Retreat for Philanthropic Leadership (Jan 28–30, 2026).
🔗 www.cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
#ValuesBasedLeadership
That’s why we’re launching Leading When Values Collide: A Retreat for Philanthropic Leadership (Jan 28–30, 2026).
🔗 www.cohesionstrategy.com/s-projects-s...
#ValuesBasedLeadership
Some critics say bridging is too slow, too soft, too idealistic. But here’s the truth: you can’t shift public opinion or civic participation without building across ideological, racial, and religious divides. There’s no shortcut.
Blog w/ reflections here 👉 open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
Blog w/ reflections here 👉 open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
Reflections on the Bridging Summit 2025
By: Allison Ralph
open.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Some critics say bridging is too slow, too soft, too idealistic. But here’s the truth: you can’t shift public opinion or civic participation without building across ideological, racial, and religious divides. There’s no shortcut.
Blog w/ reflections here 👉 open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
Blog w/ reflections here 👉 open.substack.com/pub/cohesion...
It has been lovely catching up with Symi Rom-Rymer and Sousan Abadian of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington!
October 7, 2025 at 10:35 PM
It has been lovely catching up with Symi Rom-Rymer and Sousan Abadian of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington!
It has been a joy running into Nichole Argo of TogetherUp Institute, Roshan Bliss of National Coalition of Dialogue & Deliberation, and Ade Salami of Democracy 2076!
#BridgingMovement #ListenFirst #SocialCohesion #BridgeBuilders
#BridgingMovement #ListenFirst #SocialCohesion #BridgeBuilders
September 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
It has been a joy running into Nichole Argo of TogetherUp Institute, Roshan Bliss of National Coalition of Dialogue & Deliberation, and Ade Salami of Democracy 2076!
#BridgingMovement #ListenFirst #SocialCohesion #BridgeBuilders
#BridgingMovement #ListenFirst #SocialCohesion #BridgeBuilders