|
From Blind Spots to Breakthroughs: Coaching and Skill Development at Every Level
SESSION INFO
Monday, August 17, 2026
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Session Type: Workshop
Skill development doesn’t happen through knowledge alone, it requires practice, feedback, and reflection. Yet at every level of an organization, from frontline staff to senior leaders, individuals face blind spots that limit growth and performance. This interactive session explores how coaching can be used to build skills, strengthen professional relationships, and improve outcomes across roles. Participants will examine why coaching can feel uncomfortable, what effective coaching looks like in real-world settings, and how simple, powerful questions can shift conversations. We will demonstrate how coaching the person, not the problem, is a powerful transformation tool for individuals at all levels of an organization. Through a live, mock community of practice, participants will also experience a practical approach to sustaining learning and skill development, without adding additional meetings to their schedules.
|
|
|
SESSION PRESENTERS
Johanna Leal
Director of Innovation & Implementation Capacity, The Alliance for Community & Justice Innovation
Johanna Leal has 20 years of experience designing and implementing programs for justice and human services agencies, including prisons, parole, schools, courts, and nonprofits. She has led large-scale initiatives in evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral interventions, trauma-informed care, restorative justice, workforce development, and Motivational Interviewing. Before co-founding ACJI, she served as Associate Director of Reentry Programs for the Colorado Department of Corrections, overseeing programs in prisons and the community. Johanna focuses on cross-sector collaboration to address complex challenges and advance community reinvestment. She is passionate about supporting innovative leaders and strengthening community capacity using implementation science and strengths-based coaching. She holds a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver and is a MINT member and certified Emotional Intelligence coach.
Rachel L Miller
Statewide EBP Coordinator, MN Department of Corrections
Rachel L. Miller is employed by the MN Department of Corrections as the MN Statewide Evidence-Based Practices Coordinator. In her role she organizes the statewide EBP trainers, manages many aspects of the Statewide Training Academy, and helps lead EBP implementation efforts within the MN DOC and across the state. She has over 10 years of experience working with juvenile and adult clients on probation and supervised release. Rachel is a trainer in Motivational Interviewing, Carey Guides, and Foundational Skills for Trainers and is a master trainer in YLS/CMI, MITI Coding and Case Planning. Prior to her current position, Rachel trained, coded, and coached agents and case managers in MI and other EBP skills using the MITI coding tool. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of MN, Duluth and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from St. Cloud State University.
Dr. Alexandra Walker
Director of Community Relations and Strategy, The Alliance for Community & Justice Innovation
Dr. Alexandra Walker is the Director of Community Relations and Strategy at the Alliance for Community and Justice Innovation (ACJI), which she co-founded to help organizations turn evidence into action. With over 25 years of experience in reentry, behavioral health, and corrections, Alex is an expert in implementation science, leadership development, and systems change. She previously served as Vice Chair of the Colorado Parole Board and has led local, state, and federal justice initiatives. At ACJI, she supports organizations through coaching, strategy, and training, helping leaders engage staff, foster psychological safety, and build healthy, high-impact cultures that drive results.
|
|
|
|
|
|