FEBRUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER
- Antonio Tsialas Foundation
- Feb 2
- 3 min read
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE RESPONSIBILITY THRIVES
Responsibility is our “R” in the CLEARING model for compassionate leadership. As group leaders we must accept our responsibility for the success and well-being of all group members. Yet it is equally important to achieve the mission of the organization as a whole. To do this we must also learn to inspire responsibility in our teams.
• Leaders must model responsibility so that group members
can follow the leader’s example.
• Set clear goals so that expectations are unambiguous and
achievable. When a team member isn’t meeting goals, a
good leader can open a conversation about obstacles,
necessary support, or move a team member to a more
appropriate role.
• Create a safe environment. Safe environments don’t just
happen. We design them, monitor them, and protect them.
Creating a safe environment builds the infrastructure that allows both innovation and responsibility.
• Establish clear, predictable procedures to keep your team
responsible. Having expectations for responsible behavior
that take into account individual needs as well as group goals
encourages the behaviors that will help the organization and
individual team members thrive.
With full awareness of the group, leaders can inspire a sense of shared responsibility and improve outcomes. Compassionate leaders accept the responsibility to get the job done by assigning meaningful tasks to team members and inspiring them to accomplish goals in alignment with the overall mission of the organization.
Make your group the model for a new era of respectful, inclusive, and enjoyable experiences!
ATLF Ambassadors’ Corner
As an ATLF ambassador, I present leadership modules to the sophomore class at my school every few months and participate in weekly Zoom meetings with fellow peer ambassadors to learn, reflect, and plan future lessons. Through this role, I have gained more than leadership skills I have learned who I want to be as a member of society.
ATLF has taught me the importance of giving back and supporting those around me. I’ve developed a deeper sense of self-awareness and learned how to reflect on my behavior in ways I had never considered before. This experience has helped me grow into a more empathetic, considerate, and thoughtful person, and it has given me a mature mental framework that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
The most meaningful part of this role is being able to spread the message of compassionate leadership throughout my community. Teaching these values creates a chain effect of empathy, understanding, and courage to speak up for others. Compassionate leadership impacts everyone around them. Being able to contribute to a school culture where hundreds of students are more likely to help others is a responsibility I take seriously and with great pride.
Isabella Parisi
ATLF Ambassador
Join us for “Empowered to Prevent Hazing: Understand the Influence of Alcohol and Group Culture”
Join us online at 8pm on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 for a seminar about alcohol, group culture and hazing prevention. Learn how you can step up, speak out and protect ONE another! The event is free, but space is limited.
Or scan the QR code to register and receive the link.
Lives Remembered Futures Protected - Hazing Prevention Research Campaign
Join our family in supporting the Lives Remembered Futures Protected - Hazing Prevention Research Campaign and the vital work of the Hazing Prevention Research Lab at the University of Maine.
Please read the letter, linked below, from families like ours who have endured the consequences of hazing.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the leadership team and the RE community, particularly Mr. Adatto and Mrs. Perez-Gonzalez, for their continuous support. Together as ONE, we lead with compassion!
Compassionate Leaders Embrace Accountability for Sophomores
at Ransom Everglades
ATLF ambassadors Gabrielle, Kaitlyn and Mateo led the Accountability module with the sophomore class at Ransom Everglades this month, showing what accountability and compassionate leadership look in action. They created a welcoming space where students could reflect, listen with intention, and practice accountability with their peers.
We are grateful to the leadership team and the RE community, particularly Mr. Adatto and Mrs. Perez-Gonzalez, for their continued support and feedback.
University of Miami student, Jake Baum, produced this terrific story about ATLF for the University of Miami television.
We love sharing the journey from hazing to compassionate leadership with college audiences!