About ALK Consulting
ALK Consulting began in 2017 when a colleague encouraged founder Ali Kane to host an LGBTQ+ inclusion workshop in preparation for Pride month. In the following months, Ali began offering similar workshops throughout the museum and public garden fields, incorporating best practices in workplace inclusion, authentic visitor engagement, and community-centric fundraising to create affirming spaces for queer people.
ALK Consulting offers LGBTQIA+ inclusion training workshops and strategic advising for companies, nonprofit organizations, and community groups of all sizes.
ALK Consulting is a Certified LGBT Enterprise with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Our Values
We value equity in our practices to make our expertise accessible to all. Our work prioritizes lived experience that is supported by research to prepare participants with comprehensive understanding of the intersectional diversity of our community. Most importantly, we encourage compassionate curiosity to develop effective, lifelong allies.
Meet Ali
Pronouns: she/they
Hometown: Worcester, MA
Queer Hero: Laura Jane Grace
Hey there!
I am a Queer nonprofit leader and lifelong learner working to assert the value of the unique role that cultural nonprofits play in the world of social justice. Through ALK Consulting, I further this mission by offering LGBTQIA+ inclusion workshops to cultural organizations to create more affirming spaces for staff, visitors, and the community at large.
In addition to ALK Consulting, I advocate for health equity as Manager, Grants Administration at Family Health Center of Worcester. Previously, at New England Botanic Garden, I served as Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations and founded the Garden’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee. I was also appointed to the American Public Garden Association’s IDEA Committee, considering how gardens throughout the nation can be welcoming to all.
In 2020, upon discovering there was no public LGBTQ+ resource and support network for Queer professionals in the museum field, I co-founded the LGBTQ+ Museum Staff & Students, which is hosted by the New England Museum Association, building queer community across the globe.
I have served as Treasurer of Love Your Labels and Founding Co-Producer of the Worcester Draglesque Festival. I hold a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, a Diversity & Inclusion Champion Certificate from the Bentley University Center for Women & Business, and am a graduate of the Boston’s Future Leaders program at Harvard Business School.
Aside from educating and community-building, I enjoy playing board games, supporting local drag artists, and sampling local eats with my partner and cats in Worcester, MA.
Featured Projects
Curriculum Development: LGBTQIA+ Inclusion for Youth Leaders
Course Developer: "Foundational Principles of LGBTQ+ Inclusion", American Association of State & Local History
Experience
Conferences & Speaking Engagements
15 Years of Art & Conversations
No Evil Project, December 2025
So, You Want to Start a DEI Committee?
New England Museum Association, Annual Conference, November 2025
Moving Beyond the Rainbow: A How-To Guide to Incorporating Queer Inclusion Throughout Your Museum
New England Museum Association, Annual Conference, November 2024
Expert Round Table: Coffee & Commiseration for DEI Champions
Massachsetts Nonprofit Network, Annual Conference, October 2024
Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work
Bentley University, Alumni Conference, May 2024
Kickstarting Your Inclusive Fundraising & Communications Practice
Association of Fundraising Professionals, AFP ICON, April 2024
Creating Safe & Affirming Schools for Queer Youth
Kyle Cares Foundation, Annual Youth Leadership Conference, April 2024
Can we sustain our intentions while expanding our profession?
CUT|FILL, Annual Conference, January 2023
Making Space: Museums Encouraging Community
New England Museum Association, Annual Conference, November 2021
IDEA Cafe: Transgender Inclusion at Public Gardens
American Public Gardens Association, September 2021
Growing DEI, from the Inside Out
New England Museum Association, Annual Conference, November 2020
Creating a More Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Garden
American Public Gardens Association, Annual Conference, June 2019
Volunteer Leadership & Board Service
Current
New England Museum Association
Founding Co-Chair, LGBTQIA+ Staff & Students Affinity Group, Winter 2020 – Present
Worcester Draglesque Festival
Founding Co-Producer, Finance & Operations, Fall 2024 – Present
Past
Love Your Labels
Treasurer, Summer 2022 – Summer 2024
Inclusive Arts Vermont
Board Member, Spring 2024 – Spring 2025
American Public Gardens Association
Member, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Committee, Summer 2017 – Summer 2020
No Evil Project
Vice President, Spring 2018 – Summer 2022
Awards & Recognition
Service Hero
Project 351, Spring 2025
Annual Conference Garden Scholar
American Public Gardens Association, June 2019
Association Fellow
New England Museum Association, Fall 2017 – Summer 2018
Community Award
English & Media Studies Department, Bentley University, May 2013
David A. Fedo Award
Bentley University, May 2013
Rainbow Award
Bentley University, October 2012
Professional Development & Education
Boston’s Future Leaders
Harvard Business School & Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, 2023
Diversity & Inclusion Champions Certificate
Bentley University, Summer 2020
Masters of Science, Nonprofit Leadership
University of Pennsylvania, Spring 2017
Bachelor of Arts, Media Studies, Gender Studies, and Business
Bentley University, Winter 2012
Blog
Pride is About: Preparation
Event organizers should anticipate needs and challenges, create thorough procedures, and learn from mistakes and successes to improve year over year.
Pride is About: Community Care
Pride celebrations were born out of remembrance and solidarity after Stonewall and sustained throughout the AIDS Crisis to strengthen community bonds.
As an event organizer, you have a responsibility to continue that legacy in your own community.
Pride is About: Inclusion
Everyone deserves to feel celebrated and affirmed as their authentic self.
When planning Pride events, consider the barriers to inclusion that might prevent that from happening. While we cannot anticipate every experience, we can consider how we are developing activities that support a range of experiences and abilities, so everyone has the opportunity to feel queer joy.
