Both of her grandmothers, Mary Billings French and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, were important to the early development of YWCA USA.
[4] She also served on the boards of the Children's Defense Fund,[4] the Conflict Management Group, and the Institute for Faith and Politics, and on the steering committee of the Common Ground Network for Life and Choice.
[6][7][8] This non-profit organization fosters constructive conversations about divisive public issues that involve clashing values, world views, and identities.
[3] Public Conversations' methods are designed to dissolve stereotypes, create trust, generate fresh ideas, and promote collaboration among those who have been chronically embattled.
[3] She also worked closely with No Labels[3] and the National Institute for Civil Discourse, founded after the shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.