- Events and Workshops
Artificial Intelligence 101: The Refresher Course
Date
Aug 11, 2026
Time
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location
Virtual
Topic
Presenter(s)
Alice-Anne Harwood and Aaron Sherrill, founders of Carnelian
Artificial Intelligence(AI ) tools are showing up everywhere — in writing platforms, design programs, search tools, spreadsheets, CRMs, meeting software and the everyday products many organizations already use. But more access does not automatically mean more usefulness. To get real value from AI, people need to understand how these tools work, what they are good at, where they can fall short, and how to guide them with clarity and judgment.
This AI 101 Refresher Course is designed as a practical entry point into The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s AI Playground Series for nonprofits. It is for people who are brand new to AI, people who have experimented a little, and people who define themselves as Junior Power Users, but want to return to the basics with fresh eyes. The session will help participants build the shared foundation needed to make the rest of the 2026-27 series more useful, relevant and actionable.
Participants should attend this session if they want to feel less overwhelmed, get better results from the AI tools they already have, and participate more confidently in future AI use or trainings. You will leave with practical language, habits and starting points you can use right away — for writing, planning, organizing information, summarizing, brainstorming and moving everyday work forward with more confidence and care.
No technical background is required. This session is designed for curiosity, experimentation, and real-world usefulness. You may attend both segments, or choose one based on your experience and needs.
The session will be divided into two parts (as outlined below), and you are welcome to attend the sections that interest you.
Questions? Contact Allison Abramson.
Part 1: 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The first part of the session is a true 101 session and will introduce what AI is, how large language models work, and why context matters. Participants will learn how to move beyond simply asking a question and begin shaping better exchanges: giving the tool useful background, naming the audience and purpose, setting the desired tone and format, and refining the output until it becomes more useful.
Break: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Part 2: 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
After a break, the second part will serve as a refresher and hands-on playground. We will revisit the essential habits that make AI work better: setting context, asking stronger questions, giving clearer direction, checking for accuracy, adjusting tone and knowing how human judgment leads. We will also look at AI features now built into common workplace tools and explore why the same basic skills still matter, even when the tool looks different.
About the Presenters
Alice-Anne Harwood is a nonprofit visionary with two decades of nonprofit expertise and a unique approach to problem-solving. Aaron Sherrill is a tech innovator, collaborator and a fearless guide for your AI journey. Together, they have founded Carnelian, a nonprofit support venture that empowers leaders and helps organizations increase their capacities to amplify impact.
Don't miss this opportunity to ask your AI-related questions to two incredible experts in the field!
Save the Dates! Upcoming AI Playground Sessions:
- October 6, 2026, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Policies & Procedures
- November 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Board Report Builder
- December 1, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Evaluation Assistant