Leadership Reading Group Opens for Registration
Cohort 7 will Begin in September 2022
Harry S. Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers”. To support our nonprofit leaders in developing and sustaining a healthy reading habit and provide opportunities to study leadership using literature, Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego created the Leadership Reading Group in 2015. To date, six groups of leaders have participated in the programs. Reaching a milestone at year 7, the Leadership Reading Group is now open for registration. The program is set to begin in September 2022 and will run through June 2023.
Professionally facilitated by Stefanie Schiff of San Diego Book Talk, the group meets together once a month for a total of 10 months. Using fiction, non-fiction and trade books, the facilitator will model how to lead a book discussion using different types of materials. Learners will then select a book from a curated book list and work with a partner to facilitate one of the remaining six sessions.
Participating in the program has proven to:
- Provide an opportunity to commit to and develop a systematic reading habit to sharpen intelligence and increase knowledge.
- Help the reader read more deeply and better understand diverse perspectives.
- Allow the reader to build and deepen relationships through shared learning.
- Develop leaders who are more comfortable and confident in professional discussions and in using literature as a teaching tool.
According to one participant from Cohort 5, “ The Fieldstone Leadership Reading Group is a wonderful opportunity to learn from fellow mission-driven leaders. The Reading Group will challenge you to look at leadership from new perspectives, and inevitably lead to personal and professional growth.” Another participate from 2021 agrees sharing, “The Leadership Reading Group Program was an invaluable experience, not only for the material in the books and great discussions but also for the friendships developed with other nonprofit leaders. I would highly recommend this program!”
Specific Benefits of the Fieldstone Leadership Reading Group
- The program is designed purposely to allow the members to develop a skill that they can use as a leadership tool within their organization for continuous learning.
- The experience will build cross-sectoral relationships as the members will be paired together to work jointly on the facilitation of a reading group session and develop trusted relationships with each other through discussions and shared insight.
- Technical assistance will be available to each participant in preparation for their monthly facilitation.
- Professional feedback will be provided to each pair from the facilitator, as well as from the peer group, to gain insight and further develop technique.
- Access to a professionally curated book list. All literature is selected for its ability to aid and inspire the personal leadership development of the nonprofit leader-readers.
The Ripple Effects of our Leadership Reading Group:
Cohort 1 is now beginning its 7th year of meeting contnuously.
Cohort 2 is now beginning its 6th year of meeting continuoulsy.
One member of Cohort 3 has now written a best selling book.
One member of Cohort 4 will be facilitating a new literature program for Fieldstone beginning in October 2022.
One member of Cohort 5 has created a book group at her organization for staff and board members.
The Leadership Reading Group is available to both executive directors and senior leadership of a nonprofit organization in San Diego County. Each group is limited to 12 members. Applications for the 2022-2023 Group are due July 1, 2022 and are available HERE
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Equity Journey 3.0 Begins
What’s Fair? Exploring Social Justice in America
Continuing our partnership with the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego opened the third and final course in the Equity Journey series on April 25, 2022. The online training aims to help nonprofit professionals begin the conversation about social justice in our communities. What’s Fair? Exploring social justice in America is powered by the Thought Industries customer training platform.
Learners will explore the meaning of social justice and what it looks like in our world, as well as learn how to advance key issues in their own organizations and communities. Darian Rodriguez Heyman, former executive director of Craigslist Foundation and Co-Founder of GenderSmart, is featured in the virtual session sharing his insights about the social justice movement happening in our world today.
Learners will complete the academic portion of the course individually and come together with other learners in the cohort every two weeks for a facilitated discussion throughout the duration of the program. Called “Pit Stops”, these discussions are unique to Fieldstone’s offering of the Equity Journey. Pit Stops curriculum reflects the online course material and has been curated by our founder, Janine Mason, who also facilitates the discussions. Pit Stops were included and designed to reflect Fieldstone’s values of peer learning, relationship building and reciprocity. They are hosted online and last for 90 minutes. Past participants have been enthusiastic about the impact of the group discussions, reporting that they help them feel connected to other leaders and to the material as they navigate this Journey and work to increase their confidence in advancing social justice.
Janine Mason and Susan Tomlinson Schmidt meeting in San Diego, April 2022
“As the people in our communities continue to struggle with what is just and right, our most powerful tool for change is learning more,” said Susan Tomlinson Schmidt, CNP President and CEO of The Alliance. “We have to explore our own values and meanings for ideas like social justice and then consider what we can do to change what we think is wrong. Self awareness is the first step in a social justice journey.”
“Over the course of the past two years, our world has evolved in significant ways. However, the need for people committed to working toward fairness and justice, those we call “stone catchers”, has remained”, said Janine Mason, CNP and Founder of Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego. “We are honored to partner with NLA in bringing this learning opportunity to San Diego’s nonprofit leaders. We believe that learning about and reflecting on equity and how it does and does not show up in our organizations and communities is vital. And we believe it will result in our sector working in new ways – ways which center fairness and justice in our organizational policies and procedures and, most importantly, throughout our personal leadership. Nothing is more important.”
Learners who complete the course and participate in the Pit Stop discussions will earn a certificate offered jointly from both organizations. To date, over 600 nonprofit leaders have participated in Equity Journey courses. Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego and Nonprofit Leadership Alliance have worked together as partners since 2020.
What’s Fair? Social Justice in America
Equity Journey 3.0 Open for Registration
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the leadership development of the nonprofit sector, and due to the feedback we received on the impact of The Equity Journey, we are continuing our partnership with the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance to bring you The Equity Journey 3.0: What’s Fair? Social Justice in America. This is the final course of the three-part series. Over 500 nonprofit leaders have participated in the Equity Journey series offered by Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego since it began the program in September 2020.
Equity Journey 3.0 will look at the meaning of social justice and how it takes shape in our world. This two-module course will help learners explore social justice using a broad lens, including race and ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, birthplace, economic status, history, education and politics. This program builds on Equity Journey 1.0 and 2.0 and further develops one’s understanding of social justice.
Learners will leave the course with the confidence to engage in conversations and activities to advance social justice in organizations and communities. Learners will move through the course at their own pace, participate in two communal zoom discussions and will earn a certificate upon completion.
This two module course, enhanced by bi-weekly group discussion groups, will help learners:
- Improve your understanding of social justice;
- Be more aware of the barriers that hinder social justice;
- Create a personal definition of social justice and learn how to put it into action
- Examine strategies for how to support and nurture social justice and;
- Connect to and learn from other nonprofit leaders committed to social justice.
When you register, learners will be able to choose their discussion group from these options.
- Module 1 Discussion – May 9 at 9 am or 1 pm or May 10 at 9 am
- Module 2 Discussion – May 23 at 9 am or 1 pm or May 24 at 9 am
Equity Journey 3.0 opens online on April 25th, 2022. This will be the only offering of this program this year.
The program is offered as part of Project Stone Catcher which provides opportunities for nonprofit leaders to develop the skills and understanding necessary to lead nonprofit organizations in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion and to advance social justice issues for the broader community.
On the Road Again
Equity Journey 2.0 Begins
Continuing our work with North County Philanthropy Council and Association of Fundraising Professionals San Diego, we are pleased to offer Equity Journey 2.0: Nonprofit Organizational Success. The second in a three-part series, this course focuses on the creating plans and policies to address equity in nonprofit organizations. The course has two parts: a self-guided on-line course broken into two or three learning modules and a series of 90-minute small group discussions corresponding to each module. The discussion sessions are an enhanced program feature unique to the Fieldstone offering and our facilitated by our founder, Janine Mason. Past participants have been enthusiastic about the impact of the group discussions, reporting that they help them feel connected to other leaders and to the material as they navigate this Journey.
Fieldstone facilitated Equity Journey 1.0 for these two groups in Fall 2021. Feedback from this experience has been positive and indicative of increased understanding of the concepts of social justice, increased confidence to talk about social justice issues and movement toward making changes in how we work and lead:
- 100% of respondents report increased ability to incorporate systemic thinking in their work as a nonprofit leader.
- 97% of respondents report increased understanding of concepts and definitions critical to social justice.
- 91% of respondents report increased confidence in holding conversations with peers about race and equity.
- 91% of respondents have changed or plan to change the way they do their work.
- 67% of respondents saw changes or planned changes at their organization.
This offering is generously underwritten by Nordson Corporation Foundation and ImpactCubed. The program is sold out.
The current course of Equity Journey 2.0 began on February 28th and will continue for six weeks. Equity Journey 3.0 will also be offered to this group and is scheduled to begin on April 25th.
Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego has offered The Equity Journey program since September 2020. Since that time, over 500 nonprofit leaders have participated in this certificate program. The online curriculum was written by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and the Pit Stops (group discussions) were developed by FLNSD. The Equity Journey is offered as part of Project Stone Catcher, our commitment to support nonprofit leaders in developing the skills necessary to advance social justice and to create a community of like-hearted leaders so support each other in this work.
International Women’s Day
The Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego is blessed by the wisdom, service and participation of many talented and generous women. During the month of March we are recognizing those currently participating in our 2022 programs and others we see in person with a card and a HerSHEy bar specially designed for International Women’s Day. In all, HerSHEy created bars with 10 different phrases to celebrate women’s leadership. All proceeds from these special bars support Girls on the Run.
Our founder, Janine Mason, was able to present a gift card to San Diego’s Girls on the Run CEO Anna Maria Maybury. Anna Maria is a current member of our Executive Learning Group.
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
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Best Selling Author Creates Questions for Discussion
Daniel H. Pink, author of The Power of Regret, supports Fieldstone Leadership Reading Group with a Gift of Questions
While Fieldstone’s Leadership Reading Group is officially a 10-month program, many of our groups continue to meet in some form or fashion to discuss leadership using literature. Our first group, LRG 1 has been meeting monthly for almost seven years! In February, some members of the group gathered at the Central Library to hear from best selling author Daniel H. Pink as he discussed his recently released book, The Power of Regret. Mr. Pink signed our books and was gracious sharing his time in conversation well after the program had ended. LRG1 member Jeff Rowland asked Mr. Pink if he would provide one question for our group to use when we met to discuss his book at our upcoming meeting. He agreed. But when the time came, Mr. Pink generously provided a slate of personalized questions just for us! The questions, as you can imagine, were insightful and provided the foundation for an inspired conversation from a leadership perspective.
With a goal of creating well-read nonprofit leaders while imparting facilitation skills and building trusted relationships among nonprofit leaders, the Leadership Reading Group offers a unique opportunity to study and develop leadership in a communal setting. Research has shown that reading has always been an essential component of leadership development (HBR, Feb. 2016). However, even with the best of intentions, it is often difficult to get to or finish all of the books competing for our attention. Being in a reading group helps one to stay committed to reading the book and to reading books across a wide array of interests and type. Being in a reading group breaks one out of their personal pattern of reading and provides an opportunity to explore concepts and theories with others.
In addition to the monthly meetings, Fieldstone’s program also includes an annual Author’s Insights event. Author’s Insights is an opportunity for members of our Reading Group Program to delve more deeply into leadership concepts with an author whose book was read in the program. Following the tradition set by American Booksellers Association in 1938 to provide a forum for authors to speak about their work, Author’s Insights is uniquely focused at furthering our understanding of leadership by furnishing members with a unique and intimate environment to explore the leadership concepts featured by the author in his or her book. Members are invited to examine the leadership theories posited by the author in a trade book or probe the leadership which was or was not exercised by an author’s characters in a work of fiction or non-fiction.
And now, even when an author can’t join us in person, we have the occasion where they can gift us personally crafted questions for us to consider. The learning opportunities of the Leadership Reading Group continue to evolve and present themselves to us in very meaningful ways.
LRG 1 highly recommends The Power of Regret. If you choose to read the book, let us know…we have some great questions for you to consider!
The next Leadership Reading Group will begin in September 2022. Registration will begin in May.
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Clare Rose Sabbatical News
Five Nonprofit Leaders to Leave on Sabbatical Before July 2022
In a sign that the world is making its way through the challenges of the last two years, Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego is preparing to support five San Diego nonprofits with a Clare Rose Sabbatical in the next four months!
Renato Paiva and Access Youth Academy began their Clare Rose Sabbatical and Capacity Building Program during the last part of February. This is “take 2” for Renato and his team, as they embarked on their program two years ago right before the world shut down. The sabbatical was postponed so the organization could still participate in the program after the completion of its recently opened new building. Renato is spending part of his time walking the Camino de Santiago and meeting his fellow pilgrims whom he met two years ago. Two of his staff who will be leading in his absence, Jaimie McBreaty and Shelby Coopwood, are current members of our Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.
Joining Renato this year will be:
Torrie Dunlap and Kids Included Together. Torrie will be leaving in mid-April
Tonya Torosian and Promises2Kids will begin their experience at the end of April.
Stephanie Ortega will be acting CEO in Tonya’s absence and is currently participating in our executive coaching program.
Nicole Mione-Green and Casa de Amistad will begin their CRS in May.
A team will be leading in her absence and Corey Ford is currently in our Learning Group program in preparation.
Dilkhwaz Ahmed and License to Freedom will embark on their CRS in July.
Dilkhwaz and Navid Zamani, who will lead in her absence, are both participating in our Learning Group program.
In addition to the support they are receiving from other Network programs, the CRS includes time with a consultant to help the leader and the organization prepare for the experience. The consultant is available during the sabbatical to support those leading during the CEO’s absence and for re-entry, once the CEO returns.
The next application deadline for the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program is January 30, 2023. The grant is valued at $50,000 and allows a CEO to leave work for three continuous months to provide an opportunity for rest and reflection while providing leadership opportunities for those remaining at the organization. To date, Fieldstone has granted 27 Clare Rose Sabbaticals. More information and the application can be found on our website under the program tab.
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Coaching Resumes In-Person
Fieldstone’s coaching program began its 26th year with a full cohort of nonprofit leaders engaging in our year-long program. With matches officially made in December 2021, coaches and coachees had introductory meetings in January, as well as a group orientation to help them navigate the program. In February, all coachees completed a 360 Degree Review and met with program facilitators so they are better able to interpret the data and begin to formulate a development plan. And in March, Fieldstone hosted our first quarterly meeting with our coaches to check in and identify resources and support needed to support their coachees on their specific paths.
Welcome to our 2022 Coachees:
Michael Angelo Camacho, VAPA Foundation; Max Disposti, No Co LGBTQ Resource Center; Monica Emery, Center for World Music; Natalie Ganz, SD Public Library Foundation; James Halliday, ARTS; Heidi Knuff, SD Diplomacy Council; Jason Martin, Mama’s Kitchen, Stephanie Ortega, Promises2Kids; Abby Reynolds, Center Stage Productions, Adrienne Rich, Arts Education Connection SD; DeMilo Young, BIPOC Support Foundation and Lindsay Zehan, Resounding Joy.
Fieldstone plans to add additional coaches to their team this year. Fieldstone coaches have all worked as nonprofit CEOs at some point in their career and commit to sharing their knowledge and lived experience with those currently leading in the nonprofit sector. As a coach, they commit to monthly meetings with their coachee for the duration of the one year program. To date, Fieldstone coaches remain with the program for many years. Many of our coaches have been part of the program since its inception!! This fact speaks to the reciprocity of the program, as coaches appreciate all they get out of the program and from their coachees. Training is scheduled for November 2022 so new coaches will be available for the 2023 program. In preparation for the training, Fieldstone is updating and redesigning its proprietary curriculum to better meet the evolved needs of nonprofit leaders and to better reflect the social justice environment in which we live and work.
Equity Journey 3.0 Opens for Registration
What’s Fair? Social Justice in America
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the leadership development of the nonprofit sector, and due to the feedback we received on the impact of The Equity Journey, we are continuing our partnership with the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance to bring you The Equity Journey 3.0: What’s Fair? Social Justice in America. This is the final course of the three-part series. Over 500 nonprofit leaders have participated in the Equity Journey series offered by Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego since it began the program in September 2020.
Equity Journey 3.0 will look at the meaning of social justice and how it takes shape in our world. This two-module course will help learners explore social justice using a broad lens, including race and ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, birthplace, economic status, history, education and politics. This program builds on Equity Journey 1.0 and 2.0 and further develops one’s understanding of social justice.
Learners will leave the course with the confidence to engage in conversations and activities to advance social justice in organizations and communities. Learners will move through the course at their own pace, participate in two communal zoom discussions and will earn a certificate upon completion.
This two module course, enhanced by bi-weekly group discussion groups, will help learn:
- Improve your understanding of social justice;
- Be more aware of the barriers that hinder social justice;
- Create a personal definition of social justice and learn how to put it into action
- Examine strategies for how to support and nurture social justice and;
- Connect to and learn from other nonprofit leaders committed to social justice.
Learners will earn an e-certificate upon completion of the course work and participation in the group discussions. This will be the only offering of Equity Journey 3.0 this year.
To register for the course, learners may use this link
When you register, learners will be able to choose their discussion group from these options.
- Module 1 Discussion – May 9 at 9 am or 1 pm or May 10 at 9 am
- Module 2 Discussion – May 23 at 9 am or 1 pm or May 24 at 9 am
Equity Journey 3.0 opens on April 25th, 2022.
2022 Learning Groups Back In-Person
Program Returns to In-Person Meetings After 22 Months Online
With a well developed safety plan in place, our Learning Groups, have returned to in-person gatherings. In 2022, we are hosting three learning groups, all facilitated by Tom Hall, former Managing Director of the Globe Theatres and principle of AlbertHall Associates. Each group has now completed the Creative Encounters portion of the program and is ready to begin their group program solving experience.
Welcome to our Executive Learning Group: Dilkawaz Ahmed, License to Freedom; Colleen FitzSimmons, SD Green Building Council; Suzanne Husby, Make A Wish SD; Matt Koumaras, Boys & Girls Club of Vista; Laura Pitts, Carlsbad Education Foundation; Jennifer Thorn, Moxie Theatre; Kelly Douglas, Voices for Children; Kim Heinle, Bayside Community Center; Tasreen Khamisa, Tariq Khamisa Foundation; Anna Maria Maybury; Girls on the Run; and Sean Spear, Community HousingWorks.
Our two Nonprofit Leaders Learning Groups include:
Kathryn Clauzel, Just in Time for Foster Youth; Claudia Ehrlich, Avodah; Jessica Frank, SD Diplomacy Council; Katherine Matthews, Living Coast Discovery Center; Marcela Mercado, Fern Street Community Arts; Angela Zappia, Accessity; Erica, Connell, Voice of San Diego; Corey Ford, Casa de Amistad; Jenna Martin, Make a Wish SD; Jaimie McBreaty, Access Youth Academy, Kevin Renac, Bayside Community Services; Eowyn Bates, Natural History Museum; Taylor Beverage, Carlsbad Education Foundation; Shelby Coopwood, Access Youth Academy; Casey Davis, Diabetes Research Foundation; Douglas Flaker, Health Center Partners of Southern California; Vicky Kern, SDSU Research Foundation; Matthew Medeiros; BLCI; Jenna Novatny, Mama’s Kitchen; Emily Shuffield, Burn Institute and Navid Zamani, License to Freedom.
This year we have teams of leaders from organizations participating at the same time, which we understand from experience, will magnify the impact of the program. In addition, we have leaders participating while their CEO is on sabbatical or preparing to go on sabbatical this year. We also have one CEO participating in anticipation of her sabbatical experience which will begin in July. Groups will continue through June.
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