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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Offered Me the Gift of Believing in Humanity Again
My journey with Fieldstone Leadership Network really started when I participated in the six-month executive learning group. This training fundamentally impacted the way I view myself, my organization, License to Freedom (LTF), and the future that LTF can have. I believe anyone can benefit from the executive learning group. One of the biggest takeaways from the training affected my personal life almost as much, if not more, than my professional life. FLNSD taught us to practice disconnecting ourselves from the work—something that I think many leaders who have grown their organizations from the beginning are not accustomed to when they’re in positions that directly impact the well-being of others, both professionally and in our personal lives.
I believe it’s important for anyone to learn the skill of holding objectivity. Through the Fieldstone
Executive Learning group, I started practicing looking at LTF not only as my personal project, but as an objective observer; the improvements I was able to make by considering LTF objectively would not have occurred had I not been able to disconnect. Now, LTF is flourishing–we are serving more clients than ever, we are receiving more grant money, and we’ve been able to expand our team. The expansion of the team at LTF continues to provide me with support that I didn’t know was available. We were able to hire a Program Manager and individual leads for each of our programs–FLNSD taught me that sometimes it’s better to let other people take responsibility, and that it’s okay for me to trust the work of others. I think smaller nonprofits might be intimidated to take the steps necessary to expand their staff, because it means more money expended and greater trust in others. I know it was difficult for me. To others that are worried about the impact of hiring, I would tell them that the adage is true; sometimes you have to spend money to make money. Now that I have more time to spend with my family and friends, being present and disconnected from work–I can say with clarity that the outcomes you receive for trusting others are greater than the fear stopping you.
As a member of the FLNSD, I’ve seen this to be true of my fellow nonprofit leaders. The network has been instrumental in connecting all of us and helping us support one another as we develop our newly learned leadership skills and increase the capacities of our organizations. One
of the greatest resources being part of the Network offers is the support from the other directors. We are able to ask each other for advice, offer insight on available office spaces, recommend grant writers, and write letters of recommendation. I have also found it to be indispensable to be on this journey with others experiencing the same changes. We might be advocating for different causes, but we are joined in our belief that if you can help, you should.
Perhaps, however, the most impactful effect I’ve experienced, has been the soul-affirming recognition that there are so many other beautiful leaders dedicated to helping the community. The ability to become so immersed in your own cause, forgetting that others are fighting
alongside you is sadly far too easy. Getting to know Fieldstone Leaders offered me the gift of believing in humanity again. I am encouraged by each and every leader that attended this training. The knowledge that this network exists and will support me when I make mistakes, or
will encourage me when I become uncomfortable with change, and above all share my belief in a greater, more positive world, has changed the way I think about myself and the work that I do.
Dilkhwaz with Janine Mason and Anne Vincent receiving her Clare Rose Sabbatical grant
Dilkhwaz Ahmed, MS., Executive Director, License to Freedom
Dilkhwaz is the founder and Executive Director of License to Freedom. LTF’s mission is to promote peaceful, loving, and safe relationships within the diverse immigrant and refugee communities of San Diego. This is accomplished through services and strategies that build resilience and self-sufficiency, support healing from trauma and violence, and advocacy for equity and justice.
Dilkhwaz Ahmed is an immigrant women rights’ activist from the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In Iraq, she served as the Executive Director of the Nawa Center, a shelter for abused women in Sulaimanya. In 2002, Ms. Ahmed was granted asylum in the United States, resettling in San Diego. In 2003, Ms. Ahmed cofounded License to Freedom, helping more than 5,000 refugee and immigrant adult survivors and child victims of domestic violence. Ms. Ahmed is a voice of immigrant women, having walked in their shoes and understanding what it means to be an immigrant.
Dilkhwaz graduated from Fieldstone’s Executive Learning Group and is scheduled to go on a Clare Rose Sabbatical in Spring 2023.
Each week during our 40th anniversary year, a member of our Network will share what Fieldstone means to them and how being a part of this learning and leadership community has impacted them and the work they do to serve the community.
If you have a story you would like to contribute to our collection, please contact Janine Mason.
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FLNSD Earns Top Rated Status (Again!)
Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego NAMED “2021 TOP-RATED NONPROFIT” by GreatNonprofits
Award based on Community Recommendations
GreatNonprofits announced it has named Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego a “2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit”. GreatNonprofits is the leading website for community recommendations of charities and nonprofits.
Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego provides leadership development services to nonprofit professionals working throughout the county of San Diego resulting in highly skilled and connected c-suite level executives ready to serve the community.
“We are honored to be named a 2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit,” says Janine Mason, founder of the Network. We are proud of our accomplishments this year, including the facilitation of over 500 nonprofit leaders through The Equity Journey.
The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is based on the rating and number of reviews that Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego received from volunteers, donors and and clients. Jorge Riquelme, Senior Vice President of Community HousingWorks (CHW), has participated in an Executive Learning Group and is currently participating in a Leadership Reading Group, which he has been a part of for the past six years. In his review he reports being “very grateful for the many and significant leadership development opportunities offered by the Fieldstone Leadership Network. Special thanks to Janine Mason! Janine is one of my favorite servant leaders: she is always encouraging diversity of thought and fostering leadership in others!”
“Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits, “Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with the Network.”
Reviews from leaders who have participated in a variety of program offerings from the Network illustrate the value and impact of being a part of this leadership learning community. “I feel very fortunate to have been a part of FLN which has had such a profound impact in my leadership ability shares Rakesh Patel, CEO, Neighborhood Healthcare.
Fieldstone Leadership Network offers affordable opportunities for nonprofit professionals to learn and develop their own leadership competencies through seminars, learning groups, executive coaching, book clubs, retreats and sabbaticals.
According to Elizabeth Schott, CEO of Assessity (formerly Accion San Diego), “The speakers and staff are engaged, committed, fun and inspiring and you can tell they are extremely dedicated and invested in the growth of our local nonprofit community.”
GreatNonprofits is the largest donation website for nonprofits and where people share stories about their personal experiences on more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits. The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities – as donors, volunteers and recipients of aid.
To read more FLNSD reviews visit https://greatnonprofits.org/org/fieldstone-leadership-network-san-diego
The complete list of 2021 Top Rated Nonprofits can be found at: https://greatnonprofits.org/awards/browse/Campaign:Year2021/Issue
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