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Leaders in the Field – March 2024

Members of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego are some of the most accomplished leaders in our community. And we are proud of them!! Thus, we offer Leaders in The Field, a quarterly communication highlighting Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego members, their contributions to and achievements in our community. Leaders in the Field seeks to recognize and celebrate our members while increasing the awareness of their work and accomplishments.

If you would like to share an accomplishment or contribution of yours or of your colleagues in upcoming Leaders in the Field publications, please email Janine at [email protected] .

Read our March 2024 Edition

Remembering A Champion

This week, my thoughts have been consumed with Liz Shear.  Since news of her death, I have been revisiting memories I haven’t thought about in years, maybe even decades now.  Our every day meetings and conversations have taken on greater significance now that I understand there won’t be anymore of them.  How can that be?

But how lucky I was to have 35 years of friendship and mentorship and partnership with this incredible person.  Over the years our relationship evolved as we evolved.  In the beginning, I was a grantmaker meeting her in her office in Old Town.  She was the Executive Director of San Diego Youth and Community Services, advocating in new and impressive ways to support youth in crisis.  She was seasoned, I was not.  She flowed in her colorful scarves and I was “professional” in my suits and heels.  We appeared to be so different, but we discovered we weren’t in the ways that mattered most.

Liz, third from left, with the Kaleidoscope Committee at USD in 2014

Graduation gifts from Liz 2011

She moved on to offices in Midway, then to  a “retirement” that led to consulting and teaching at USD.  I went from a foundation to a network and then to consulting.  Through it all, we drove the streets in her blue Miata, sat under the avocado tree, dreamed up programs in Alcala Park and beyond.  We worked together on The Children’s Initiative, created the Kaleidoscope Award, sat on boards, and co-designed leadership stuff.   In 2011, she became my professor at USD and I formally became her student, although I had already been learning from her for so long it was hard to notice a difference.  We celebrated each other’s birthdays and weddings and graduations and like all good friendships, we saw each other through challenges too. We were both moms to one child, a son.  We gushed over them in ways only we could.  And we understood the bond.  We were friends, colleagues, thought partners and cheerleaders.

In her later years, Liz became known as the “governance guru” and that she was.  I certainly won’t ever hear or say the word “generative” without thinking of Liz.  She changed our concept of board governance, educated us on the “triangle” and urged us to govern well.  What Liz understood was that to do the front line work, to meet and accomplish the purpose of a nonprofit, nonprofit boards had to understand their work and do it well.  She cared deeply for the mission of nonprofits so educating nonprofit leaders and board members was aligned with where her heart was- being in service to people and creating stronger communities through nonprofit organizations.

As Executive Director of San Diego Youth and Community Services, Liz’s dedication to advocating for young people in crisis was unparalleled. She didn’t just envision change; she orchestrated it, reshaping systems and perceptions to uplift those most in need. She provoked those in the sector to work differently. Her presence was transformative, her empathy boundless, as she navigated the corridors of advocacy with grace and determination. In trying to describe Liz to someone recently, I called her a “champion for young people”, especially those in crisis.  I can still see her interacting with the kids at the shelter.  She related.  She connected.  She loved.  Her gift was one of acceptance and accompaniment.  These kids had seen bad times, had had tough experiences, many didn’t have families or homes, struggled in school, and weren’t sure what would come next.  And Liz was Liz, which meant she saw them.  And she let them know it.  She loved them.  She valued them.  She worked for them.

In community celebrating. My last picture with Liz 2022

Liz was my champion too. She championed all who knew her.  She championed us on in our work, in our learning, and in our search for meaningful lives. And she did it the same way she championed the youth – she came along beside us and accompanied us on our journey by making us feel seen and valued,  and by creating a space where we could be our true selves without fear of reproach. She didn’t judge, was wildly hospitable and was giddy at the possibilities that bubbled up naturally between people in relationship.  She was in love with loving the world and it’s people – she was in love with us.  And her love made me a better human.  I am guessing, it made you one too.

I’m not sure what the world looks like without Liz in it.  Already, I know it is not the same.  I’ll do my best to carry on and to carry her with me, as I know others will too.  But I will miss her more than I can actually acknowledge at this moment.   I’m not sure I’ll ever stop looking for a little blue car carrying my friend ready to share love and wisdom and get to work.  But I do know, I will never stop being grateful that we got to do life together for a little bit.

Thank you, my friend.  The world is better, in so many ways, because you were in it.

Janine Mason

Network News

As we step into our 41st year, we reflect on the meaningful journey of the past 40 years, and celebrate the ripple effect of our leadership development and community building efforts. Now, with gratitude for the ripples, we set our sights on using them to create waves.

The kickoff of this transformative year has been nothing short of inspiring. We welcomed 33 leaders into three separate learning groups, marking the beginning of a six-month program that has become a cornerstone of our Network. It’s heartening to witness the commitment and engagement of these leaders, driving the momentum forward. As one member observed, “my group is epic”!

In our ongoing commitment to support and empower, we are excited to share that this year, we will be coaching eight nonprofit CEOs. This initiative aims to provide invaluable support and wisdom as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

A highlight of our capacity-building efforts is the Clare Rose Sabbatical, a $50,000 grant program. The program offers nonprofit leaders the chance for rest and renewal while their teams lead in their absence. Our recent session at The Nonprofit Institute’s Board Governance Symposium, titled “Sabbatical as Strategic Governance,” aimed to demystify sabbaticals for boards and showcase their role in strategic work.

As we embrace the wisdom of “Be the ripple. Create the wave,” let’s remember that creating a difference in someone’s life has a profound impact on everyone influenced by them throughout their lifetime. This is our collective mission – to create waves of positive change that resonate far beyond our immediate circles.

In our latest Network News you can learn more about who has joined our leadership community in 2024 and upcoming programs and resources.  Read more using this link

Everything

As we wrap up our 40th anniversary year, it seems only fitting to add my voice to the others who have shared what Fieldstone has meant to them over the years.  As I have anticipated writing this piece, the word that continually comes to mind is everything.

Fieldstone means everything to me.

Fieldstone is the place where I began my career and met wonderful, values-centered people who modeled for me what it meant to lead a business with integrity and adherence to a set of beliefs that guide your actions, even when it might be “easier” not to.  As a young adult embarking on an “independent life away from home”, landing at Fieldstone built upon the values and teachings of my parents and, for that reason, it always felt like the place I was meant to be.  At Fieldstone, I found my calling and started to do the work I believe God called me to do.  And I have been blessed to do it for the past 35 years.  This has proven to be everything.

We always refer to Fieldstone as family and I found mine here in so many ways.  My husband and I met, or should I say, were re-introduced through Fieldstone.  My son is a “Fieldstone Baby”, and anyone who knows me, knows how I feel about him.  I also found chosen family – the people I have the honor to work beside and to serve as they work diligently to serve others.  So many have become trusted colleagues, faithful friends, wise thought partners and inspired traveling companions.  At Fieldstone, I found community.

I am amazed at the magnificence of those I work with.  How they respond time and again, often at great sacrifice to themselves or their families, to continually show up when things are hard.  To be there to address fires when their own homes are burning…both literally and figuratively.  When the world is in bad shape, Mr. Rodgers said to “look for the helpers”.  It sounds cliche, but how lucky am I, that for 35 years, I have had a front row seat watching the helpers.  It may have seemed that I was supporting them, but it was me who was being fortified. I think this is why the world always seems like a hopeful place to me.  Amidst all of the world’s challenges, and we know there are many, I have watch people give the best of themselves in response and take care of those in most need. Without them, our world would be very different.  I know this deep down.     These people are everything.

All that happens in the world, is touched, in someway, by a nonprofit – food and nutrition, economics, health, education, arts, environment, war, peace, animals, safety, justice, sports, faith, civic engagement, advocacy, even taxes!  When I started this work so long ago, I didn’t understand this the way I do today.  My Fieldstone friends and this work, have taught me about the world through various lenses not widely available to others.  These lenses have challenged me, inspired me, informed me and shaped my view of the world and of life. My work has taken me to hospitals, theatres, jails, class rooms, immigration centers, museums, retreat centers, military bases, international borders, homeless shelters, film sets, concert halls, half-way houses, support groups, universities, other cities, states and countries.  It has provided academic opportunities to expand my knowledge and experiences to turn learned theory into practice.  I have had moments to reflect, to create, to collaborate and to respond.   This has influenced everything.

Fieldstone is the the place where I live out my vocation, build relationships with incredible people and have meaningful opportunities to participate in community in ways that matter to me and, I hope, to others.  Combined, these coalesce for me into a meaningful life filled with the very best people I know.

Yes, Fieldstone means everything to me.

Janine Mason, Founder, Fieldstone Leadership Network

Recognized as a convener, connector and cheerleader, Janine has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 35 years. She is the founder and architect of the nationally recognized Fieldstone Leadership Network, a continuum of leadership training and learning opportunities for nonprofit leaders, which she created while leading the Fieldstone Foundation as its Executive Director. She worked with the Weingart Foundation as a consulting program officer, bringing its Small Grant Program to fruition in San Diego County. In 2020, She began consulting with the Clare Rose Foundation and currently leads Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego as a separate program under its organizational umbrella. 

Throughout her career, Janine  has served on numerous boards, currently serving as a trustee of the Catholic Community Foundation and the Banck Medical Research Foundation.  She has been educated by the University of San Diego, Stanford and the University of Notre Dame.  

Janine is an avid reader, tea drinker and Fighting Irish Fan.  

This concludes our 40th Anniversary Blog Series, “What Fieldstone Means to…”  Thank you to all who have created our communal story of impact by sharing their individual story about what Fieldstone means to them. We are grateful for this time to look back and reflect our on legacy and we have learned much about the power of our Network and the ripples that have spread out because of our work together.  As we begin our fifth decade, our work continues.  This time turning ripples into waves.

Leaders in the Field December 2023

Members of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego are some of the most accomplished leaders in our community. And we are proud of them!! Thus, we offer Leaders in The Field, a quarterly communication highlighting Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego members, their contributions to and achievements in our community. Leaders in the Field seeks to recognize and celebrate our members while increasing the awareness of their work and accomplishments.

Read the Latest LEADERS IN THE FIELD

If you would like to share an accomplishment or contribution of yours or of your colleagues in upcoming Leaders in the Field publications, please email Janine at [email protected] .

A Space to be Supported and Challenged

I participated in the Fieldstone Leadership Network during one of the most seminal times in my life.

It was 2020. The world had shut down due to a global pandemic. There was civil unrest across the country. And I had made the very difficult decision to leave my job – rather my career – in the nonprofit sector after 20 years. It was a time of uncertainty and instability. And it was the Fieldstone Leadership Network that provided me the time and space to think about what was next and walked with me on a journey that led toward a path of transformative growth and change.

Valerie, front right, with her Fieldstone Learning Group in 2020.

My cohort of dynamic, smart, and committed individuals – Erin, Jeff, Julia, Natalie, Laura, Natalia, Amy, Jennifer, and Jessica – not only listened to me but heard me. They challenged me, inspired me and pushed me. They encouraged me to get out of my career comfort zone and to think about my WHY. They asked to envision what the next 20 years of a new career would look like. They provided me with unwavering support but offered to hold me accountable via our monthly Zoom check-ins, emails and texts.

And hold me accountable they did. Every single one of them.

At our check-ins, they asked me to share my progress and updates. They cheered me on, commiserated with my frustrations and gave me the encouragement and insights to keep moving forward.

A little over a year after leaving my 20 year career and participating in Fieldstone, I got my dream job working with a dream team at a dream company. I have never worked harder or been happier or felt more fulfilled. It has been life changing.

Thank you to Janine, Tom and my incredible cohort of leaders for allowing me the time and space to be supported and challenged, and congratulations to the Fieldstone Leadership Network on 40 years of developing our region’s nonprofit (and for-profit) leaders!

Valerie Attisha, Vice President of Client and Community Relations, PNC Bank

Valerie is a mission-centered leader who spent 20 years as a fundraiser and nonprofit executive and facilitated $100M in charitable giving before joining PNC Bank in 2021 as vice president of Client and Community Relations. The daughter of immigrants, Valerie is a DEI and gender diversity champion who is deeply committed to creating change and meaningful impact in the community. Currently, she serves on the National Alumni Board of Directors of the University of San Diego as well as the Boards of Directors of the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum and The Old Globe. Additionally, she is an active and engaged member of the Junior League of San Diego and San Diego Rotary, Club 33. Valerie participated in the Fieldstone Leadership Network’s Nonprofit Leaders Group and The Equity Journey series in 2020.

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.

Gave Me the Ability to Envision Possibilities

Participating in the Fieldstone Leadership Network over the years has allowed me to strengthen my knowledge and network within the non-profit sector and has allowed me to move my career forward as a result. My leadership skills increased through the deep learning and safe space created in the emerging and executive learning groups. Every aspect of those programs was carefully curated and relevant to my day-to-day work, keeping me focused and clear on how to improve my leadership skills, problem solve more effectively, and promote a culture I am proud of within my organization. It gave me the ability to look ahead, set goals, and envision possibilities.

A few years after completing the executive learning group, our founding director was awarded a sabbatical through Fieldstone, which propelled me into leading the organization for four months in his absence. During this time, I never felt alone, as I leaned on my former cohort of trusted colleagues and friends. I was simultaneously participating in the Fieldstone coaching program. My coach provided a unique perspective and invaluable, regular conversations that allowed me to process challenges, have a sounding board, and celebrate my successes in a meaningful way.

Now l am leading the organization as the Executive Director and CEO. The Founding Director is passing the torch to a new Artistic Director, and that transition challenged me and allowed me to fully appreciate how leadership can affect positive change personally and organizationally. Being able to plan strategically and manage operations is important, but cultivating trust, confidence, and enthusiasm has been a huge takeaway from my participation in Fieldstone. The alignment I feel with my Board and team continues to motivate and inspire me. I know this ripple goes through every individual who is touched by our programs and that means the world to me. I am grateful for the individuals in my learning groups, the network of support, and my very special coach, who will forever remain one of the most impactful models of humble leadership I have had the pleasure of knowing.

Molly Puryear, Executive Director, Malashock Dance

Molly Puryear is the Executive Director/CEO of Malashock Dance. She has held the role of student, instructor, Education Director, Managing Director and Executive Director over her 17 year tenure. She participated in the Emerging Leaders Group, Executive Leadership Group, and Coaching Program.

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.

A Beacon of Light

As the Fieldstone Leadership Network celebrates its 40^th anniversary, I am honored to have the opportunity to reflect on my personal journey with them! Fieldstone’s legacy to the San Diego Community has been marked by untold accomplishments, and it will undoubtedly impact social change for generations to come.

My participation with Fieldstone exceeded my initial expectations, and has played a transformative role in my own development as a nonprofit leader. I gained access to a wealth of knowledge, tools, resources and expert guidance. This continued education has had, and will continue to have, a direct impact on how I guide and lead my TKF team. It has allowed me space to work ‘ON’ our organization, as it coincided at a very crucial time in our evolution.

I also gained a deeper understanding of my strengths, values and leadership style. More importantly, I had space to reflect on my own ‘developmental needs’ and where I needed to do the deeper work within myself to be a more effective leader. Being on this journey of growth with our highly experienced and compassionate facilitator, allowed us to benefit directly from his wealth of lived experience, and helped set a supportive environment for the cohort.

In addition, the benefit of working side by side with a diverse group of trusted participants, allowed me to express my own vulnerability. A strong theme covering the importance of balancing leadership responsibilities and personal well-being, something we all struggled with, often became a topic of conversation. The bond our group shared gave me a sense of relief that I am not alone, and that we were able to find support in our unity. This further allowed me to develop my own inner resilience and compassion for self. This self-awareness and inner work have inspired me to lead with confidence and authenticity, which in turn, has positively impacted my organization, as well as the children and adults we serve.

Tasreen, front left, with her Executive Learning Group in 2022

One of the most profound impacts of my involvement with the Fieldstone Leadership Network is the sense of community that has been nurtured within the Learning Group. Our cohort of 2022 has stayed connected to this day, providing a brave and safe space as leaders, allowing us to share both highs and lows as we continue to serve San Diego County and beyond. The opportunity to connect, collaborate and learn from each other has been invaluable. In a world where nonprofit leaders often grapple with the weight of their responsibilities, the support found within the Learning Group has been a beacon of light.

The world needs more of what Fieldstone stands for – lifting each other up, growing as leaders, and building a community that believes in the power of positive change. The nonprofit sector is driven by a collective mission to make the world a better place. By nurturing a culture of support, Fieldstone has helped us amplify our impact on the community. I am deeply grateful to be a part of the Fieldstone family.

Tasreen Khamisa, Executive Director, Tariq Khamisa Foundation 

Tasreen is the Executive Director of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF). Founded after the senseless murder of her brother, Tariq, TKF is an educational organization with roots in San Diego, CA, and is dedicated to the goal of creating safer schools and communities. Its character-building programs teach children the restorative principles of accountability, empathy, compassion, forgiveness, and peacemaking, to set them on a firm path towards opportunity. For over twenty-five years, TKF has partnered with over 350 schools and numerous public and private community organizations and has successfully reached more than 1,000,000 children, and guided them in making healthy, nonviolent choices.

Tasreen is a proud mom of 3 kids, Shahin (19), Khalil (17) and Miya (12).  Through her commitment, perseverance, and leadership qualities, Ms. Khamisa has led TKF in becoming a nationally acclaimed and recognized organization. Being true to her brother Tariq’s philosophy of “living by giving,” Tasreen has found her path of forgiveness, joy, love and peace by living her passionate purpose to serve children.

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.

Understanding and Practicing Shared Leadership

Many say that the position of CEO is a lonely position and that you often walk the leadership journey alone.  Before I took the Clare Rose Sabbatical, I too shared this belief, but this experience has taught me that shifting to a culture of shared leadership, is a better way to lead.

This is difficult shift to make because it requires the vulnerability of its leader and the entire team’s trust of each other.   But, if you can live  and lead from this place, you will find that your role as CEO is never lonely has better results for everyone.

Fieldstone leadership Network helped me understand shared leadership and put it into practice at Promises2Kids.

My sabbatical was the ultimate exercise in letting go, to help our organization grow.  The preparation and work that my entire team did helped us trust each other and learn to share responsibility and meaningful decision making.  We spent a year preparing and growing as a team, learning about our individual and collective strengths and using this approach, run the most impactful organization we can furthering our mission to support foster children.

While I was away I had the faith in my team to fully operate and lead the org..  I never doubted their abilities or worried about decisions that they would make while I was away. This was a message that I had not truly conveyed to the team prior to the sabbatical, but one that is essential for me to express with my team.

Tonya with Anne Vincent (l) and Janine Mason (r) on the day she received her Clare Rose Sabbatical in 2021

This trust allowed me to grow personally in ways that changed my life and my family. I was able to focus on my life with my wife and son, being fully present. I connected with my son at a critical time in his life, that I had not been able to do while I was so focused on my work.  I learned that creating space for all aspects of my life, helps me not only at home , but it helps me be a better leader at work.

This is what I see as the ripple effect of The Clare Rose Sabbatical Program as part of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego. They invested in my personal and professional growth which inspired leadership of the team, and growth of the organization.

Today, Promises2Kids is stronger than ever, making an even deeper impact in the community and where it counts the most, with our foster children and youth who rely on us.

As a commitment to this growth, we established a staff development fund and continue to invest in our staff, providing leadership opportunities for others across the agency to help them share in the joy of personal and professional growth.

Thank you, Janine Mason and Michael Carr for coaching me through this entire experience over the past two years. I am grateful to Fieldstone Leadership Network  San Diego and to Anne Vincent and the Clare Rose Foundation who understands the impact that this has not only on the individual on sabbatical, but on those around that person, the organization and then entire community.

Tonya L. Torosian, MSW, CFRE, CEO, Promises2Kids

Tonya Torosian is the Chief Executive Officer of Promises2Kids, a non-profit founded over 40 years ago.  Best known for building the Polinsky Children’s Center, launching Guardian Scholars in San Diego and starting Camp Connect, the first camp on the west coast specifically for siblings who are separated in foster care. Promises2Kids is dedicated to creating a brighter future for foster children. 

Tonya has led Promises2Kids for the past 10 years, expanding its annual budget from $1.8M to $6.9M, and increased services to foster youth across each of its programs, and today, Promises2Kids has become the leader in support for foster youth pursuing community college or university education with over 200 youth served annually.

Torosian’s work in child welfare and nonprofit management spans nearly 30 years and three states. She developed programs and policies for child and youth-based organizations in Illinois, Arizona and California. A tireless advocate for children and youth throughout her entire career, Torosian began her career first as a social worker, then as an executive charged with developing strategic alliances and implementing processes, systems, and policies.

Tonya is a certified fundraising executive and received her Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University with an emphasis in Planning, Administration and Community Practice. She serves as a Board Member of LEAD San Diego and The San Diego Women’s Foundation. She is a past President of the San Diego chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. 

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.

Leaders in the Field September 2023