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Helped Me Give Voice to My Authentic Leadership

When I received the invitation to the first Fieldstone learning group I almost threw it away.  I was working hard to help an agency survive and thrive.  I had a mission and an immense drive for that mission.  The learning group felt self indulgent. I sat high on my messianic charger thinking that leadership would grow solely from my passion and drive and capacity for hard work.

The first Executive Learning Group in San Diego. Michael Carr is middle row, second from left.

Meeting with that first group opened my eyes…leadership grew in community, just like our humanity. Leadership grew best when I was face to face with colleagues who shared my passions, and even some of my pride,  but who also shared the struggles and the fears and the disappointments.  Leadership grew best when I was engaged with others who shared the passion for the mission and the willingness to step up and take responsibility for how things turned out.  The trust, support and learning that grew in that engagement brought healing to my heart, added years to my longevity as a CEO, and helped me give voice and reality to my authentic leadership.  Fieldstone has consistently provided an environment where that kind of engagement was possible for 40 years.

I think that what grew out of the Fieldstone experience went far beyond the profound impact it had on us as individual leaders. We went back to our agencies and our communities with a new awareness of what was possible with trusted colleagues.  Colleagues became friends but they also became service partners.  Shared contracts, grand collaborations and a new awareness of how much more we could do together became a common language that deeply impacted how the not for profit sector did business.  Increasingly we were asking: ” is this something I should do alone or would the community be better served joining with partners that brought different skills and perspectives”. We are not there yet.  We have a long way to go.  But the journey has been well begun.

Michael Carr, Retired CEO, SAY San Diego

For over 30 years, Michael served as the CEO of SAY San Diego.  While in that role, Michael joined the Fieldstone Leadership Network as a member of the first Executive Learning Group in San Diego.  He has been active in the Fieldstone Coaching Program since its inception, now serving as a program facilitator.  He also works with the Network as our Clare Rose Sabbatical consultant. 

Michael graduated from Clairmont McKenna College and earned his M.Div at Union Theology Seminary.  He currently works as a consultant in the nonprofit sector. 

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.

Fieldstone Marks Ruby Anniversary

Programs and Events Planned to Celebrate 40 Years

This year, Fieldstone reaches its 40^th anniversary! It is a time of celebration and of reflection and, as such, we have designed a year of programming and events to provide communal opportunities for both.

In our programs we often talk about leadership legacies.  We encourage leaders to take the time to think about what kind of leader they want to be and how that vision influences how they lead currently.  As we mark 40 years, we are asking legacy questions and assessing how the Network has made a difference in the community over the years.  We view our legacy through four lenses, each representing a decade of our work,  These lenses are BUILD, LEAD, SUSTAIN AND AMPLIFY.

Through these lenses we are asking question like:

• How has Fieldstone Leadership Network mattered to nonprofit leaders in San Diego?
• What ripples have been created in the work, within organizations or in the broader community as a result of a nonprofit leaders’ participation in our Network?
• What stories come to mind when Network members think of Fieldstone? What feels important to share?
• How do we understand this information and use it to inform our plan for the next 40 years?

Throughout the year, members of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego, will help us to answer these questions by contributing to our Network blog.  They will explore:

• How participating in the Network has strengthened their individual leadership and how has that mattered to them, their  organization or clients;
• How the capacity of their organization been increased through their participation in the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego;
• How FLNSD has supported them in creating trusted relationships with other nonprofit professionals and how have those relationships supported or sustained them or resulted in new and effective collaborations;
• The ripples that have occurred as a result of their participation in the Network or something they  learned in our programs.

Each member’s story will tell a part of the collective story of our work together over the past four decades and provide a meaningful picture of how Fieldstone has made (and makes) a difference in our community – why it matters that we do what we do.  If you have a story you would like to share, we invite your contribution.  Please contact Janine as soon a possible. (link)

Our goal is to feature a new story each week on our website, which has been re-designed to reflect this important milestone year.  The website includes our anniversary logo updated with a ruby stone to represent 40 years. 

The website contains program details for each of the Network programs throughout the year.  As part of our celebration, we will resume our quarterly social gatherings, now renamed Fieldstone@40 in honor of our anniversary.  The first Fieldstone@40 will be on March 15, 2023 at 4 pm on the 9th floor of the San Diego Public Library Downtown. Our topic is Leading Your Team through Work from Home Challenges and will feature Elizabeth Schott, Accessity; Sean Spear, Community Housing Works; and Torrie Dunlap, KIT.

We are planning a 40th anniversary celebration, which will be held during the last week of June.  Please watch for more specific details,  and plan to join us for a festive gathering.

In 1983, the vision was to build a philanthropic organization to contribute to the community and support nonprofit professionals in leading effective organizations.  Over the years, as the world has changed, so has Fieldstone.  We have evolved from a corporate foundation making grants to an independent provider of leadership development programs.  While the shape of our contributions to the nonprofit sector have changed, the vision has remained.  As we take time to celebrate, reflect and plan for the future, we know it always will.

1983-2023

2022: That’s a Wrap!

Year End Report Reflects Success

2022 has proven to be a rich and full year for the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego.  During the past year, we hosted Learning Groups, Leadership Reading Groups and a Learning Circle.  We facilitated multiple offerings of The Equity Journey and one offering of Coaching as a Leadership Tool, as well as Creative Encounters by Fieldstone for a local nonprofit’s staff and board of directors.  We coached a dozen nonprofit leaders and trained 10 nonprofit leaders as Fieldstone coaches. We provided four Clare Rose Sabbaticals.   Through our survey instruments we learned that across all of our programs:

• 100% would recommend our programs to others
• 98% say the programs met or exceeded their expectations
• 90% would like to continue to learn with FLNSD

We continue to use data to judge the alignment of our strategy against our results.  With a focus on Strengthening Leaders, Building Organization Capacity and Sustaining a Vibrant Network, we evaluate each program on its ability to impact each of these focus areas in a positive and meaningful way.

In 2022, we learned:

Leaders Strengthened – we served 178 individuals this year.

• 100% of program participants say they developed as a leader through our programs
  • 77% developed/further developed systemic thinking in their leadership practice
  • 78% increased their appreciation for interdisciplinary/peer learning
  • 98% addressed a significant problem or challenge
  • 93% strengthened their ability to solve problems as a leader

Organizations Capacity Increased – we served leaders from 106 different organizations

• 99% of participants report an increase in the capacity/effectiveness of their organization
  • 55% strengthened relationships with board / improved board governance
  • 63% developed strategies to manage staff more effectively
  • 53% increased my or my organization’s collaboration with other leaders/organizations

Networks Developed and Relationships Created

• 94% saw impacts to their professional network
  • 85% gained valuable insights form leaders outside their organizations’ subsector
  • 78% offered and/or received resources from other nonprofit leaders
  • 66% increased the overall diversity of their networks, 58% increased their network multi-generationally

2023 Brings 40th Anniversary

2023 is our 40th anniversary year.  We have planned a full year of program offerings, including Fieldstone@40, which will start on March 15, 2023 at the Downtown Central Public Library.  Our website reflects our all of our offerings, including a big anniversary celebration planned for June.  We hope you will plan to join us for this momentous occasion!

Mason Featured on The Gap Minders Podcast

Podcast Takes on the GAPS in our Community One Conversation at a Time

To tackle gaps and lift lives, United Way of San Diego County and the San Diego Council on Literacy have joined forces to host The Gap Minders podcast. The Gap Minders weekly episodes aim to  inform, inspire, and illuminate the gaps and the solutions to a variety of challenges experienced in the San Diego community and beyond. Through insightful conversations with a range of notable and engaging guests, including education experts, political figures, authors, nonprofit professionals, and others dedicated to improving our region, Nancy and Jose chat with influential changemakers passionate about closing gaps and creating equitable and healthy lives for San Diego’s citizens through their work.

Janine Mason was invited to join The Gap Minders on a podcast which aired on December 19, 2022.  Together, Nancy and Jose asked Janine to share how the Fieldstone Leadership Network is supporting nonprofit professionals in San Diego to develop their leadership and amplify the impact of their work and that of their organizations. Topics ranged from Learning Groups and Coaching to Leadership Reading Groups and the Clare Rose Sabbatical.  One of the hosts, Jose Cruz, is a graduate of Fieldstone’s Learning Group and Coaching programs and was able to share his experience with the Network as well.

To learn more or listen to this episode, visit www.Thegapminders.org

New episodes air each Monday.

2022 Network Program Report Released

Multiple Studies Confirm Positive Impact of Network Programs

As 2022 draws to a close, we are proud to share our Network Program Report summarizing our work and the survey results from our various program participants.

As a learning organization, it has always been important for us to request and review feedback on our programs and their effectiveness in supporting nonprofit leaders in meaningful ways.  This year, as outlined in our report, we are using newly designed survey instruments that are aligned to our theory of change and our focus of building individual leadership, increasing organizational capacity and nurturing a vibrant network of nonprofit professionals.  We now have the ability to analyze each program individually and as part of a continuum of programs against these objectives.

For all Network programs, the following results were reported:

• 100% of program participants reported they developed as a leader through our programs
• 99% of participants reported increased capacity/effectiveness of their organization
• 94% of participants reported impacts to their professional network, including sharing of resources and growing the diversity of their connections.

The full report can be found on our website under the IMPACT tab.

Fieldstone Coaches Gather to Wrap Up 2022 and Prepare for 2023

Meeting Kicks off 40th Anniversary Celebration

December means many things to many people.  At Fieldstone, it means the wrapping up of multiple year-long coaching partnerships and the beginning of another round.  This culminates at a year-end meeting, which was held at the Fieldstone Leadership Network offices on December 6, 2022.  Thirty nonprofit leaders joined Founder, Janine Mason, for a full day of updates, matching and celebration.

Fieldstone Coaches- Setting the Gold Standard

2022 coaches were presented with Fieldstone’s new COACH stone.  As described by Mason, the hope is that this momento will remind our coaches of our gratitude as well as their call to  use their skills and knowledge to coach the people in their lives.   The white stone is engraved in gold to represent “the gold standard” set by Fieldstone Coaches.

New and Existing Coaches Come Together

Don Stump, Valin Brown, John Malashock, Shaina Gross, Don Wells, Karen Hooper, Renato Paiva, Shirley Cole, Kathie Lembo, Lesslie Keller, Sue Schaffner, Barbara Mannino, Carol Schultz, Sharon Lawrence, Deb Martin, Katie Sawyer, Matt D’Arrigo, Torrie Dunlap, Rhea Van Brocklin, Karen Terra, Deborah Salzer, Patti Malmuth, Michael Carr, Sue Carter Kahl, Lane Macy Keifaber and Janine Mason.

This was the first meeting of our entire coaching team since the completion of our latest training in November.  The group came together easily and the camaraderie in the room was evident as the existing (we prefer not to call them “old”) coaches welcomed the new coaches into the fold.  New connections were made as old relationships were renewed.  One new collaboration was in discussion.  It was a vibrant time that truly represented what Fieldstone is all about.

Milestone Gift – Holding Space

Because of their role, Fieldstone Coaches are often referred to as “shadow staff”.  As coaches, they represent Fieldstone, our values and leadership philosophies.  As such, it was only fitting to use this meeting to kick off our 40th anniversary celebration by celebrating them in a significant way.

Recognizing the main role of a coach is to hold space for another, Janine Mason commissioned “Holding Space”, a piece of pottery inspired by the commitment of our coaches and facilitators to hold space for nonprofit leaders through the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego. Each piece was handcrafted and individually made by Kay Pere in Mystic, Connecticut to represent the unique nature of each leader. 

“Holding Space” is a low, open vessel with a soft, natural copper colored glaze on its outside surface. The foundation of each piece is a rounded gray Fieldstone, which provides a solid base for the bowl while symbolizing the individual commitment to and collective nature of the Network. 

The interior surface of the vessel reveals concentric circles to illustrate the progression of continuous learning, offering hospitality, and building trust with each other. Bathed in various colored glazes, the resulting patterns of each piece are varied to reflect the adaptive and distinctive styles of Fieldstone coaches.  

The bowl conveys the hallmarks of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego: reciprocity, strength, resourcefulness, balance, and a sense of community

“When there are no words, use art”, was how Mason referred to her efforts to share her deep appreciation to Fieldstone Coaches, many who have served in this volunteer role for 27 years, the entire life of the program!  Others have served for 10, 15 or 18 years!  As words did not seem adequate to convey the magnitude of gratitude or impact the coaches have made through their work as a peer coach, Mason worked with Pere to give the gift of art to each coach.  The reaction and response from the coaches was special to watch as each one was clearly touched by the thoughtfulness and symbolism of the bowl. As John Malashock shared, “no one holds space like Janine Mason and to be gifted these works of art was very special”.

A Coaching Family

Shirley Cole has served as a Fieldstone Coach for 27 years.  She helped Mason develop the program in the mid-90s and has never left the program, even after she retired as the CEO of North County Lifeline 16 years ago!  2022 was her last year coaching as she plans to travel extensively in the future and will not be geographically available to meet with leaders on a regular basis.  Shirley was recognized for her great contribution to the program at our December meeting.

Janine Mason presents Shirley Cole with her Holding Space gift

One indicator of Shirley’s success, is the number of leaders she coached who are now serving as Fieldstone Coaches.  Deb Martin, ElderHelp; Sue Schaffner, Serving Seniors, Deborah Salzer, Playwrights Project Founder (retired), Sharon Lawrence, California CASA Association and Karen Terra, Emilio Nares Foundation were all coached by Shirley and now, in the spirit of our value of reciprocity, give back to the program and the sector by serving as a coach.  These are powerful ripples of impact as each of these five coaches have gone on to share their knowledge and wisdom with the leaders they have subsequently coached.

Coaching is a foundational program in our Network, made possible by the generosity of nonprofit leaders to share their wisdom, experience and time with other nonprofit professionals who are working to develop their own leadership capacity and meet organizational challenges.  We are indebted to those who accept the invitation to serve as a Fieldstone Coach and we are honored by those leaders who choose to be coached by us and trust us with their professional development.  Coupled with our 40th anniversary, it was all worthy of a special celebration this year.

To date, Fieldstone has coached over 300 nonprofit leaders in San Diego.  The 12-month program includes a 360 Degree Review and monthly coaching sessions.  Registration begins in the Fall for a January start. For more information on Fieldstone’s Coaching Program, visit the program tab on our website.

2023 Learning Groups Full

Continuing our sold-out streak, Fieldstone’s 2023 Learning groups have been filled to capacity for the coming year.  Learning Groups are the cornerstone of our Network and are available for nonprofit CEOs, Executive Directors and Presidents (executive group) and for leadership team members (nonprofit leaders group). They are offered once a year and have been filled to capacity every year since they were first offered over 29 years ago!   Both groups currently have waiting lists being formed.  If you are interested in joining the list, please contact us. 

Learning groups are facilitated by a professional with authentic nonprofit organization leadership experience.   In 2023, long-time program facilitator Tom Hall will be joined in this role by Torrie Dunlap. The Learning Groups encourage dynamic and candid exchange among nonprofit executives and provide access to:

• Cutting edge tools and research on nonprofit management and leadership.
• An exchange of real case studies guided by a problem-solving methodology that empowers the participants to envision feasible solutions and craft action plans.
• An intimate and confidential environment to support and enhance your leadership.
• A new network of colleagues with a common purpose – to support each other’s leadership beyond the program.
• Experienced facilitators with deep knowledge and insights about the distinctive characteristics and dynamics of nonprofit organizations, and the skills to foster collective wisdom and fellowship.

San Diego Leaders Trained as Fieldstone Coaches

10 Nonprofit Leaders Join Fieldstone as Peer Coaches

Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego welcomed 10 new nonprofit leaders to its coaching corps in November.  The Fieldstone Coaching Program was created in the early 1990s in response to requests from the sector. Designed in consultation with nonprofit executives, it was one of the first programs specifically crafted to address the issues and challenges faced by those leading nonprofit organizations by training current nonprofit CEO’s to serve as peer coaches. Research has demonstrated the impact working with a coach can have on personal leadership development and organizational capacity and, as such, our coaching program remains one of our most popular Leadership Network programs.

Fieldstone’s Coaching Program pairs executive level nonprofit leaders, one of whom has been trained as a peer coach, in a twelve-month, confidential, one-on-one coaching relationship. Through a series of monthly meetings and ongoing conversations over the course of a year, coaches help to empower coachees to accomplish specific leadership goals and resolve organizational problems. The program includes a 360° review from the Center for Creative Leadership and other assessment tools which serve as the foundation for the work together.

A Fieldstone coach has been carefully selected from the sector and has a respected history of nonprofit leadership. In addition to being practitioners in the social sector, they are members of our Network and have participated in Fieldstone programs. They are currently leading or have led successful nonprofit organizations as an executive director or CEO. This experience allows them to better translate and understand the real work, challenges, and environment in which nonprofit professionals lead in the sector.

Fieldstone’s newest coaches are:  Shaina Gross, SD Workforce Partnership; Karen Hooper, Curebound; Lesslie Keller, retired, Episcopal Community Services; Patti Malmuth, retired, Solana Beach Schools Foundation; Deborah Martin; ElderHelp; Ted Miyahara, SD Community Housing Corp; Rakesh Patel, MD, MBA, FACHE; Neighborhood Healthcare; Katie Sawyer, SD Foundation; Rhea Van Brocklin, Christie’s Place; and Lane Macy Kiefaber, Red to Black.

This group of new coaches is thoughtful, experienced, and passionate about nonprofit work and the people who make all the magic happen in our sector. They will make our program stronger and better. I am grateful they each accepted the invitation to join our team, says Janine Mason.

Fieldstone coaches receive rigorous training in peer coaching before they are matched with a coachee.  Each coach is part of a greater coaching network which continually builds on the collective wisdom of all members and provides ongoing support through our quarterly coaches’ meetings.  Janine Mason, MA, CNP, Fieldstone founder and facilitator; Michael Carr, program facilitator, and Kathryn Lembo, SBCS CEO and program facilitator, comprised the Fieldstone Coaches Training Team. The trio used a new curriculum, The Coaches Field Guide, which was updated and written by our Founder, Janine Mason, over the course of the past year.   

Traditionally, Fieldstone coaches serve in this role for many years, with some serving since the inception of the program.  Current Fieldstone coaches often speak of being drawn to coaching as a way to “give back” to the sector. Program history has demonstrated that most coaches stay because they value the relationships created with their coachee and with the other coaches serving in the program. The bonds of coach and coachee can be as close as those in any rewarding professional relationship because they are built on trust, mutual goals, and a shared commitment to making the relationship work. Fieldstone Coaches also appreciate how much they learn in partnership with their coachee and fellow coaches.   While Fieldstone coaches are recognized for their expertise and service, their participation allows them opportunities to continually hone their coaching skills so they are better able to lead and manage their own staff or team. As part of our program and in appreciation for leaders volunteering as a coach, Fieldstone offers additional learning and training opportunities to its coaching team to further invest in their personal leadership development.

FLNSD’s philosophy of reciprocity and mutual support are the foundation for this program, which has served hundreds of San Diego leaders over the course of the past 27 years. Because our coaches are volunteers, Fieldstone is able to offer this coaching experience at an affordable price point, which allows those who might not otherwise be able to work with a coach, the opportunity to do so.  The coaching experience is valued at over $15,000.

The new coaches, along with the existing group of coaches, will be matched with a coachee in December 2022.  They will begin working together in January 2023.  

Number 7 is lucky for Leadership Reading Group Program

Reading program fills to capacity to study leadership through literature

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 and completed the program.  Many of the groups continue to meet regularly, including LRG 1 which has been meeting for seven years and LRG 2, which as been meeting for six.  Reaching a milestone at year 7, the Leadership Reading Group program began again in September and will run through June 2023.

Professionally facilitated by Stefanie Schiff, the group meets 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.

I cannot recommend the Leadership Reading program enough! It enhanced my leadership through fellowship with other leaders and being able to discuss leadership principles and practices we were encountering through our shared reading and the advice and experiences of our authors and protagonists alike. It is a fun and meaningful way to deepen one’s learning while connecting with others in the sector” shares Allison Morrissey, Director of Development at A Step Beyond, who participated in LRG Group 6.

Evaluations of the program indicate that participating in the program has:

• Provided an opportunity to commit to and develop a systematic reading habit to sharpen intelligence and increase knowledge.
• Helped the reader read more deeply and better understand diverse perspectives.
• Allowed the reader to build and deepen relationships through shared learning.
• Developed leaders who are more comfortable and confident in professional discussions and in using literature as a teaching tool.

“Fieldstone’s reading group helped me connect with so many San Diego nonprofit professionals! Not only did I widen my community, but I was able to have thoughtful, hard, and joyous conversations around books I never thought would be as impactful to my leadership development as they were”, reports Hannah Tackett, who participate in LRG 6 as a member of ElderHelp.

The following nonprofit leaders are participating in LRG 7:

• Bryan Fisher, Alliance Healthcare Foundation
• Corey Ford, Casa de Amistad
• Elaine Himelfarb, Mira Costa College
• Carrie Holmes, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
• Steve Morris, I Love a Clean San Diego
• Allison Ohle, Okayfour
• Sara Orlansky, University of San Diego, SOLES
• Doug Satre, Plant with Purpose
• Sue Schaffner, Serving Seniors
• Catherine Spray, University of San Diego, School of Law
• Patrick Stewart, Library Foundation San Diego
• Jamie Weissburgh, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation SD Chapter

The next Leadership Reading Group will begin in September 2023.  To join our interest list and learn more, click here

All We Can Save Learning Circle

New Program Offering Focused on the Environmental Leadership

This Fall, Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego will host a learning circle as part of the All We Can Save Project,  a national effort to provide learning opportunities focused on climate change and environmental justice to citizens and leaders throughout our country.  FLNSD is presenting this program as part of Fieldstone’s Project Stone Catcher.  Project Stone Catcher 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.

The learning circle is be based on the book “All We Can Save: Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis”.  This small group experience will provide nonprofit leaders with resources and space to identify and reflect on how they may use their leadership skills to address climate change and environmental justice issues both locally and globally. Because often these issues feel too big to impact, the learning circle will support nonprofit leaders in finding their place in the “we” that is necessary to create a “just and livable future” for all.   

“This program is for nonprofit leaders working across all sub-sectors and concerned about climate change but not sure how to use their leadership skills to contribute to the effort for a healthier, more just environment for all and who are looking for co-conspirators”, says Janine Mason, Founder of FLNSD.

Participants will discuss one chapter from All We Can Save at each meeting of the nine-month learning circle. Chapters include: “Root,” “Advocate, ” “Reframe,” “Reshape,” “Persist,” “Feel,” “Nourish,” “Rise,” and “Onward.” 

Books were mailed to each participant in early September. The discussion portion of the program will start on October 11, 2022 and meet monthly through June 2023.  The circle will be facilitated by Mary Jo Schumann, PhD.  This will be a full circle moment for Mary Jo and Fieldstone as she was a member of one of Fieldstone’s Leadership Reading Groups.  Now she will take the reins and lead others in reading and discussing the material in “All We Can Save”. 

According to Mason, “One goal of Fieldstone’s Leadership Reading Group program is to develop leaders who feel comfortable using literature to facilitate leadership development and learning. To have Mary Jo return to us now as a facilitator is fabulous for so many reasons, and one of those reasons illustrates the success of our Leadership Reading Group.  It is a great example of the ripple effect of our work.” 

While the group is full, if you are interested in joining the Circle, please contact Janine Mason. Leaders are able to join the group up until October 10, 2022.