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. In alignment with our mission, Project Stone Catcher aims to build a community of stone catchers who trust each other, offer support to one another and provide safe space for exploration and discussion of issues that have historically been difficult to discuss. The name of this effort is inspired by Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. Stevenson calls upon those with power and privilege to catch stones – to stand between those who “cast stones” and those who are daily injured by a politics of hate and violence. Thus, to be anti-racist, to be an accomplice in advancing social justice, requires one to be a stone catcher.

As part of this effort, we have curated the Project Stone Catcher Resource List with recommended books, movies, and podcasts to deepen your learning.

THE EQUITY JOURNEY

Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego has joined forces with the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance to bring you The Equity Journey, an online learning opportunity focused on equity, inclusion and diversity.

Learners will explore the meaning of equity and what it looks like in society, test their own understanding of privilege and how it impacts access and learn how to advance equity in their own organizations and communities. The goal is to help individuals take the first step in self-awareness related to social equity.

The Equity Journey includes three self-guided modules. Learners will have three weeks to complete each module. Each month, learners will participate in an online small group discussion before advancing to the next module. This enhanced program feature is unique to the Fieldstone offering.

The three-module, self-guided journey and group reflections will help you:

• Enhance your understanding of equity and bias.
• Gain awareness of the structural/systemic barriers that hinder equity.
• Understand your own equity journey and create an action plan to continue your personal development.
• Develop a deeper understanding of how advancing equity can increase the effectiveness of your organization and create a plan to operationalize your goals.
• Explore strategies for aligning professional practice with social equity objectives.
• Build a community of nonprofit leaders committed to leading in the areas of equity and race relations.
• Build a toolkit of resources that will benefit you today and in the future.

This course works well for individuals as well as for entire teams or organizations. It is a cost effective and impactful way to train employees and leaders in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion and create a shared vernacular as a starting point to begin organizational efforts and discussions to address change in your agency.

An e-certificate for The Equity Journey will be awarded to each participant who completes the online course and participates in the the three online group discussions.

Group discussions will take place the weeks of September 21, October 19, and November 16. Learners will be able to choose from one of four Discussion Group Series: Mondays at 9am, Tuesdays at 9 am, Wednesdays at 3pm, or Thursdays at 3pm.  Discussion groups will meet for one hour on Zoom.

Upcoming Programs

The Catcher Stone

Our “CATCHER” stone serves as a reminder of one’s commitment to catching stones, especially during hard times and to help one to identify others who also working in solidarity as Stone Catchers.  Leaders are encouraged to put their stone where they and others can see it.This way, it might generate curiosity from others and provide stone catchers the opportunity to share the story of the stone and invite others to join our work for social justice.

“CATCHER” joins a collection of stones crafted by FLNSD to encourage nonprofit leaders as they work.  Other stones include the words LEAD, COURAGE and GRATITUDE.

FLNSD often uses the symbol of the cairn to illustrate the work of leaders.  Cairns are the rock formations found all over the world and used by travelers to mark a path, help one find their way and encourage one to keep going on their journey.  With these stones, FLNSD provides gentle reminders of encouragement to Network Members while allowing them to build personal cairns to mark the way for those they lead.