Congratulations to Executive Director David Gillanders and his team at Pathways of Hope, for being selected as the 2020 Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva for District 65. The California Nonprofit of the Year award was created to honor contributions made by nonprofits in the communities they serve. The award is an opportunity for elected officials to recognize the excellent work being done in their districts.

David participated in the 2019 Executive Learning Group and Nishtha Mohendra, Director of Programs, is a recent graduate of the 2020 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Hats off to Brenda J. Rodriguez, Executive Director of Affordable Housing Clearinghouse, who completed the USC Nonprofit Resilient Leaders & Capacity Building Program - a 10-week course encompassing topics including board development, individual giving, program evaluation and marketing.

Brenda participated in the 2015 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and was coached in the 2017 Executive Coaching Program .

Great work is being done by Randy Barth, Founder and CEO of Think Together and his team! As schools are slowly beginning to transition to hybrid-learning plans, Think Together supports their partners’ needs. Their programs are especially critical in these times for a social and emotional learning curriculum helping students navigate long-distance friendships and feeling a sense of community that they would normally receive in school.

Their partnership with Palm Springs Unified School District was highlighted in a Desert Sun article about the Coachella Valley preparing their transition to hybrid-learning.

Several Think Together staff have participated in our Nonprofit Leaders Learning Groups.

Art & Creativity for Healing celebrates 20 years! Fine artist, educator, and author Laurie Zagon formed the nonprofit organization upon discovering the powerful effect of art on stress, grief and other traumatic life experiences. The agency recognized 13 key individuals who believed in their mission and put their heart, souls and other invaluable resources into the creation of the organization.

Laurie participated in the 2005 Executive Learning Group and was coached in our 2006 Executive Coaching Program.

Kudos to Judi Westberg Warren, Regional Development Officer of Mercy Ships for completing a $200mm capital campaign to purchase a new ship, Global Mercy - the World’s Largest NGO Hospital Ship, free of debt! Over 16 million people die each year due to lack of surgical care; Mercy Ships builds a response to this world problem.

For the complete press release, click here.

Judi participated in the 2004 Executive Learning Group, was coached in 2004, and was trained as a Fieldstone Executive Coach in 2017.

Excellent work is being done by Adam Dodge, who created his own organization last year - EndTAB (Ending Technology-Enabled Abuse). By providing training and resources, EndTAB helps organizations assist victims who are abused online and via their devices by working with universities, state court systems, law enforcement, and nonprofits across the country.

Adam participated in the 2015 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Congratulations Jaymie Fisher on her promotion to Director, Project Management at Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. Her responsibilities include facilitating construction project planning, management direction, project completion, client satisfaction, cost management, time management, contract administration and safety management on construction sites.  

Jaymie joined Habitat for Humanity of Orange County in September 2008 and served as the Director, Volunteer Services prior to her move to the construction team as a Project Manager in July 2019. 

Jaymie participated in the 2014 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and is a frequent attendee at Fieldstone@4.

Kudos to Kevin Mo-Wong, Executive Director and his team at Solidarity! In September, Congressman Cisneros came to Solidarity's 601 Community Center to present the staff with a certificate of recognition for the work that the organization has been doing in the area of COVID-relief work. Along with weekly food distribution, Solidarity's donors & partners raised $65,000 in mini grants to distribute to 100+ undocumented neighbors who were not eligible for the federal relief stimulus that most people received back in April.

The Congressman was able to take a tour of Solidarity's facilities and hear stories of local neighborhood leaders highlighting the resilience and perseverance of the community.

Kevin participated in the 2020 Executive Learning Group and was a presenter at a recent Fieldstone4U.

Lauren Brand of Be Well OC, along with her associate Jennifer Brya, moderated a webinar for 150 people featuring leaders in the OC Interfaith community. The discussion was about mental health, substance abuse and the role of the faith-based community of Orange County. Speakers included Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange in California, Rabbi Richard Steinberg, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot, Kay Warren, Co-founder Saddleback Church; and Sheikh Yassir Fazaga, Mental Health Advisor for Access California.

To hear the complete webinar, click here.

Lauren participated in the 2016 Executive Learning Group, is one of our Executive Coaches, is a current member in our Leadership Reading Group, and is a Creative Encounters by Fieldstone facilitator.

Fabulous job, Julie Hudash, Founder and CEO of Team Kids! The organization has reimagined their in-person/school programs into a virtual platform called Team Kids Unite: You Can’t Quarantine Compassion. Kids today are starved for connections, and they are doing their best to continue to protect and support young leaders during these challenging times. 

To learn more about the program, click here.

Julie participated in the 2005 Executive Coaching Program.

Congratulations to Ronnetta Johnson, Executive Director of Waymakers in Orange County! Ronnetta is celebrating 25 years with this vital organization, which empowers clients to find their way past conflict and crisis to a place of strength and stability. Ronnetta is proud of the team she has built and mentored and the life-changing transformations accomplished through counseling, therapy, crisis resolution and support services for victims of violence. Thank you for your contributions in creating safer, more stable communities, Ronnetta!

Ronnetta participated in the 2017 Executive Learning Group.

Network members Megan Klink, CEO of Susan G. Komen Orange County and Holly Hagler, President & CEO of Meals on Wheels Orange County were named in Modern Luxury's - Orange County's 25 Most Influential. This October they honored the local luminaries leading the charge in our community. From arts and culture advocates to philanthropists finding solutions to current challenges, these formidable forces drive change, pushing Orange County forward for the greater good.

For the complete article, click here.

Megan participated in the 2011 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and the 2019 Executive Learning Group. Holly participated in the 2014 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2015 Executive Coaching Program.

In a year that brought fire and plague, Jerri Rosen, CEO/Founder of Working Wardrobes rose to the occasion. Last month, a group of invited guests celebrated the nonprofit’s rise from the ashes after a devastating fire in February that destroyed its Irvine headquarters. They now have a new lease on life with its Career Success Center on East McFadden Avenue, where it relocated in July. The space is bigger and better than before- now it is 15,000-square-feet!

For the complete article, click here.

Jerri was in the 1999 Executive Learning Group.

Great things are happening for Shawna Smith, Executive Director of Hope Builders, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Orange County’s young adults with mentorship, life skills and job skills training to positively impact their futures. Shawna was selected as a 2020 Women of Distinction by California State Senator Ling Ling Ching.

Shawna was also featured in the Goodwill OC podcast Sharing Goodwill. Nicole Suydam, also part of our Network, connected virtually to discuss the many changes in the world of nonprofits, and how important it is through all the new challenges to stay true to your core mission. Shawna spoke about her new hybrid operating model for Hope Builders, how they’ve reimagined their physical space to support more digital learning opportunities and the importance of having meaningful “thought partners” in your life. We hope you enjoy this episode of Sharing Goodwill!

To hear the entire podcast, click here.

Shawna was a participant in the 2008 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group, was coached in 2009 and became a Coach in 2013 in Executive Coaching Program. Nicole was in the 2010 Executive Learning Group and coached in 2012.

Voyage LA wrote an inspiring article on Lina Lumme, Executive Director of The Youth Center, whose mission is to transform children's lives one family at a time through collaborative social, educational and recreational programs.

To view the entire article, click here.

Lina was a participant in the 2018 Executive Learning Group,

Leaders in the Field is a monthly communication highlighting Fieldstone Leadership Network members and their