Representatives of Families Forward, HomeAid Orange County and Landsea Homes joined Costa Mesa civic leaders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new affordable-housing development, held on Dec. 13, 2019. Congrats to Gina Scott , graduate of our Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and current member of the Leadership Reading Group and Madelynn Hirneise, graduate of our Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and participant in our 2020 Executive Coaching cohort. What a fantastic collaboration!

We love when we see our Network members in the news!

Kudos to KellyAnn Romanych , Deputy Executive Director of Veterans Legal Institute . Kelly was asked by a panel of  Forbes Nonprofit Council  members how an organization can genera te excitement around its new initiatives and get the team on board. 

KellyAnn said "remarkable organizations and missions know what makes their team unique. Not quite sure how you are different from others in your sector? Ask your supporters. Survey them on what is going well, what's unique and what can be done better." To read the whole article, click here.

KellyAnn was coached in 2019 and is currently a participant in our 2020 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group .

Congratulations to Amy Behrens on her promotion to Executive Director of Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens following four years as Marketing & PR Director. She previously held leadership positions in Marketing for Catalina Island Conservancy and the Natural History Museum of LA.

Amy is a current participant in our Executive Learning Group.

Kudos to Krista Driver , CEO of Mariposa Women and Family Center who was recently interviewed by Richard Franzi on the

Critical Mass Radio Show . Krista and Ric discussed all things Mariposa and mental health. To hear her interview, please click here .

Krista was a participant in our 2013 Executive Learning Group .

It thrills us to see Network members being honored for their contributions to our community! Center Club Orange County presented Thomas House Family Shelter and Taller San Jose Hope Builders grants in support of their programs.

Natalie Julien, Executive Director of Thomas House participated in our 2018 Executive Learning Group and is currently a participant in our Executive Coaching Program.

Shawna Smith , Executive Director of Hope Builders participated in our 2008 Executive Learning Group, was coached in 2009 has been a valued Coach in our Executive Coaching Program since 2013.

Happy New Year, Orange County! It’s the dawn of a new era in cancer care as City of Hope , named by US News Health as the best cancer hospital in California, expands to Orange County. They are bringing world-class research and treatment, and access to highly specialized cancer experts unique to the community. The first OC location will open in Newport Beach this month.

Great job, Chris Simonsen , CEO of Orangewood Foundation who partnered with Orange County United Way , City of Santa Ana and HUD to provide housing for 25 former foster youth! Funding from one of Orangewood's state grants has been instrumental in getting these youth established in their new apartments.

Chris was a participant in our 2017 Executive Learning Group .

MOMS Orange County , Orange County’s largest nonprofit dedicated solely to newborn and pregnancy health, announc ed that CE O, Pamela Pimentel, will retire February 14 after 20 years leading the organization. 

Pam joined the organization in 2000, bringing significant experience as an outpatient women’s clinic administrator, hospital obstetric nurse and women’s health educator. Under her leadership, she helped expand services that enabled low-income women to gain access to prenatal care, education and support, including services to Vietnamese-speaking mothers. 



Happy Retirement, Pam!

Jerri Rosen, graduate of our 1999 Executive Learning Group and Executive Coaching cohort, and CEO and Founder of Working Wardrobes has been named J.Jill’s first Inspired Woman of 2020 for making a difference in our community and for over 30 years! The Boston Foundation selected Working Wardrobes as the recipient of the J.Jill Compassion Fund, which will help the women served.

Click here to read more about this wonderful honor!

Congratulations Jerri!

A shout out to our amazing Leadership Reading Group facilitator, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett who was recently published in Abstract Magazine for her thought-provoking essay on a homeless woman in Costa Mesa titled Underneath It All .

We encourage you to read her inspirational and moving story here !

Orange County Community Foundation launched their pilot phase of the new Workforce Development Initiative . The program is designed to build pathways to brighter futures for graduating high school seniors enrolling in community college, disconnected older youth and underemployed adults who may not have the means to advance their employment opportunities due to barriers such as poverty and lack of access to education and job training.

OCCF awarded grants totaling $500,000 with a focus on connecting community colleges, many of our partner nonprofits, and businesses through strategic pipelines to identify, support and ultimately place potential employees in middle-skills jobs.

For information on this program, click here !

Congratulations to Veterans Legal Institute for being honored by the Veterans community and general public for the Veterans Choice category at the Academy of United States Veterans 5th annual Vetty's awards. Over 1,500 people celebrated this acknowledgment recognizing the impactful work of the VLI staff, hundreds of volunteers, and 6000+ veterans served throughout the years.

Antoinette Balta , Executive Director and Co-Founder was in the 2015 Executive Learning Group. Excellent work!

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

achievements in the community.