With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Jerri Rosen, Founder of Working Wardrobes. Jerri was a visionary force who built Working Wardrobes from a spark of compassion into a powerful movement—transforming hundreds of thousands of lives through the dignity of work. Her legacy lives on in every client they serve, every garment they give, and every second chance they help create. 

Jerri participated in the 1999 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 1999 Executive Coaching Program.

Ronnetta Johnson received the 2025 Visionary Award at the Victims' Rights Conference, honoring her transformative leadership as CEO of Waymakers. Since 1995, she has led key initiatives—from rebranding the agency to expanding vital programs and crisis services. Through her efforts, and in partnership with her hard-working team members, Waymakers has gained national, state, and local recognition for best practice service models. A passionate mentor and statewide leader, Ronnetta is on the California Crime Victim Assistance Association Training Committee and serves as Board Chair for the Coast Community College District Foundation.

Ronnetta participated in the 2017 Executive Learning Group, trained as an Executive Coach in 2021 for our Executive Coaching Program, and has been a member of the Leadership Reading Group since 2022.

OC Women2Women honored Bonni Pomush, CEO of Working Wardrobes, as Woman of the Year, recognizing her transformational leadership and the extraordinary impact she has made across Orange County. Surrounded by community leaders, colleagues, friends, and family, Bonni accepted the honor with trademark grace and humility. She reflected on her leadership philosophy: “I lead Working Wardrobes to be the next set of shoulders to lift somebody up.”

In the past year, Working Wardrobes reached over 7,600 clients in 2024—doubling its reach in just three years. As Bonni closed her acceptance speech, she thanked the room for “being the change we all seek in the world.”

Bonni participated in the 2023 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2024 Executive Coaching Program.

Art & Creativity for Healing Founder and Director Laurie Zagon marked the nonprofit's 25th year at their recent Black & White Anniversary Gala. Close to 200 guests raised $125K while enjoying a special celebration in support of the organization’s mental health and emotional healing programs.

Laurie shared, “I’m very grateful to all the people who have helped us over the last 25 years. What an incredible honor it is to have such loyal and supportive friends.”

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

What an example of board collaboration!

FLN Board Member Greg Campbell's wife created a beautiful sculpture that was gifted to a My Safe Harbor alumna as the “Ruth Award.” The award was presented by Marissa Tang, Executive Director of OneVine Foundation (and board member Sam Tang's daughter), alongside MSH Executive Director and FLN board member Jeff Ahlberg.

Jeff participated in the 2019 Executive Learning Group and is a Creative Encounters by Fieldstone facilitator. Marissa will be a member of the 2025 Executive Learning Group, starting next month!

Greta Nagel, President and CEO of Museum of Teaching and Learning (MOTAL), has long operated a 48-foot traveling, interactive exhibit highlighting early childhood brain development from birth to age five. MOTAL now also operates from a Fullerton nonprofit center with a gallery, event space, podcasts, newsletters, and ongoing programs.

Greta was coached in the 2018 Executive Coaching Program.

Lina Lumme, Executive Director/CEO of The Youth Center was one of the esteemed panelists at the Nonprofit Summit, hosted by the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce. Lina brought invaluable insights and expertise to the discussion, focusing on effective fundraising strategies and the key components of successful fundraising events. Her experience in the nonprofit sector and passion for creating meaningful community impact made her a standout voice during the event.

Lina participated in the 2018 Executive Learning Group.

Kristi Perez, Founder of Inspire Life Skills, works to break the cycle of abuse and poverty for foster and homeless youth through housing, education, and mentorship. With support from Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, they purchased a home in Corona, doubling their capacity to house six young women and a resident supervisor.

Kristi participated in the 2008 and 2015 Executive Learning Groups, was coached in the 2014 Executive Coaching Program, and was a member of the 2017 Leadership Reading Group.

Julie Hudash, Founder and CEO of Team Kids, was honored as one of the visionary leaders shaping a better future through courageous leadership. Guided by an unwavering sense of mission and purpose, Julie received the CSUF College of Business and Economics' 2025 Excellence in Executive Leadership Award for Culture Change at the 14th Annual Giles-O'Malley Center for Leadership Awards.

Julie was coached in the 2005 Executive Coaching Program.

Marisela Fuller, Real Estate Development Director for Innovative Housing Opportunities was selected as a 2025 Woman of Influence, within the Development Professional category by GlobeSt. GlobeSt.com is a premier online platform dedicated to delivering comprehensive news, analysis, and insights on the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. It serves as a vital resource for professionals such as investors, developers, brokers, and finance experts seeking to stay informed about market trends, sector developments, and best practices.

Marisela participated in the 2024 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Diana Hill, Executive Director of Pathways to Independence, joined a panel of nonprofit leaders to explore how major fundraising events fuel their missions. Pathways—serving young women in Northern Orange and Southern Los Angeles Counties—raises $700,000 annually through a community-focused block party, covering half its budget. The panel emphasized that while nonprofits are mission-driven, they must operate like businesses, tailoring fundraising to their audiences. Signature events like Pathways’ are key to both financial sustainability and community engagement.

Diana participated in the 2023 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2024 Executive Coaching Program.

Dreams for Schools partnered with the Corporate Quality, Regulatory, and Clinical team at Edwards Lifesciences to assemble 625 STEAM kits for students across Southern California. Designed to spark curiosity and hands-on learning, the kits reflect the power of collaboration in inspiring the next generation of innovators.

Nithin Jilla, Founder & Executive Director, participated in the 2023 Executive Learning Group.

Affordable Housing Clearinghouse, Orange County Community Housing Corporation, and The Kennedy Commission co-hosted the annual Affordable Housing Awards Breakfast to recognize exceptional contributions to affordable housing. The event brought together local leaders to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and lasting commitment to expanding housing access in Orange County.

Brenda Rodriguez, Cesar Covarrubias, and Nora Mendez, leaders of these organizations. all participated in a Fieldstone Learning Group.

Grandma's House of Hope, an organization that provides safe emergency, bridge, and transitional housing, healthy meals, case management, counseling, mentoring, and life-skills courses have moved to Orange into a larger office that accommodates both the administrative and housing staff. They celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included the Orange and Anaheim Chambers of Commerce. Marie, a current participant in one of the programs, wrote a letter and shared it with everyone who attended the Open House. 

You can read Marie's letter here.

Affordable Housing Clearinghouse co-hosted a free Estate Planning Workshop in the city of Orange in partnership with Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, and the Elder Law & Disability Rights Center.

Attendees heard directly from experts, who offered clear guidance on key topics, answering important questions like: Do I need a will? Does my family need a power of attorney? Is a trust necessary? The bilingual format allowed more families to access critical information and begin taking steps to protect their future.

With strong community participation, it shows the value of bringing trusted legal resources directly to the community.

Brenda Rodriguez, Executive Director of AHC, participated in the 2015 and 2022 Executive Learning Groups, was coached in the 2017 Executive Coaching Program and is a Creative Encounters by Fieldstone facilitator. Michael Valentine, President & CEO of Habitat, participated in the 2024 Executive Learning Group and is currently being coached in the 2025 Executive Coaching Program

Congratulations to Lupita Gutierrez on becoming the new Executive Director of Casa Youth Shelter! After 14 years with the organization, she brings deep experience and a strong commitment to supporting youth. Lupita steps into this role with a clear understanding of how to meet young people where they are and guide them toward healing.

Lupita shared, "Being part of Casa has been one of the greatest honors of my life. This place, these kids, this mission, it’s in my heart. Stepping into this role is more than a job for me; it’s a promise to keep showing up for the youth who need us most, with compassion, accountability, and the belief that their story doesn’t end in crisis."

Lupita participated in the 2025 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.