Karen Francis, Development Director of Child Guidance Center (CGC) has collaborated with 100 Companies That Care, through their quarterly nonprofit spotlight competition. This union supports the opening of their fifth clinic location, currently being constructed at no-cost to the agency. Thanks to a partnership with Jamboree Housing Corporation, CGC, Orange County Head Start, and St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Health Clinic, this clinic is slated to open March of 2022 and will include state-of-the-art permanent housing for 100+ families, community space, and on-site supportive services for both residents and the local community.

Karen was a participant in the 2013 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

WISEPlace was selected as a 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Tom Daly, representing District 69. WISEPlace serves unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness who often lack the support system of a spouse, significant other, or children. It’s a population that is severely under-served and overlooked nationally and locally. The numbers are startling: one in three homeless individuals is an unaccompanied woman.

Brateil Aghasi, CEO, participated in the 2013 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

Casa Youth Shelter was selected as a 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year by Senator Tom Umberg, representing Senate District 34. For over 43 years, Casa Youth Shelter has served and nurtured youth, ages 12-17, with shelter, counseling, and support services, empowering them to come through their crisis with increased confidence, stability, and tools for continued growth. They serve youth and families from over 50 cities in Orange, Los Angeles, and other counties in Southern California.

 

Amy Lakin, Executive Director, participated 2018 Executive Learning Group, and Christina Garcia, Director of Operations & Events, participated in the 2018 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and is currently being coached in the Executive Coaching Program.

Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA) was selected as a 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year by Senator Dave Min, representing Senate District 37. Their mission is to ensure the delivery of culturally and linguistically responsive services to traditionally underserved multicultural communities. MECCA is committed to creating a sustainable system of integrated health care delivery and human development amongst its members through education, outreach and advocacy in order to increase access and resources to diverse multicultural communities.

 

Iliana Soto Welty, Executive Director, participated in the 2009 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

The Friendship Shelter was selected as a 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Laurie Davis representing District 73. Friendship Shelter was incorporated in 1988 to provide year-round shelter and rehabilitation to homeless adults. Today they provide a full range of services to the most vulnerable homeless people in our community, and are focused on finding the most appropriate permanent housing solution for each individual.

Dawn Price, Executive Director, participated in the 2018 Executive Learning Group.

Kudos to Waymakers for celebrating 15 years at their Huntington Beach Youth Shelter! Opened in 2006, and nestled in a peaceful area of Huntington Beach, with Central Park to the west and the sports complex to the south, Waymakers operates three youth shelters in Orange County, including Laguna Beach and Tustin. The HB shelter has capacity for 12 youth; six boys and six girls and was formerly operated by Community Service Programs Inc.

To read the complete Daily Pilot article, please click here.

Ronnetta Johnson, CEO, participated in the 2017 Executive Learning Group.

One of the hallmarks of American Family Housing is to provide a variety of housing to low-income families and adults in Southern California. Congratulations to Milo Peinemann, CEO, for doing just that with his newest project, Casa Paloma. This 71-unit affordable housing community with 2/3 supportive units, is among the first projects to make use of Housing for a Healthy California funding. The new development reflects a few major innovations, including more supportive housing in Orange County and the use of modular prefab units. The philanthropic support from the community has allowed AFH to be a leader in homeless services since 1985.

"Diversity and trust in one another are their greatest assets," shared Milo Peinemann, who recently engaged the facilitators from Creative Encounters by Fieldstone to help their leadership team re-emerge from the pandemic with a fantastic retreat held at The Muckenthaler Cultural Center. Some of American Family Housing's team had never met each other in person or knew what each others' smiles looked like!

Milo participated in the 2019 Executive Learning Group and was coached in the 2020 Executive Coaching Program. Carolina Cortazar participated in the 2020 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group and Mary Ann Ross is a current member of the Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group.

A big welcome to Pete Bowen, the new Chief Executive Officer of Giving Children Hope! He succeeds Sean Lawrence after ten years of service. With a background in nonprofits, business, education, and the military, Pete brings a wealth of leadership experience and a passion for serving children and families in local communities. Most recently, he served 14 years as the president of Servite High School and has more than 20 years experience serving as a consultant on high-performance leadership, culture, and ethics. Bowen has served Giving Children Hope as a board member and volunteer for two years.

Former CEOs John Ditty and Sean participated in the 2009 and 2013 Executive Learning Groups respectively. Currently, Haley Cooper, Director of Development, is a member of the 2021 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group. We look forward to Pete joining our Network!

Way to go Women's Transitional Living Center (WTLC)! They celebrated their 45th year anniversary/birthday, and received an award from Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva representing the 65th District in recognition for all their years of hard work and commitment to our communities.

Mark Lee, Chief Executive Officer, participated in the 2020 Executive Learning Group and is currently being coached in the Executive Coaching Program.

Six HomeAid affiliates, in collaboration with several HomeAid building partners, collected 2,742,949 diapers and other critical baby items during the HomeAid Essentials Campaigns that took place nationwide from March - June 2021. These necessary baby items will provide much-needed help to a vulnerable population across the nation. HomeAid Orange County collected 580,890 diapers!

For the complete article, click here.

Gina Scott, Executive Director of HomeAid OC has participated in the 2002 Nonprofit Leaders Learning Group, was coached in the 2014 Executive Coaching Program, participated in the 2020 Leadership Reading Group and is a current member of our 2021 Executive Learning Group.

Congrats to Lupita Gutierrez, Programs Manager at Girls Inc. of Orange County! Lupita had been with Orangewood Foundation for four years, where she was continually inspired by their tremendous leadership and vision. Motivated to be part of the solution for so many issues the world is facing, Lupita made the move to Girls Inc. Both Orangewood Foundation and Girls Inc. are valuable members of our Network and continue to send their leaders through our learning groups as part of their professional leadership development.

Time to toot our own horn! Fieldstone Leadership Network received a Certificate of Recognition from Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, representing District 74, for being nominated for the 2021 Nonprofit of the Year!

Fieldstone Leadership Network exists to combat workplace isolation, driven by the need for leaders to connect where they can learn from each other, share resources, successes and challenges and feel a part of a community. We love our work and are grateful for our Network members who make our world a better place!