Jessica Baron, founder of Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom, was recently surprised with a $150,000 grant from the San Diego Foundation as part of the $100 million cash gift from Jay Kahn.

Ten San Diego based music education nonprofit organizations were included in this grant program. Others receiving grants with leaders who have participated in our programs are A Reason To Survive, Classics 4 Kids, David's Harp Foundation, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory, and Young Artists Music Academy.

The grant to Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom will be used to support its mission of training teachers to engage students through music.

Allison Ohle has been named the new Executive Director of DEEP, an organization that aims to mobilize community partners around a research-guided theory of change designed to ensure that children attending schools in a cluster of southeastern San Diego neighborhoods enter kindergarten prepared for success and complete third grade reading proficiently. Allison will begin with the organization in March.

Allison is a current member of our Leadership Reading Group and a graduate of our Executive Learning Group.

We always love hearing about groups that have reunions and continue to rely on each other for professional friendship and support. This is the 2011 Nonprofit Leaders Cohort on their zoom reunion. It is the second one is the last few months as some members of the group have moved to various places around the country. Including Colleen Smith, who now works in the Washington D.C area. Having left San Diego and Pro Kids Golf to work for CASA of Northwest Arkansas, Colleen now works with the Children's Science Center. It is amazing to see Fieldstone relationships birthed in our learning groups continuing to provide support to our Members no matter where they live and work in the nonprofit sector. Way to go Gina Lee, Lauren Banfe, Ben Moraga, Joe Beuhrle, Justin Apgar and Colleen Smith!