Kimberly Whetstone
West Chicago
Summary
Equity-focused leader with 18 years of expertise in enhancing social impact through housing initiatives, DEI strategies, organizational transformation, and team leadership.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Transitional Housing
Outreach - Community Based Nonprofit
09.2022 - Current
- Direct transitional living programming, emergency shelter, and interim housing for homeless youth and emerging adults by leading a staff team of 16.
- Secured a 101% increase in grant funding over two years by growing cross-departmental collaboration and improving the quality of service delivery.
- Expanded shelter capacity by 30% in two years.
- Grew volunteer engagement from 3,600 hours annually to over 5,700 hours annually.
- Spearheaded the development of suicide risk assessment and risk management protocols, and trained staff and volunteers accordingly.
- Participated in the DuPage County Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry Committee, and the Illinois State Collaboration on Youth Homeless Management Meeting to improve service delivery.
- Launched the Resident Leadership Council, utilizing asset-based community development and positive youth development to empower homeless youth to shape programming.
- Advocate for programming and funding internally and externally through speaking events, consultations, outreach events, and building donor relationships.
DE&I Consultant and Leadership Coach
Kimberly S. Whetstone, LLC
01.2019 - 12.2024
- Developed and facilitated a cohort curriculum on gender equity in the workplace, empowering 35 female leaders from Mexico, South Africa, Barbados, and the United States through six, three-month coaching cohorts.
- Trained 185 religious and nonprofit leaders in anti-racism in response to racial tensions within their communities.
- Facilitated social impact and DEI trainings for U.S.-based and global tech companies seeking to increase cultural competence to expand positive impact. Served teams in the United States, Germany, and India.
- Coordinated and facilitated a conference empowering First Nations, religious, and non-profit leaders from across Alaska.
- Served as a reader, offering editorial insights on three books to promote multicultural competence throughout the text.
Pastor and Program Director
Parkview Community Church
03.2011 - 02.2019
- Company Overview: A nondenominational church in the Chicago suburbs with a weekly attendance of 1,500, a staff team of 25, and a focus on serving the community.
- Implemented the Case Management process to serve 130 homeless people, and partnered with local law enforcement.
- Delivered a strategic plan for community groups and increased group participation by 850% in four years.
- Developed curriculum, expanded offerings, and increased adult education class engagement by 400% in two years.
- Grew community-focused recovery programs for youth and adults, increasing program impact by 500% in two years.
- Supervised six direct reports, and provided oversight to seven departments with eleven employees and over 300 volunteers.
- Established a diversity task force for organizational change.
- Recruited, trained, and supervised a volunteer team of over 150 leaders annually.
Adjunct Professor of Care and Counseling
Northern Seminary
01.2017 - 01.2017
- Developed and facilitated comprehensive curriculum for graduate students in crisis counseling, multicultural competence, and trauma-informed care.
- Mentored students regarding antiracism, personal growth, community service, and organizational change.
Live-In House Parent
Outreach
Carol Stream
12.2006 - 05.2012
- Co-facilitated a transitional housing program for diverse, unsheltered teen mothers and their children, serving 40 hours a week as a volunteer staff member.
- Effectively navigated cross-cultural crises, and educated residents on intercultural communication.
- Intervened in domestic disputes, and upheld restraining orders.
- Provided mentorship and spiritual care to program clients overcoming sexual violence, addiction, and other trauma.
- Coached residents on parenting and life skills to promote housing security.
Education
Master of Divinity - Justice, Religion and Society
Northern Seminary
05-2007
Bachelor of Arts - Communication & Media Studies
Judson University
05-2003
Skills
- Program development and management
- Crisis intervention and conflict resolution
- Community outreach and coordination
- Leadership and team building
- Budget management and allocation
- Effective communication and awareness
- Grant writing
- Data analysis skills
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Public speaking proficiency
- Strategic planning
- Training facilitation
Certification
- Certification in Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Accessibility and Organizational Change, EIDA Center, September 2021.
- Certificate of Completion, Team Building and Collaboration, RewireU, The Second City, 2018.
- Transformational Leadership, Transforming Center, Ruth Haley Barton, 2015-2017.
- Level 1 Conflict Mediation Training Certification, Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, 2006.
- Clinical Pastoral Education, Half-Unit, MacNeal Hospital, 2004. (400 hours of crisis care and chaplaincy)
Public Speaking
- Housing Insecurity, Outreach Fundraising and Donor Events 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
- Gender Equity and Trauma-Informed Leadership, Shine Conference, Presenter, 2024.
- Reducing Stigma around Mental Illness, Wheaton College, Panelist, 2023.
- Understanding Intercultural Communication, World Relief Chicagoland All-Staff Training, Lead Facilitator, 2022.
- Volunteer Best Practices, Duck Creek Technologies (Germany Office), Keynote, 2022.
- Helping vs. Hurting: Thoughtful Social Impact, Duck Creek Technologies (US and India offices) Keynote, 2022.
- DEI Focus: Creating Inclusive Environments, Duck Creek Technologies (US offices) Lead Facilitator, 2022.
- Practicing Anti-Racism, Webinar with author, David Swanson, (National) Presenter, 2020.
- Staff Care Amidst Shifting Political Landscape, World Relief Chicagoland, (Regional) Presenter, 2020.
- Empowering Women in Leadership: Justice Conference (National Conference) Workshop Presenter, 2019.
- Empowering Women in Leadership, Ezer Collective Alaska, (Regional Conference) Workshop Presenter, 2019.
- Cultivating Healthy Partnerships for Advocacy, Refugee Highway Partnership of North America, (North American Conference) Panelist, 2018.
- Honoring the Imago Dei, World Relief Chicago, (Local) Keynote Speaker for Church Leaders, 2018.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Wheaton College, (Local) Panelist, 2017.
Timeline
Director of Transitional Housing
Outreach - Community Based Nonprofit
09.2022 - Current
DE&I Consultant and Leadership Coach
Kimberly S. Whetstone, LLC
01.2019 - 12.2024
Adjunct Professor of Care and Counseling
Northern Seminary
01.2017 - 01.2017
Pastor and Program Director
Parkview Community Church
03.2011 - 02.2019
Live-In House Parent
Outreach
12.2006 - 05.2012
Master of Divinity - Justice, Religion and Society
Northern Seminary
Bachelor of Arts - Communication & Media Studies
Judson University
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