Rebuilding Culture, Strengthening Mission: Cornerstone’s Path to Transformational Growth
Explore how Cornerstone Housing for Women, Ottawa's largest women-only shelter, navigated a pivotal period of transformation. This case study highlights the challenges and successes in fostering systemic change through enhanced collaboration and a unified vision.
The Client
Cornerstone Housing for Women is an emergency shelter and safe affordable housing for women in Ottawa.
Cornerstone Housing for Women, the largest women-only shelter in the region, provides essential housing and support services. Established in 1983 as a response to the growing need for emergency shelter and supportive housing for women, it has become renowned for its commitment to serving women in need, Cornerstone offers a safe haven and comprehensive resources aimed at empowering and assisting women in vulnerable situations.
The Challenge
As Cornerstone experienced rapid growth and leadership transitions, the organization faced challenges such as: balancing a clear mission with the demands of a changing environment. Key issues included fostering alignment among team members, addressing communication breakdowns, and creating a unified vision to guide their work forward. These challenges were compounded by the pressures of delivering services in an increasingly complex and resource-constrained nonprofit landscape.
Our Approach
- Organizational Review: Analyzed internal policies and frameworks to identify areas for improvement.
- Stakeholder Insights: Conducted one-on-one interviews to capture diverse perspectives on growth and operational challenges.
- Workshops Utilizing the Organizational Journey Map: Leveraged this diagnostic tool to:
- Reflect on achievements and organizational evolution.
- Address systemic challenges and conflicting values.
- Create a foundation for visioning and strategic planning.
The Impact
- Action-Oriented Plan: Developed a robust strategy to improve team dynamics and communication, including:
- Regular town hall meetings.
- A transparent communication policy.
- Clear role definitions and management training.
- Stronger Team Alignment: Fostered mutual understanding and appreciation among team members, establishing a unified vision for the future.
- Structured Implementation: Outlined clear short-, medium-, and long-term strategies, including team-building initiatives and ongoing training, to embed a culture of trust and collaboration.
This collaborative process enabled Cornerstone Housing for Women to strengthen its leadership, enhance organizational resilience, and recommit to its mission of empowering women.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Manal on internal organizational structure and communication sessions for Cornerstone Housing for Women. Manal worked with our leadership team to help us better serve our clients given the significant growth of the organization over the last three years.
Our team is committed to preserving the values and principles that have guided the organization for four decades. This includes providing client-centered care, building trust and relationships with clients, and maintaining a supportive collaborative work environment.
Manal developed and facilitated various workshops with our team to unpack and rebuild the culture that has made Cornerstone successful as we continue to grow and adapt to the changing environment. Manal played a critical role in helping the leadership team fill in gaps, reconnect, and open communication lines across the organization. Trust and open communication were essential for all to feel comfortable sharing their experiences and developing a roadmap to work better together over the next four decades.
Manal excelled in leveraging her positive and engaging consulting skills throughout the design and facilitation of our individual and group sessions. She synthesized the key themes from the session and offered clear recommendations for the next steps. Manal was welcoming, empathetic, and compassionate about creating a culture that reflects our passion and mission.
We received positive feedback from participants and our leadership team about Manal’s consultancy. I would recommend Manal for other organizations going through a change of growth in staff, mission, and residents.
