Maurissa Stone
Community Collaborator
Maurissa Stone is a philanthropist, organizational development management consultant, and a social entrepreneur that celebrates 30 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, government agencies (federal, state, and local), and entities in the private sector. Stone is the founder and CEO of Iona Concepts Inc., a boutique training and change-management consultancy; the Chief Equity Impact Analyst for Fight Blight Bmore, an economic, environmental, and social justice platform; and the Director of Innovation for The Living Well (TLW) Center for Social and Economic Vibrancy.
As a social entrepreneur, Stone provides executive-level Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) coaching, research, and thought leadership to social impact entities. She currently provides organizational culture assessments and coaching using a REDI lens for community development corporations and government agencies which includes NeighborWorks America, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Equity Brain Trust to name a few. She is a master level facilitator and keynote speaker. Her authentic style of communication and liberatory practices supports the creation of brave and healing spaces for those who are facilitating anti-racist discussions. Through TLW, she has developed healing-centered initiatives, incubated the development of local artists and healing practitioners, and donated professional consulting services to social entrepreneurs and nonprofit board of directors.
As an alumnus from Lincoln University, Center for Creative Leadership, and the A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems, Stone continues to serve on the front lines in the fight for social and economic justice. Her goal is to eradicate structural determinants of health by dismantling the social agency of racism. Dismantling social norms that are baked into the DNA of our operating systems and culture requires a thick skin as resistance to change is constant. To combat the toxic stress that is a byproduct of advancing equity, Stone enjoys participating in healing technologies, reading and traveling. Her greatest joy is creating experiences for her daughter who is currently attending Hampton University.