Get to know us
Meeting Stone Strategies was founded to meet the needs of small-to-institutional level civil society organizations focused on investing in Chicago's neighborhoods. Often, what makes the job of a church or non-profit leader harder is the magnificence of the city skyline overlooking the deep issues they're toiling to address in their communities. We exist to help to bridge the gap between these leaders and the resources of the city as well as the gap between those who live and work in skyscrapers downtown and the neighborhoods they see from their windows everyday.
Meeting Stone Strategies was named for a small community in the heart of Grand Bay, Dominica known for being a place of gathering for people throughout the village where the Stuart family has lived for many generations. For years, working on plantations and then on our own farms throughout the hills of the Caribbean's nature island, our family has come home to the meeting point for people of all walks of life in our community, and we seek to build meeting points like ours in struggling communities everywhere.
Our Mission
We're on a mission to rebuild civil society in historically disinvested neighborhoods in Chicago and across the United States. We believe that one of the biggest threats to our progress is isolation and disconnectedness and that the best way to fix our neighborhoods is to start leaving our homes so we can work together and support each other.
Our Vision
We want to live in a world where rather than asking far away government agencies for support, we can turn to well-equipped neighbors to solve the problems we face on a day-to-day basis. Our communities need stronger connections, stronger families, and stronger futures.
Our team
Nathaniel Stuart has significant experience developing and executing development strategies to help organizations tackle the challenges of growth to best meet the needs of the communities they serve.
Nathaniel has worked with a number of churches, non-profits, and institutions as they seek to professionalize, expand, or build relationships in neighboring communities.
In addition to his work with Meeting Stone Strategies, Nathaniel teaches at Concordia University Chicago, where he serves as an adjunct instructor within the College of Business.
Education
M.A., Communication, Stanford University, 2020
B.A., International Relations, Stanford University 2020